They Don’t Make Celebrities Like Michael Jackson Anymore
Michael Jackson's enduring fame is highlighted by the recent success of the biopic 'Michael,' which has become the second-highest-grossing biopic of all time. Despite criticism and controversy surrounding the film, audiences have shown a strong nostalgic connection to Jackson's legacy. This phenomenon underscores a shift in celebrity culture, where modern stars lack the same level of universal fame that Jackson achieved.
- ▪The biopic 'Michael' has become the second-highest-grossing biopic of all time.
- ▪Critics have largely panned the film for being shallow and commercial, yet audiences remain drawn to it.
- ▪Michael Jackson's unique level of stardom continues to inspire obsession and curiosity even years after his death.
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CultureThey Don’t Make Celebrities Like Michael Jackson AnymoreThe success of Michael suggests that audiences are nostalgic for a universal kind of fame that’s rare today.By Jemele HillIllustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic*May 16, 2026, 8 AM ET ShareSave A few years ago, Magic Johnson told a story about Michael Jackson that seems almost unimaginable today. In the 1980s, the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar invited Jackson to a Lakers game, an invitation the singer was initially hesitant to accept because he was worried that his presence would create too much of a frenzy. As it turned out, those fears were justified. “He sat down; people went crazy,” Johnson recalled to Variety. “They were running from upstairs, the sides.
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