REVIEW — “Michael”

Even to casual fans, it’s common knowledge that a young Michael Jackson (Juliano Valdi), his bandmate brothers, his sisters and his sweet mother, Katherine (Nia Long), all suffered under the domineering rule of their patriarch, father Joe Jackson (a horrifyingly brilliant Coleman Domingo). The fact that Jackson called his father “Joseph” as a young child tells you everything you need to know about their relationship. It was abusive, strict and terrifying. Although Joe robbed his son of a childhood, he also yielded a compulsive work ethic that propelled Michael Jackson to become both the greatest musical artist of all time and an emotionally-traumatized adult, stuck in a state of arrested development like a real-life Peter Pan. A boy, full of innocent, childlike wonder, who never grew up.

Bookended by Jackson’s ascension to solo touring artist on his 1988 Bad World Tour, the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael jumps back to 1966, tracking the formation of The Jackson 5 under the iron fist (and belt) of their demanding father. Treating his boys as more of a meal ticket out of the steel mines of Gary, Indiana than as sons, Joe worked them day and night, perfecting their harmonies and choreographies until they were good enough to take their show on the road. However, any joy the boys got from performing was quickly squashed by Joe’s criticisms and demands for additional late-night rehearsal. Seemingly performing more to appease their father than for their love of music, The Jackson 5 performed at state fairs and nightclubs before attracting the attention of Motown executives like Barry Gordy (Larenz Tate), who was the first to provide young Michael with the fatherly warmth he so desperately missed at home.

From there, the action progresses quickly though pivotal milestones in a now young adult Michael Jackson’s life, played to perfection by Jackson’s real life nephew and son of Jermaine, Jaafar Jackson. Meaningful moments include the Jackson family moving to a sprawling estate in California, Michael’s adoption of his best friend Bubbles the chimpanzee, and an electric montage of his initial foray into a solo career alongside a young Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson). Set to the tune of “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” the montage covers the late-night recording sessions for his solo debut Off the Wall. High-energy recreations of concerts, rehearsals and music videos follow, giving audiences a front row seat to the showmanship of one of the world’s biggest entertainers.

The film then advances to the formation of Jackson’s second solo effort, featuring the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped the iconic music videos for the largest selling album of all time, Thriller. There’s a gang violence inspired meet up with local break dancers that turned into the “Beat It” music video and a recreation of the ground-breaking, John Landis-directed “Thriller” short film that showcases Jackson’s instincts as a meticulous performer.

While the filmmakers chose to tell an uplifting story of Jackson’s triumphs instead of dwelling on his scandals, the film does feature glimpses into the issues that would largely consume his public image later in life. One particular scene shows Jackson at a consultation for his first nose job that includes a brief mention of his struggle with vitiligo. There are also hints at Jackson’s emerging prescription drug dependency that allegedly began after the infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial accident severely burned his scalp.

No one else could play Michael Jackson on film as perfectly as Jaafar Jackson. The first-time actor delivers an incredible performance as his late uncle. It’s in his blood, after all. He has the look, the moves, the voice, the mannerisms. The germane casting is so uncanny that you forget you’re not watching Michael Jackson on screen. The film also stars KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, and Miles Teller as champions and confidants of Jackson throughout his life. Yet, while there are glimmers of the pure-hearted, innocent man beneath the legend, no one can truly access the mind of Michael Jackson to uncover the true motivations and intent behind his actions, so it’s all speculative.

Ultimately, you won’t learn anything new about Michael Jackson by watching this movie. Written by John Logan, the film is a very surface-level biopic shown through rose-colored glasses. However, that wasn’t always the case. Due to legal restrictions, Michael required $10 million in reshoots to remove third act scenes depicting the 1993 child abuse allegations and police raid on Neverland Ranch. Scenes featuring actress Kat Graham as music legend Diana Ross were also removed from the final cut due to legal considerations. And Jackson’s sister and pop star Janet Jackson also requested to not be a character in the film, so there is zero mention of her existence. So,
because of legal reasons, the film only offers a brief glimpse at the real man in the mirror.

While his story continues beyond the film’s end and there is a trilogy worth of material left on the cutting room floor, does anyone really want a sad sequel? On its own, Michael is an entertaining look at Jackson’s struggle to chart his own path, assert himself as a solo artist and ascend to become the greatest of all time. The musical drama captures the artistic spirit and dynamism of an icon who transcended celebrity, but stops short of depicting his tragic end. Instead, the film is a greatest hits cinematic celebration of the King of Pop, a reminder to us all of the Michael Jackson we loved, his undeniable talent, his unforgettable songs and his lasting legacy on the world, one that tabloid headlines and allegations threatened to tarnish, but could never erase. 3/5

Rated PG-13 with a running time of 2 hours and 7 minutes, Michael opens only in theaters and IMAX on April 24, 2026.