‘Michael’ Makes Streaming History as ‘The Last House’ Holds Onto the Top Spot

The latest Nielsen streaming chart has delivered a mix of expected hits, surprise performers, and one major first for Starz. While Netflix’s The Last House continues to attract a huge audience, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael has made history after arriving on streaming. The results show that viewers are still willing to jump between brand-new movies, recent theatrical releases, and older favorites when deciding what to watch.

According to viewing data reported by The Hollywood Reporter, The Last House stayed at No. 1 on Nielsen’s weekly movie streaming chart. The Netflix thriller collected 869 million viewing minutes during the week, giving it another strong run at the top. Its success is especially interesting because the movie has received a much weaker response from critics, showing once again that audience interest does not always match reviews.

The movie stars Greta Lee and Wagner Moura as members of a family trapped inside their own home. Their situation becomes increasingly strange as their supplies begin disappearing and an unknown force keeps them from leaving. The unusual setup appears to have been enough to get viewers interested, even though the movie has faced plenty of negative reviews.

The biggest surprise on the chart, however, came from Michael. The Michael Jackson biopic reached No. 4 after making its streaming debut on Starz, pulling in 275 million viewing minutes. That result is more than just another strong streaming opening because it marks the first time a Starz-exclusive title has made it onto Nielsen’s movie rankings.

That is a major moment for the platform, which does not regularly appear this high on Nielsen’s widely watched charts. Michael managed to beat several other popular movies in its first week, giving Starz one of its biggest streaming moments in recent memory. The result also suggests that the movie’s huge theatrical success did not disappear once it left cinemas.

Michael had already become a massive hit during its theatrical run. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, as the legendary singer. The film earned more than $1 billion worldwide, making it the biggest music biopic ever at the box office and the most successful movie in Lionsgate’s history.

The movie follows Michael Jackson from his early years with the Jackson 5 through his rise as one of the biggest stars in music. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller. Jaafar Jackson received particular attention for how closely his performance captured his uncle’s appearance and mannerisms, helping make the film a major talking point during its theatrical run.

The rest of the Nielsen chart shows just how competitive streaming has become. Arthur the King took second place with 422 million viewing minutes across Netflix and Peacock, while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie landed in third with 279 million minutes on Peacock. Netflix’s Don’t Say Good Luck followed Michael in fifth place with 269 million minutes.

Spider-Man: Homecoming also continued to find viewers, reaching sixth place with 266 million minutes across Disney+ and Netflix. Minions remained in the top 10 as well, while Prime Video titles Masters of the Universe and Project Hail Mary also made the list. In the Land of Saints and Sinners rounded out the rankings.

The mix of movies is important because it shows that streaming audiences are not only focused on new releases. Older movies can still pull major numbers when they become easy to find, while theatrical films can receive another boost once they arrive on streaming services. Michael’s performance also shows that a movie can bring a huge audience to a platform that does not usually dominate these rankings.

It will be interesting to see whether Michael can stay near the top in the weeks ahead. Its first-week result is already historic for Starz, while The Last House has once again shown that strong viewer interest can overcome poor critical reception. For now, Nielsen’s latest numbers offer another reminder that streaming success can come from very different places.

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