Michael won’t be winning the musical/comedy Golden Globe if a recent decision by the awards’ committee stands.
The Golden Globes’ committee rejected Michael, the biopic about pop superstar Michael Jackson, in the musical/comedy category, Gold Derby reported. Despite being submitted by Lionsgate in the category, the committee concluded that the film didn’t meet the rule that says “a musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot.” Usually the Golden Globes’ committee defers to a studio’s choice of category, but members believed Michael’s musical performances did not meet that criterion of driving the narrative, according to Gold Derby. Horror film Obsession and dramedy Tender Loving Care have already been accepted as comedies with the Golden Globes.
Lionsgate is considering an appeal of the decision by the October 31st deadline, which would need to be reviewed by the committee, Gold Derby reported.
What all this means for Michael is that it may have to contend in the much more competitive drama category. That applies to the film’s lead, Jaafar Jackson, as well. If Lionsgate doesn’t win the appeal, the actor will also have to fight for a spot in the Golden Globes’ dramatic acting nominations.
Despite child sexual abuse allegations plaguing Michael Jackson and his legacy, the film became the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time. Lionsgate is targeting late 2027 or early 2028 for a sequel, which Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the pop singer, said will address the sexual abuse accusations from his uncle’s point of view.
Consequence called Michael a “vapid biopic” and gave it a C- grade.