There has never been a musician quite like Michael Jackson. From the moment a little boy from Gary, Indiana stepped on a stage with his brothers, the world was never the same. Now, nearly five decades after his first hit record, the story of the King of Pop is finally coming to the big screen.
Michael — the highly anticipated biographical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua, who also directed The Equalizer 3 and produced Rob Peace (2024)— arrives in US theaters on April 24, 2026, and it is already one of the most talked-about films in years. The teaser trailer alone was watched 116.2 million times in just 24 hours — more than any trailer for a musical biopic or concert film in history, surpassing even Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.
Michael’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson stars in the title role in his film debut, and the film traces Michael’s journey from his childhood days with the Jackson 5 all the way through his explosive solo career. On March 13, 2026, Sony Music officially announced the companion album — “Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture” — a 13-track collection of some of the most iconic songs ever recorded. It arrives in stores and on streaming the same day as the film: April 24, 2026.
Michael Soundtrack Overview
Michael is a 2026 American musical biographical drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. It is produced by Graham King, the same producer behind the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Michael |
| World Premiere | April 10, 2026 (Berlin) |
| US Theatrical Release | April 24, 2026 |
| US Distributor | Lionsgate |
| International Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Genre | Musical Biographical Drama |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Screenplay | John Logan |
| Producer | Graham King, John Branca, John McClain |
| Cinematographer | Dion Beebe |
| Soundtrack Title | Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture |
| Soundtrack Label | Columbia Records / Sony Music |
| Soundtrack Release | April 24, 2026 (Digital & Physical) |
| Physical Formats | Double Vinyl (multiple color variants), CD, Cassette |
| Total Tracks | 13 |
| Production Companies | GK Films, Lionsgate |
Who Made the Music? – Score & Soundtrack Details
The Songs
“Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture” is not a traditional original score album — it is a companion album of Michael Jackson’s real, original recordings that are showcased and performed in the film. The 13-track collection spans the full arc of his career, from his early days as a child star with The Jackson 5, through his time with The Jacksons, and into his landmark solo albums Off the Wall and Thriller.
The soundtrack was announced on March 13, 2026, by the official Michael Jackson social media accounts and confirmed by Sony Music. The album was compiled to reflect the musical chapters covered in the film itself.
What the Tracklist Tells Us About the Film
Music fans and film analysts quickly noted that the soundtrack leans heavily on the Jackson 5 era and the Thriller era, with the Bad era represented by only a single track, the title song. This strongly suggests the film focuses on Michael’s rise to stardom rather than his later career, and has all but confirmed industry reports that the biopic may eventually be released as two separate films.
Physical Formats
The album will be available in multiple collector formats. The double vinyl edition will come in multiple exclusive color variants for collectors — specific variants are expected to be announced closer to the release date.
Michael Full Official Soundtrack Tracklist
Here is the complete 13-track official soundtrack album as announced by Sony Music and confirmed by Film Music Reporter on March 12–13, 2026:
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Era / Album | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I’ll Be There | The Jackson 5 | Jackson 5 / Motown Era | 3:58 |
| 2 | Never Can Say Goodbye (Single Version) | The Jackson 5 | Jackson 5 / Motown Era | 3:01 |
| 3 | Who’s Lovin’ You | The Jackson 5 | Jackson 5 / Motown Era | 4:02 |
| 4 | Medley: I Want You Back / ABC / The Love You Save (Live from the 1981 U.S. Tour) | The Jacksons | The Jacksons Era | 3:00 |
| 5 | Ben (Live from the 1981 U.S. Tour) | The Jacksons | The Jacksons Era | 3:06 |
| 6 | Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough | Michael Jackson | Off the Wall (1979) | 6:06 |
| 7 | Beat It | Michael Jackson | Thriller (1982) | 4:19 |
| 8 | Thriller | Michael Jackson | Thriller (1982) | 5:58 |
| 9 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson | Thriller (1982) | 4:54 |
| 10 | Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ | Michael Jackson | Thriller (1982) | 6:03 |
| 11 | Human Nature | Michael Jackson | Thriller (1982) | 4:07 |
| 12 | Workin’ Day and Night | Michael Jackson | Off the Wall (1979) | 5:13 |
| 13 | Bad (2012 Remaster) | Michael Jackson | Bad (1987) | 4:08 |
Total Album Duration: Approximately 57 minutes
Song-by-Song Highlights
“I’ll Be There,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Who’s Lovin’ You” open the album representing the Motown era of the Jackson 5 — when a young Michael was already stunning the world with a voice far beyond his years. These three songs cover the earliest chapter of Michael’s story shown in the film.
The Jacksons Medley (I Want You Back / ABC / The Love You Save) and “Ben” are both listed as Live from the 1981 U.S. Tour — suggesting these songs appear in a live concert recreation sequence in the film, capturing the excitement of the brothers performing together as they transitioned from Motown to their own identity as The Jacksons after leaving the label.
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Workin’ Day and Night” represent the Off the Wall era — the album that announced Michael Jackson as a solo superstar and showed the world what he was capable of without his brothers.
“Beat It,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “Human Nature” represent the Thriller era — the period when Michael became not just a pop star but a global cultural phenomenon. Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, and five of its songs appearing on this soundtrack shows how central this era is to the film’s story.
“Bad (2012 Remaster)” is the sole representative of the Bad era, and its placement as the closing track of the album suggests it serves as the film’s final musical statement — perhaps a glimpse of what is to come if the story continues in a second film.
Michael Teaser Trailer – Songs Used
On November 6, 2025, Lionsgate released the teaser trailer for Michael. It featured a medley mashup of Michael Jackson’s songs woven together, including:
- “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”
- “Beat It”
- “Human Nature”
- “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
- “Billie Jean”
The trailer was watched 30 million times in its first six hours and 116.2 million times in its first 24 hours — setting a new record for a musical biopic or concert film trailer, surpassing Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’s first-day trailer views of 96.1 million.
Where to Buy & Listen Michael Soundtrack?
The film premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival on April 10, 2026, followed by its wide US theatrical release on April 24, 2026 via Lionsgate. International distribution is handled by Universal Pictures.
“Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture” (Soundtrack Album): The official soundtrack album releases on April 24, 2026 — the same day as the film. It will be available in the following formats:
- Digital Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all major platforms
- CD
- Cassette Tape
- 2-LP Double Vinyl — Standard and multiple exclusive color variants for collectors
Pre-orders for the physical editions are already open via Sony Music’s official store.
FAQs
Q. What is the name of the Michael soundtrack album?
The official soundtrack is titled “Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture”. It was announced by Sony Music on March 13, 2026.
Q. How many songs are on the Michael soundtrack album?
The album has 13 tracks spanning the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and Michael Jackson’s solo career up through the Bad era.
Q. When is the Michael soundtrack album released?
The soundtrack will be released on April 24, 2026 — the same day as the film’s US theatrical release.
Q. What label is releasing the Michael soundtrack?
The soundtrack is being released by Columbia Records / Sony Music.
Q. What physical formats is the Michael soundtrack available in?
The album will be available as a CD, cassette tape, and 2-LP double vinyl in multiple exclusive color variants for collectors.
Q. Which Michael Jackson era does the soundtrack focus on most?
The soundtrack leans most heavily on the Jackson 5 / Motown era (3 songs) and the Thriller era (5 songs). The Bad era is represented by just one song, suggesting the film focuses on Michael’s rise rather than his entire career.
Q. Who plays Michael Jackson in the 2026 film?
Michael Jackson is played by his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine Jackson. This is Jaafar’s film acting debut. Young Michael is played by newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi.