The “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, has resurfaced in pop culture with the release of the biopic movie “Michael.”

His musical career began in 1964 at just six years old, singing with a band his father organized, featuring his brothers. Although the Jackson 5 was successful, eventually changing their name to The Jacksons after the loss of a member, Jackson reported abuse and a loss of childhood because of the band. 

Throughout his career, Jackson broke racial barriers in music, was generously involved in philanthropy, and set numerous records, with “Thriller” still the best-selling album of all time.

With the rise of biopics such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Elvis,” which broke box-office records, it was only a matter of time before the “King of Pop” Jackson got a similar movie.

“Michael” was released in April 2026 and quickly became the second-highest-grossing film of 2026, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody as the No. 1 biopic. 

The movie was full of Jackson’s biggest hits with “ABC,” “Bad,” and “Beat It.” Viewers watched the creative process of how Jackson struggled to separate from his family and start his own brand. 

We see the iconic album “Thriller” come together, along with the fight for MTV to show Jackson’s long music videos, even though he was not white.

Although critics called it a sanitized version of Jackson’s life, public opinion was overwhelmingly supportive.

Michael Jackson was played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who has an uncanny ability to act, dance, and perform just like his uncle, in a way that seems only a relative could.

Older generations saw a beloved artist come back to life, and younger generations who never knew him alive have been able to experience his legacy.

Fans brought songs such as “Billie Jean” (which hit No. 1 for the first time this year) and “Thriller” back into the Billboard 200 top 10, 40 years after their original releases.

Billboard has reported that the biopic has had a direct impact on the surge in streaming and selling of Jackson’s music.

The bands The Jacksons and the Jackson 5 are also seeing a resurgence in popularity.

Jackson passed away in 2005 after an overdose, just weeks before kicking off a tour. But at the time, he was facing many allegations of child molestation and sexual abuse, leading to stress and a possible reason for his overdose at 50 years old.

The movie ends in 1988 with the conclusion of the “Bad” world tour and a message that his story will continue, teasing fans with a sequel and the potential for even more records to be broken.