‘Michael’ Breaks Streaming Barriers on Starz with Historic Nielsen Success

Streaming charts often overlook the underdogs. While platforms like Netflix dominate with their vast subscriber base and Max showcases its prestigious originals, smaller services like Starz have typically struggled to enter the weekly conversation, let alone secure a spot in the coveted Nielsen Top 10.

The biopic ‘Michael,’ directed by Antoine Fuqua, has been rewriting box office records since its release. Featuring Jaafar Jackson in his acting debut as his legendary uncle, the film has achieved the unprecedented feat of being the first biopic to surpass $1 billion at the global box office, outpacing both ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Oppenheimer.’

Now, ‘Michael’ is making waves beyond the cinema. Data from industry tracker Luca Sofri’s Netflix & Chiffres account reveals that ‘Michael’ has become the first film released exclusively on Starz to break into a weekly Nielsen Top 10, garnering approximately 2.2 million views in its first week available in the U.S. This achievement places ‘Michael’ alongside other pay-one theatrical titles that have transitioned to streaming, such as ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ ‘The Equalizer 3,’ and ‘It Ends With Us.’

Further reports confirm this milestone. ‘Michael’ became available for streaming on Starz on August 10, and it debuted at No. 4 on Nielsen’s weekly movie chart with 275 million viewing minutes, marking a historic moment for a Starz-exclusive title. This debut occurred during a week when Netflix’s ‘The Last House’ topped the chart with 869 million viewing minutes, showcasing ‘Michael’s’ ability to carve out a space even against major competition.

The context is crucial here. As noted, Starz has around 13 million U.S. subscribers, a fraction compared to Netflix or Max. The streaming premiere took place during a relatively slow week for films, complicating direct comparisons but highlighting the significant demand that ‘Michael’ had leading into its streaming debut.

This demand has been building since before the film’s theatrical release. In late 2025, a teaser trailer for ‘Michael’ reportedly amassed over 116 million views in just one day, signaling a strong audience appetite for the film.

‘Michael’ premiered in April 2026 with a record-breaking $97.2 million domestic opening and $121.6 million internationally, achieving the largest domestic debut for a biopic and the best global start for any music biopic. The film continued to rise, ultimately surpassing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’s’ worldwide earnings and crossing the billion-dollar mark, a first for any film based on a real person.

Directed by Fuqua and penned by John Logan, ‘Michael’ chronicles the King of Pop’s journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his emergence as a solo superstar with iconic albums like ‘Off the Wall,’ ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Bad.’ Jaafar Jackson stars alongside Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson. The film has received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom criticized its decision to largely avoid the child sexual abuse allegations that marred Michael Jackson’s later years, yet audiences have continued to flock to theaters.

With Lionsgate reportedly considering at least one follow-up film, ‘Michael’s’ streaming success on Starz adds another chapter to what has become one of the most unexpected entertainment stories of the year. A theatrical run marked by record-breaking figures has now translated into a significant achievement for a network that rarely enjoys this level of attention, even if the scale of this success comes with notable caveats.