Michael, a biopic based on the famous singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson, was released on April 24, 2026. Starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, the movie follows Jackson’s path to stardom. It starts with his debut in the Jackson 5 and ends with his peak in success. The movie offers viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the singer’s journey to becoming what one might call the most famous and influential figure in music history.
The movie was highly anticipated among fans and did outstanding box-office business, bringing in 217 million dollars worldwide on its opening weekend. Fan responses have been increasingly positive, with the movie receiving a 97% rating on the Popcornmeter at the popular movie review site Rotten Tomatoes. Many Michael Jackson fans have praised the film for its electrifying performances, including “Thriller,” one of the singer’s most famous hits. Fans also loved the shocking resemblance of Jafaar Jackson, who is stepping into his uncle’s role, which is not an easy task.
29-year-old Jafaar Jackson has been songwriting, producing, and singing professionally since the age of 12; however, he had no experience in dancing or acting before taking the role in Michael. Jafaar trained heavily for the role in many aspects. Jafaar underwent intensive vocal training to sound like Michael, which ultimately paid off. In addition to his voice training, for certain musical scenes Jafaar’s vocals were layered over Michael’s to blend the two singers’ voices. The actor went on to say, “[I’d be] dancing until my feet would bleed or go numb. There are so many times I would wake up sore.”
However, many critics haven’t given the film the same round of applause that fans have. Many reviewers have criticized the movie, claiming it does a bad job at portraying Jackson’s life behind closed doors, which was one of the movie’s main premises. Critics went on to complain how the movie lacked substance and was a glorified playlist of Jackson’s best songs. Critic Robert Daniels voiced his opinion, saying, “Built on a stringent chronological storytelling that makes choppy recreations inevitable, Michael, which spans from 1966 to 1988, possesses only one redeeming quality: the King of Pop’s music.”
Despite the critiques, the film has achieved huge success, and Michael 2 is already in development. The sequel plans on covering his life after 1988, into the 90s and early 2000s, as well as potentially including scandals or controversies he was a part of, like the accusations of sexual assault he faced.
While Michael may not have fulfilled the expectations of some, it certainly captured and portrayed Michael Jackson’s magic on the big screen for long-time fans to cherish and enjoy.
