After over a year of delays and 22 days of reshoots, the Michael Jackson movie biopic is finally ready to hit cinemas this weekend. The King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stars in the title role, with Juliano Valdi as the late icon during his Jackson 5 years. Spanning from humble beginnings in 1960s Indiana through to the height of his success in the late 1980s, Michael is very much the estate’s official rise-to-stardom biopic. And yes, just like Dune and Wicked, a part 1 of two, maybe even three movies; a fact that has been subtly left out of the marketing campaign. As a result, this first film is very much focused on MJ’s music hits from ABC with his brothers through Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It to Bad.
Just like Bohemian Rhapsody, which producer Graham King also helmed, fans will be entertained by recreations of how these hits were born. (Mike Myers even shows up again as another comical doubting record executive). And just like Tom Hanks’ Machiavellian manager, The Colonel in Elvis, Colman Domingo’s Joseph Jackson (Michael’s belt-smacking, money-grabbing manager father) is very much the film’s villain in a stand-out performance likely to receive an Oscar nomination. Although similarly to the Elvis movie, the dynamic between manager and star is pretty one-dimensional, with Michael very much presented as a squeaky clean victim – perhaps ahead of the multiple child abuse allegations he faced in the 90s and 00s that are expected to be addressed in part 2?
Audiences will undoubtedly be split on how to take this biopic, given the crimes Jackson was accused of in life, and continues to be in death, which he always denied. Fans who believe him to be innocent will see this film as a form of vindication of his character and a celebration of his incredible talent as the world’s most successful solo artist (he overtook Elvis Presley in certified sales in the last few years).
Taking the film on its own, though, Michael is perfectly entertaining enough, but plays it safe in a paint-by-numbers rags-to-riches story. His nephew plays him convincingly on vocals and especially with the impressive dance moves. But beyond a recreation and retelling, there’s nothing much else here. Nonetheless, given Jackson’s ongoing star power 17 years after his death, no doubt the estate and Lionsgate will be banking on there still being enough interest to repeat the almost-$1 billion box office of the Freddie Mercury biopic. Just like the extended Live Aid performance at the end of Bohemian Rhapsody, Michael concludes with the Bad tour at Wembley too, just a few years later, with the song in full. As the credits roll, we’re told that “His Story Continues,” suggesting at least a part 2. Here’s hoping the sequel is more of a thriller that takes on the controversies and complexities of his character than this middling origin story.
Michael arrives in UK cinemas on April 22, 2026.
Source link
