Golden Globes Shift ‘Michael’ Biopic From Musical/Comedy to Drama Categories for 2027 Awards

The Golden Globes' awards committee has ruled that Lionsgate's blockbuster Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, will no longer be eligible for the musical or comedy categories at the 2027 ceremony. Gold Derby initially reported the news. The committee concluded that the film's musical performances did not sufficiently drive the narrative, thus not meeting the rule that allows musical performances to be used in either comedy or drama roles.

The members felt that while the music was present, it did not play a central role in propelling the plot forward. Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the iconic King of Pop, now stands to compete in the best motion picture drama category alongside other cinematic titans such as Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three.

This move could potentially diminish Jaafar Jackson's chances of earning a best actor nomination, as drama categories are generally more competitive than the musical or comedy ones. The Globes do not separate supporting actor and actress categories by genre, so the performances of Colman Domingo and Nia Long, who portrayed Jackson's parents, remain unaffected.

Musical biopics have historically faced classification challenges at the Globes. Notable examples include Ray, nominated in the 2004 best motion picture, musical or comedy category, and Walk the Line, which won the same category the following year. Most biopics have since chosen to compete as dramas. Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic by Bryan Singer, clinched the best motion picture drama award in 2018, as did Elvis, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, in 2022.

A Complete Unknown, focusing on Bob Dylan's formative years, was permitted in the musical or comedy category in 2024 but was ultimately nominated in that category. The film's box office success, breaking the $1 billion mark worldwide, further exemplified its commercial appeal.