‘Michael’ Faces Golden Globes Setback as Biopic Denied Musical/Comedy Category

Few films have had a year quite like ‘Michael’. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this biopic premiered on April 24 and quickly became Lionsgate’s highest-grossing release ever, marking a historic milestone as the first biopic to surpass $1 billion globally. It concluded its theatrical run with approximately $1.029 billion, surpassing both ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the process. Given these impressive figures, the anticipation was never about whether ‘Michael’ would be part of the awards season, but rather how it would be categorized.

Despite its box office success, the film received mixed reviews. Critics were largely underwhelmed, resulting in a 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it much higher at 97%. Nonetheless, Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle garnered significant acclaim, leading analysts to view the Golden Globes as a likely early stop for his awards campaign.

However, the Golden Globes committee has made a decision regarding the film’s category. They rejected Lionsgate’s request for ‘Michael’ to compete in the Musical or Comedy category at the upcoming ceremony, a ruling first reported by Gold Derby and later confirmed by Variety. Instead, the film will now be positioned in the drama categories.

This decision came despite efforts from the studio to advocate for the film’s placement. According to Golden Globes procedures, a film seeking to enter a category that diverges from norms requires a letter from its director, which Fuqua provided. Nevertheless, the organization ultimately denied the request.

The rationale appears to hinge on the official guidelines. The Globes define a musical as a film where songs, in conjunction with spoken dialogue, propel the narrative forward. The committee reportedly concluded that the performances in ‘Michael’ did not fulfill this criterion.

This change places ‘Michael’ in a much more competitive arena. In the drama categories, it will vie for one of six available slots against notable contenders like Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ and Los Javis’ ‘La Bola Negra’. For Jackson, this means a push for a Best Drama Actor nomination in a race that has been described as highly competitive.

Fans and commentators have pointed out that genre classifications can often be inconsistent. Films like ‘Ray’ and ‘Walk the Line’ won in the comedy or musical categories back in the mid-2000s, and ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ also received a comedy classification. Interestingly, a horror film, ‘Obsession’, recently secured a spot in the Musical/Comedy category, while the story of the King of Pop was turned away.

Others view the ruling as a strict adherence to the guidelines rather than a snub. The musical category has a clear definition, and a biopic centered around recreated concert performances does not automatically qualify. Regardless, this decision limits what could have been a simpler path to a nomination for the studio.

The decision does not conclude ‘Michael’s’ awards campaign. Variety’s awards analysts have previously suggested that negative reviews may not hinder its chances, as critics do not constitute the voting body for awards, and many acclaimed films have faced critical backlash. Lionsgate continues to promote the film vigorously, with an FYC screening at the DGA reportedly receiving a standing ovation from a room full of voters.

The film’s supporters can also highlight its strong supporting cast. Colman Domingo portrays Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson, with Long’s co-stars praising Jaafar Jackson’s transformation for the role. Whether this will translate into nominations remains to be seen.

His story begins.
The official trailer for MICHAEL – in theaters and IMAX April 24. https://t.co/DfGJNcuXU2

— Michael (@michaelmovie) February 2, 2026

Looking ahead, the timeline is crucial. Nominations for the 84th Golden Globes will be announced on December 7, with the ceremony set for January 10, hosted by Nikki Glaser. Meanwhile, Lionsgate has confirmed that a sequel is in the works, ensuring the franchise has plenty of potential regardless of how this awards season unfolds.

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