“Real talent WON”: Netizens react as Michael Jackson’s film teaser breaks Taylor Swift’s record for most-viewed music biopic and concert film trailer

The first teaser for Michael, the upcoming biopic on Michael Jackson, the late King of Pop, has shattered viewing records across platforms, becoming the most-watched trailer for any music biopic or concert film in history.

According to data released by WaveMetrix and reported by Deadline on November 8, 2025, the teaser got an unprecedented 116.2 million views worldwide within 24 hours of its release. This figure surpasses the previous record held by Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which garnered 96.1 million views in August 2023.

Fans are very excited about the teaser and the record, with some talking about "real talent."

Most fans are simply excited about the biopic of one of the greatest performers and musicians in history.

More about the Michael Jackson biopic teaser

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan, Michael is described as an expansive portrait of Jackson’s artistry, ambition, and influence. As The Hollywood Reporter described in their November 8, 2025, article, the film “tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music,” chronicling his rise from child prodigy fronting the Jackson Five to the global phenomenon who redefined pop performance.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, here is the official synopsis of the film,

"The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins"

The cast includes Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop himself, Colman Domingo as his father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as his mother Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as Jackson’s longtime attorney John Branca.

Other key cast members in the biopic include Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Juliano Krue Valdi as a young Michael. The project is produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain, the latter two reportedly having managed Michael Jackson’s estate.

The teaser for the biopic premiered digitally and will be shown in theaters alongside Lionsgate’s upcoming film Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. In its first six hours online, the video clip of the teaser accumulated over 30 million views, a record-breaking launch for Lionsgate and 50% higher than the first-day traffic for John Wick: Chapter 4, as reported by Deadline on November 8, 2025.

With Michael’s record-breaking teaser, anticipation for the film continues to build across markets. The production’s global distribution strategy, handled by Lionsgate in the U.S., Universal internationally, and Kino Films in Japan, reflects the studio’s expectation of blockbuster-scale success. For fans, the project represents both a cinematic tribute and a cultural reawakening of Jackson’s influence.

More than 45 years after Off the Wall and over a decade since his passing, Michael Jackson’s name still commands historic numbers. The film is expected to be in theatres on April 24, 2026.

Edited by Devangee