Michael Jackson Biopic: Who Really Wrote This Story?

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael broke box office records with a $97 million domestic opening weekend in 2025 — but the film audiences saw was legally reconstructed after a clause buried in the 1993 Jordan Chandler civil settlement forced the estate to scrap the original ending entirely. Hosts Becca Hartwell and Miles examine how a contract provision nobody caught until fall 2024 triggered 22 days of reshoots, a new ending set at the 1988 Bad tour, and $25 million in additional pay for director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King. They also investigate the pay dispute quietly unfolding behind the scenes, with Nia Long reportedly fighting Lionsgate over a violated favored nations clause after her role was reduced by the same reshoots that rewarded others. The episode puts the staggering fan-critic divide — 97% audience score versus 38% on Rotten Tomatoes — into context, and asks whether that gap reflects genuine appreciation or something more like a loyalty test. Becca and Miles reach different conclusions about what the whole situation actually reveals.