Fans turn 'Michael' movie into Michael Jackson concert atmosphere

Adorned with gloves, fedoras and an endless knowledge of lyrics, fans are showing up in droves to see the new Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael."

Similar to the way Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" movie had fans up and out of their theater seats to sing along, "Michael" is having a thrilling effect on viewers.

Clips of people's reactions to the film have gone viral on social media, with videos showing moviegoers dancing and singing along to the soundtrack at theaters. In some posts, people are even dressed like Jackson, decked out in sparkly outfits, hats and sunglasses.

Here's what fans are doing during "Michael" showings.

See 'Michael' fans boogie in theaters, dress up as King of Pop

The movie hit theaters on April 24 and has already become a box office hit. The film, which stars Jackson's real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the iconic singer, earned $97 million domestically in its opening weekend, USA TODAY previously reported.

"Michael" is also a hit with the fans, who have posted videos of their experiences at the theater alongside other Michael Jackson enthusiasts.

While some clips show people singing and dancing along with the movie or as the film's credits roll, other viral videos show fans hanging around long after the film was over to continue the party.

"30 minutes after the movie ended, people were still in the theater, singing, dancing, and people didn't wanna leave," one TikTok video said alongside clips of a group of moviegoers singing together, lit up by flashlights. "And it kept going for another 30 minutes."

Other viral videos show audiences treating the movie as if it's their own personal Michael Jackson concert. One video shows people hoisted up on each other's shoulders as they sing and perform alongside the songs.

Some fans also took the experience to the next level, channeling their inner Michael Jackson and recreating the singer's iconic looks while at the theater, including his "Beat It," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean" music video outfits.

One video with thousands of likes shows multiple moviegoers dressed in those outfits at the front of the theater, dancing together to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" as other people rush to join them, and people in the seats cheer.

"Michael" became a subject of controversy because it did not address the child sexual abuse allegations against the legendary artist. But Jackson experts and scholars believed it would not make a difference to fans, USA TODAY previously reported.

The investigation into the artist eventually yielded an out-of-court civil suit settlement for $23 million and a criminal trial ending with Jackson being acquitted of all 14 charges relating to child sexual abuse.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] or on X @katecperez_.