‘Michael' Reaches New Milestone, But Does It Prove Unpopular Opinion about Sequel?

If Michael has proven anything over the last several weeks, it's that even in death, Michael Jackson may always be a force to be reckoned with in pop culture. Not only has the biopic drummed up nostalgia for many of his fans, old and new, who find themselves streaming his classic hits up the charts, but the movie itself has become one of the biggest of 2026 thus far. In fact, it sits in the second position both domestically and worldwide for the highest-grossing film of the year, only behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. But like Jackson's real-life career, the hits keep coming for the blockbuster hit.

‘Michael' Is Lionsgate's Highest-Grossing Movie Ever

Now, on June 7, Michael gets to add another feather in its cap. As Deadline reports, after pulling in $23.1 million globally during its seventh weekend, the movie has now officially become Lionsgate's highest-grossing film in the history of the company. The grand total at the box office is now hovering around $897.9 million. That total is expected to do nothing but rise, especially with Michael expected to debut in Japan on June 12.

‘Michael 2' Bound to Suffer "Sequel Curse"?

Again, Michael is a massive success, which is even more remarkable when you consider it was panned by many critics. That being said, given how well the film is doing, there are those such as myself who fear a sequel won't be able to live up to the original, for a number of reasons. So will Michael 2 suffer a fate like many sequels before it?

First, there's the not-so-subtle elephant in the room when it comes to the sequel. Whereas the first movie got away with not addressing all the allegations made against Jackson in his lifetime, given the timeline of the story, the sequel won't have such grace. And the severity of these allegations are likely not as appealing to as many moviegoers.

Part of what made Michael so appealing to viewers was that it relied heavily on the nostalgia of the music and portrayed Michael as the hero to Joe's "villain." Can that great music and nostalgia serve as enough of a distraction from some of the controversial aspects of his life? I just don't know.

There's also the prospect that, like with Michael, Michael 2 won't feature important figures and events in Michael's life. For example, with Janet not in the first movie, she's not expected to be in the sequel, which is honestly a bit disheartening. It would have made for a great story arc to see the sibling dynamic as Janet became a bona fide pop star, and maybe even see a cinematic take on the making of their music video Scream.

Additionally, it's worth asking if the world will suffer from Michael fatigue by the time Michael 2 is released? That may sound a bit absurd given how long he's reigned as the King of Pop, but it's something to consider.

To be clear, I wish nothing but success for all those involved with the Michael franchise. I watched the movie, enjoyed it, and Michael's music has been in pretty heavy rotation on my Spotify.

Related: Netflix Quietly Adds New Season of History-Making Drama

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 10:28 PM.