Is Lionsgate Rushing Michael To Streaming Before It Can Hit $1 Billion?

First, let me say this: I am not surprised. But I am disgusted. Michael, the Antoine Fuqua‑directed biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, has been a monster at the box office. Since its April 24 opening, it has earned nearly $853 million globally, making it the second‑highest‑grossing music biopic ever. It is within striking distance of Bohemian Rhapsody‘s crown and has a real shot at crossing $1 billion. The audience score is in the high 90s on Rotten Tomatoes. Questlove praised it. The fans are showing up.

So what does Lionsgate do? They announce that the film will hit premium VOD on June 9th, barely seven weeks after its theatrical debut. Physical release follows on July 14th.

Now, here is what Complex reported:

The box office run of Michael isn’t over yet, but fans won’t have to head to a theater much longer to watch it. Lionsgate has announced that the blockbuster Michael Jackson biopic will arrive on premium video-on-demand platforms on June 9, giving audiences a chance to watch it from home less than seven weeks after its theatrical debut.

According to Forbes, the digital release comes as Michael continues to post massive numbers worldwide. Since its April 24 opening, the film has earned nearly $850 million globally, making it the second-highest-grossing music biopic ever released.

The digital rollout follows weeks of strong audience reactions that have sharply contrasted with the film’s critical reception. While some reviewers criticized the movie for avoiding certain controversies in Jackson’s life, audiences embraced Fuqua’s approach.

In addition to the June 9 digital release, Michael will arrive on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on July 14 with several behind‑the‑scenes featurettes.

This is the same week the film finally opens in Japan. Once a clean digital copy is available, piracy risk rises globally, especially in markets where the theatrical rollout is still ongoing. Why would some casual viewers buy a cinema ticket if a digital copy is already circulating online?

The film needs just over $150 million to hit $1 billion. That is within reach if it had another two or three months in theaters. Instead, Lionsgate is cutting its legs off.

Lionsgate Is Choosing PVOD Money Over A Billion-Dollar Moment

Oppenheimer had months of theatrical breathing room before digital release. Michael is getting barely seven weeks. Why? Because Christopher Nolan has the star power to demand an uncompromised, extended theatrical window. Universal gave him what he wanted. Lionsgate, on the other hand, is playing the modern 45‑day industry standard playbook, but they are doing it while the film is still surging.

The studio is double‑dipping. They already have $850 million. Now they want the PVOD revenue from families and fans who prefer to watch at home. That is greed, and not a good strategy. And it is coming at the expense of a historic theatrical milestone.

Universal handles international distribution. Lionsgate only controls domestic. So Universal is pocketing most of the overseas revenue, including Japan, and they have no loyalty to Michael’s legacy. Why would they care if the film hits a billion? They already got their cut.

Whether this is sabotage or short-term studio greed, the result is the same: Michael’s billion-dollar run is being undercut. The film should have been given more theatrical breathing room, at least through late July. Instead, Lionsgate is choosing PVOD money now over a historic box office milestone later. That may be standard industry logic, but for a film this close to $1 billion, it feels painfully shortsighted.