‘Michael’ biopic heads to premium digital rental as Lionsgate reports $898 million worldwide box office

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is moving from theaters to home viewing through a premium video-on-demand release, with retailers and streaming platforms listing access beginning Tuesday, June 9 at midnight Eastern Time. Billboard’s entertainment coverage said the film, which was released in theaters in late April, had already reached $898 million worldwide at the time of reporting, making it Lionsgate’s highest-grossing movie, according to Deadline.

Billboard and Yahoo Entertainment both described the film’s home release as an early PVOD window, allowing audiences to rent or buy the title on digital services rather than waiting for a traditional streaming schedule. The reporting emphasized that viewers would not need a paid subscription to rent or purchase, though separate subscription details would apply for customers who choose to watch through services that require membership.

According to Yahoo Entertainment’s recap of the release options, Prime Video customers can rent Michael for $19.99 or buy it for $24.99 as a digital purchase, with the rental time limit beginning once the viewer starts playback. The same reporting said that if a viewer rents, they have 48 hours to watch after pressing play, while a purchase goes directly to the buyer’s digital video library.

The biopic is centered on Jackson’s life, and Yahoo Entertainment described the portrayal as coming from Jaafar Jackson, who plays Jackson in the film. With the June 9 home release, the film enters a phase where audiences who missed theaters or who want repeat viewing can access it on demand.

The shift also reflects how major studios are managing theatrical-to-digital transitions, using premium rentals to capture audiences during the early window while a title’s theatrical run continues in some markets. Billboard’s write-up framed the release as an opportunity for viewers to “watch and rewatch” at home, rather than limiting viewing to cinemas.

For viewers, the practical next step is selecting between rental and purchase on the platform where the film is listed, and confirming the service’s terms for rental duration and library access after purchase. For industry watchers, the public milestone of $898 million worldwide, and the characterization of the film as a studio record, establishes an early benchmark for how quickly biographical music films can move from theatrical demand to revenue from home viewing.

As the home release date arrives, additional details typically emerge about how long the PVOD window lasts and whether the film will later transition to broader subscription streaming. The June 9 premiere of digital availability marks the most immediate change for audiences, even as the film remains a current theatrical title in the broader market.