Michael Jackson’s “Michael” Trailer hits 116 million views on YouTube
This makes it the highest ranking music-biopic on YouTube.
If you thought only superhero movies could break internet records, think again. Michael, the upcoming biopic about Michael Jackson, just proved that music legends can generate blockbuster-level hype too. In its first 24 hours on YouTube, the teaser racked up around 116.2 million views—blowing past previous music-biopic benchmarks and showing just how powerful digital marketing and fan anticipation can be.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer) and written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator). Jaafar Jackson—Michael’s nephew—plays the King of Pop himself, with Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca. Produced by Graham King and team, Michael promises “an intimate look at the life and enduring legacy of one of the most influential, trail-blazing artists the world has ever known.”
The biopic follows Michael from his Jackson 5 beginnings to global superstardom, giving a front-row seat to both his public performances and private struggles. The trailer gives us glimpses of iconic moments—like the making of Thriller—while also showing the pressures that shaped his artistry and personal life.
To put this in perspective, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour trailer got 96.1 million views in 24 hours, and Bohemian Rhapsody had 57.6 million. Hitting 116 million views shows that fans are treating this music-biopic like a true event movie. And while superhero franchises regularly see 200+ million views, a music film reaching this scale says a lot about how music-legend IP and coordinated digital campaigns can create global buzz. Platforms like YouTube are still central, but you can bet Disney-esque social media campaigns, influencer pushes, and regional marketing are helping push these numbers even higher.
What makes this interesting isn’t just the raw numbers; it’s what it tells us about the future of entertainment marketing. Music biopics are starting to be launched like blockbusters, with trailers acting as global cultural events. For marketers and creators, it’s a clear signal: if you want attention, think beyond traditional campaigns. You need social amplification, timing, and platforms that can reach millions instantly.
And for fans? It just shows that Michael Jackson’s influence still resonates, and that a well-executed digital launch can make a trailer feel like an event worth watching over and over again.
Emmanuel Umahi
