La Toya Jackson became emotional while watching Michael, the biopic based on the life of her late brother, Michael Jackson. Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere, La Toya opened up about how deeply the film affected her, revealing that revisiting the family’s early days and seeing Michael’s journey brought her to tears. The emotional premiere was especially meaningful for La Toya because the film not only celebrates Michael Jackson’s legacy but also revisits the Jackson family’s beginnings.

Adding to the emotion was seeing her nephew, Jaafar Jackson, step into the role of the King of Pop, a performance she said was so convincing that it felt like watching her brother once again.

While speaking to Extra TV’s Derek Hough at the L.A. premiere of Michael, La Toya Jackson admitted that the movie moved her to tears multiple times. She explained that the most emotional moments came from seeing her family’s story unfold on screen, especially the scenes involving their father’s strict work ethic and the sacrifices that shaped the Jackson siblings’ rise to fame.

“I cried three times. Seeing the story of your family in the beginning, and my father just making sure he instilled certain work ethics in them and making sure they did everything perfectly, and when you recall those days, it becomes emotional to you,” La Toya Jackson shared when asked whether the film made her emotional and what moments affected her the most.

Her words highlighted just how personal the film felt for the Jackson family, turning the premiere into more than just a celebration of Michael’s music; it became a tribute to their shared history. The film now carries memories of the struggles, discipline, and family bonds that shaped Michael Jackson’s extraordinary rise to fame.

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With heartfelt reactions pouring in from the Jackson family, the biopic built strong momentum ahead of its release and its early box office numbers showed that audiences were just as eager to experience Michael on the big screen.

Michael proved to be a major draw at the box office, earning between $12.5 million and $13.5 million in preview screenings, according to Deadline. Those numbers placed Michael well ahead of other successful musical biopics, including Straight Outta Compton, which earned $4.96 million in previews before going on to gross $60.2 million during its opening weekend.

The film also outperformed major recent releases like Project Hail Mary, Dune: Part Two, and Oppenheimer in preview earnings, making it one of Lionsgate’s best preview performances since The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and growing excitement around Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of Michael, the film looked poised for a massive opening weekend as audiences prepared to revisit the music icon’s legendary journey.

The strong emotional response from Michael Jackson’s family, combined with the film’s impressive early box office success, showed that Michael resonated with both longtime fans and new audiences alike. As anticipation continued to build, the biopic has established itself as one of the most talked-about releases of 2026 so far. 

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Do you think La Toya Jackson’s emotional reaction to Michael will inspire more fans to watch the biopic and relive the King of Pop’s journey on the big screen? Let us know in the comments!