Every Michael Jackson Movie in Order, From ‘The Wiz’ to the New Biopic

Few entertainers have carved out a cinematic legacy as distinctive as Michael Jackson’s. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the most successful entertainer of all time, Jackson brought the same relentless ambition he applied to music into his relationship with the screen. The result is a filmography that spans decades and defies easy categorization.

Whether you are a lifelong devotee or someone freshly intrigued by the wave of renewed interest in the King of Pop, exploring every Michael Jackson movie in order is a rewarding journey. From his first steps onto a movie set to posthumous celebrations of his genius, Jackson’s relationship with film was as ambitious and spectacular as his music — and he was never just a pop star who acted, but a visionary who saw the screen as another stage for his unparalleled creativity.

Michael Jackson Movies in Chronological Order

• ‘The Wiz’ (1978)
• ‘Captain EO’ (1986)
• ‘Moonwalker’ (1988)
• ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ (2009)
• ‘Michael’ (2026)

Where the Michael Jackson Filmography Truly Begins: ‘The Wiz’

In the beloved, star-studded Motown retelling of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, a young Michael Jackson stole scenes as the Scarecrow, starring alongside Diana Ross as Dorothy and Richard Pryor as The Wiz. The production was a major Hollywood event for its time, backed by the full force of Motown’s promotional machine.

His only significant flop of that era, ‘The Wiz’ was unveiled with great hoopla by Motown but failed to connect at the box office in the way the studio had hoped. Despite the film’s commercial disappointment, Jackson’s screen presence was undeniable and widely noted by those who saw it.

Jackson’s heartfelt and physically nimble performance was a highlight of the film and offered audiences a vivid glimpse of the superstar he was about to become. In hindsight, ‘The Wiz’ functions as a compelling opening chapter in a screen career that would grow into something far more unconventional.

‘Moonwalker,’ ‘Captain EO,’ and the King of Pop’s Most Ambitious Screen Experiments

Released in 1988, ‘Moonwalker’ is not a traditional movie but rather a creative anthology of music videos and short films centered around Jackson. The film’s centerpiece is the extended “Smooth Criminal” sequence, a 40-minute noir-inspired fantasy that showcases some of his most iconic choreography and offers a fascinating look directly into his creative mind.

The anthology combined elements from Jackson’s bestselling ‘Bad’ album with a fantasy tale of Michael’s confrontation with a ruthless drug dealer, featuring Joe Pesci and Sean Lennon alongside the star. The film was an international hit, particularly in home video markets, and remains a fan-favourite entry across his entire filmography.

For nearly a decade, visitors to Disney parks could also experience ‘Captain EO’, a futuristic 3D space fantasy directed by Francis Ford Coppola in which Jackson’s character and his space crew undertook a mission to save the world from an evil queen through the power of song and dance. The short film was a technological marvel for its era, combining state-of-the-art 3D projection with Jackson’s choreography in a format no one had attempted at that scale before.

Jackson famously disliked the term “music video,” preferring to call his creations “short films.” This was no exaggeration — he hired A-list film directors and used narrative storytelling to create cultural events rather than mere promotional clips. That philosophy gives the middle period of his Michael Jackson filmography a singular character unlike anything else in pop music history.

‘This Is It’: The Documentary That Rewrote Box Office History

‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ is a 2009 American documentary film about Jackson’s preparation for a planned concert residency that was cancelled due to his death. Director Kenny Ortega confirmed that none of the footage was originally intended for release, but after Jackson’s death it was agreed that the film would be made, with the footage filmed in California at the Staples Center and The Forum.

Sony subsequently paid sixty million dollars for the film rights, and the film was given a worldwide release and a limited two-week theatrical run beginning October 28, with tickets going on sale a month early to satisfy high anticipated demand, breaking numerous pre-sale and box office records before it even opened.

It made $267.9 million worldwide and is listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing documentary film at the global box office. The film earned an 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics noting that it captured a version of Jackson the public had rarely seen before.

Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus described the film as packing more than enough entertainment value to live up to its ambitious title, even if it fell short of being a definitive concert film or insightful backstage document. For many fans, it remains the closest thing to attending a Michael Jackson concert that they will ever experience.

The ‘Michael’ Biopic and What It Means for His Screen Legacy

The authorized biopic ‘Michael‘ premiered in Berlin on April 10, 2026, and was released in the United States on April 24, 2026, in IMAX, distributed by Lionsgate domestically and Universal in international territories. The production carried a budget reported between $155 and $200 million, making it one of the most expensive musical biopics ever made.

Jackson is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, with Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and the supporting cast also includes Miles Teller, Mike Myers, and Larenz Tate in the role of Barry Gordy. The teaser trailer for the film was viewed over 116 million times in its first 24 hours, surpassing any previous trailer for a musical biopic in history.

The iconic songs heard throughout the film, from “Billie Jean” to “Beat It” to “Thriller,” are all vintage MJ recordings, gloriously remastered and superbly lip-synced by Jaafar, who channels his uncle in ways that repeatedly make viewers feel as though Jackson is once again present on screen. Critics at Variety praised Jaafar’s performance, noting that he nails the look, the voice, the electrostatic moves, and the mix of delicacy and steel that made Michael who he was.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 39% of critics gave the film a positive review, with the consensus reading that while Jaafar Jackson’s smooth moves bring the King of Pop to uncanny life, the biopic mostly plays like a greatest hits album that could have benefitted from giving more actual insight into the icon.

Audience reception has been considerably warmer, with fans celebrating Jaafar’s physical transformation and the film’s electrifying musical set pieces. Whether the completed story deserves a sequel or a bolder follow-up that confronts the harder chapters of Jackson’s life is the question the whole film-going world seems to be debating right now — so where do you stand on how ‘Michael’ handled the King of Pop’s legacy on screen?