‘Michael’ Fans Flock to the King of Pop’s Forgotten Fantasy Movie Almost 40 Years Later

It’s only been three days since the King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s divisive biopic hit U.S. theaters, and it’s already one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, Michael premiered in Berlin on April 10, 2026, and arrived in the U.K. on April 22 courtesy of Universal Pictures, followed by its U.S. release on April 24 by Lionsgate. Critics were quick to slam the 127-minute-long film before its theatrical release, but that didn’t stop it from cashing in at the box office, as it reportedly made $39.5 million on its first day.

Amid Michael‘s commercial success, fans are flocking to another project inspired by the music icon, released decades ago. The film is essentially a compilation of concert footage, concept videos, and a career retrospective with Jackson at the center. Titled Moonwalker, it is named after the dance technique of the same name, which the pop superstar was known for performing. Moonwalker had its theatrical debut in 1988 in Europe and South America, but Warner Bros. canceled plans for a Christmas 1988 theatrical release in the U.S. Instead, the film was released on VHS the following year, and it even features a performance from the legendary Joe Pesci.

Nearly 40 years later, Moonwalker is gaining traction on streaming charts, ranking among the most-watched titles globally. FlixPatrol data shows the musical is No. 5 on HBO Max as the week begins, right behind Jack Black and Paul Rudd’s Anaconda. Starring Jackson, Moonwalker features a collection of long-form music videos from the musician’s 1987 album Bad, with the film’s release originally scheduled to coincide with the album. Meanwhile, among Moonwalker’s numerous accolades, it spent 22 weeks atop Billboard’s Video Chart and has been certified 9x Platinum in the U.K,

The New Michael Jackson Movie Is a Major Hit

Now playing in theaters worldwide, Michael follows the life of the titular singer, from his time with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s through the Bad tour in the late 1980s. Jaafar Jackson portrays the lead, marking his film debut, while the supporting cast includes Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. As of 48 hours ago, Michael has grossed $97 million in North America and $120 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $217 million, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2026.

Moonwalker streams on HBO Max.