Billion-Dollar Biopic ‘Michael’ Moonwalks Onto Canal+ for a Special Retro Week

‘Michael’, the Michael Jackson biopic, has had a historic run since it premiered in Berlin on April 10 at the Uber Eats Music Hall. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, the film opened in the UK on April 22 and in the US on April 24.

It quickly made box office history. ‘Michael’ became the first biopic ever to pass $1 billion worldwide, overtaking ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.

Now French audiences can watch it at home. As Canal+ announced, ‘Michael’ will air on November 20 exclusively on Canal+ as part of its special CANAL 80’S programming. The channel teased the broadcast with a line that translates to “There will never be another one like him.” According to Médias Infos, the film airs on Friday, November 20, at 9:10 pm, marking its first broadcast for Canal+ subscribers.

The film anchors a week-long celebration of the 1980s. CANAL 80’S runs from Saturday, November 14, to Friday, November 20, on Canal+, the Canal+ app and social networks, under the tagline “Occupe-toi de ton culte!”

According to Baz’art, the programming spans cinema, documentaries, sport, series, entertainment and music. It explores remarkable personal stories, collective histories, popular phenomena and artistic revolutions from the decade, with the aim of bringing generations together around a shared culture.

Il n’y en aura jamais deux comme lui. Michael, dans notre programmation spéciale CANAL 80’S, le 20 novembre seulement sur CANAL+. https://t.co/eEttDL8KNa

— CANAL+ (@canalplus) November 5, 2026

Alongside ‘Michael’, the week’s other headline film is ‘Juste une illusion’. Both are getting their first exclusive broadcasts on Canal+. ‘Michael’ follows Jackson’s rise from a poor family in Gary, Indiana. As a child, he is pushed onto the stage by his strict father, who manages the Jackson 5, the group formed with his siblings.

Début de la semaine CANAL 80’S avec le dernier tube d’Éric Toledano et Olivier Nakache 🪩 Juste une illusion, le 14 novembre seulement sur CANAL+. https://t.co/5kzI6BFumj

— CANAL+ (@canalplus) November 4, 2026

Gifted and driven, Michael gradually breaks free of his father’s control and records ‘Thriller’ as a solo artist. The album transforms the music industry and becomes the best-selling album of all time, though the film shows Michael still struggling to define his identity and live on his own terms.

4 novembre 1984. C’était il y a 42 ans 🎂 RDV le samedi 14 novembre pour nous replonger dans l’ambiance 80’s avec une programmation exceptionnelle 🪩 https://t.co/o8Kyyi18bx

— CANAL+ (@canalplus) November 4, 2026

Jaafar Jackson leads the film as Michael, joined by Colman Domingo, Nia Long and Miles Teller. Juliano Krue Valdi also appears in the biopic. Lionsgate released the film in the US, while Universal Pictures handled the UK release. The biopic has since become Lionsgate’s highest-grossing film and its first release to reach $1 billion.

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

— Michael (@michaelmovie) February 2, 2026

According to The Express Tribune, citing Box Office Mojo, ‘Michael’ has earned about $1.029 billion worldwide. That includes roughly $372.3 million from the US and Canada and around $656.4 million from international markets.

The film crossed the billion-dollar mark in July and ranks as the 4th highest-grossing film of 2026. Its success has also paved the way for a sequel, which is now in development. Scheduling ‘Michael’ on the final night of CANAL 80’S makes it the week’s grand finale.

Jackson’s music defined much of the decade, and ‘Thriller’ remains a landmark of the era. For subscribers who missed it in theaters, the Canal+ premiere offers a chance to see one of 2026’s biggest hits as part of a full week of retro entertainment.

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