From Michael Jackson and Prince to Elvis and Nipsey Hussle, the death of a pop star can be the beginning of a booming second act

By Allison Samuels

Last weekend, Michael, the big-screen film about Michael Jackson, brought in $97 million domestically and $217 million internationally, shattering records for music biopics. The King of Pop, dead since 2009, remains one of the most bankable stars on earth. Never mind that critics were unimpressed—“Frustratingly shallow,” The Guardian; “Barely counts as a movie,” The Boston Globe­—fans flocked to theaters to watch the early, relatively scandal-free life of Jackson unfold on-screen.

A sequel now seems all but inevitable, though it will most likely have to confront the more controversial later chapters of Jackson’s life, including allegations of child molestation, which his family and estate have long denied. “My brother will always be loved,” said his sister La Toya Jackson outside the premiere of READ ON