Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Juliano Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo
Movie Length: 2 hours 7 minutes
My thoughts: Michael Jackson is one of the most mythologized figures in music history, but Michael has little interest in exploring that complexity. Instead, it plays things safe, leaning heavily on nostalgia and familiar biopic formulas.
The film follows his rise from the Jackson 5 to solo stardom, touching on his struggle for independence from his father. But these moments feel surface-level, more like obligatory plot points than meaningful insight.
Jaafar Jackson delivers an impressively accurate performance, capturing Michael’s voice and physicality with uncanny precision. Still, the script gives him little room to go beyond imitation, leaving the portrayal feeling hollow.
The biggest issue is what the film avoids. It sidesteps controversy and complexity in favor of a carefully polished image, ignoring even notable conflicts like Michael’s fallout with Paul McCartney. The result is less a biography and more a sanitized tribute.
My Rating: 4/10. Michael may satisfy fans looking for a nostalgic celebration, but anyone hoping for a deeper or more honest portrayal will come away disappointed.
Michael is now in theaters.
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