“Michael,” a biopic that attempts to encapsulate the King of Pop’s life from 1966–1988, succeeds in some areas but falls short in others. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this movie succeeds most in its depiction of Michael Jackson, played by Jafaar Jackson. Jackson embodies Michael to a tee, from his mannerisms, tone of voice, and most notably dance moves. Jaafar has done his due diligence.
However, outside of his performance, the movie lacks in terms of its storytelling and narrative. The film also chronicles certain parts of his life while completely ignoring others.
For instance, there are multiple scenes involving Michael and his love for his many pets, from giraffes to the famous “Bubbles” the chimpanzee. While these scenes are cute, we’re shown them numerous times throughout the film. Instead of showing Michael playing with Bubbles for the third time, it would have been nice to see his work as an actor on “The Wiz” or get a deeper look into his personal life.
The main villain in the film is Michael’s father Joe Jackson, referred to by Michael and his family as Joseph. Coleman Domingo does fulfill his role as the abusive and overbearing force in Michael’s life. Each scene with Domingo makes you uneasy, and viewers get a glimpse into the type of strained relationship he had with his family.
Nia Long’s character, as Michael’s mother, is a stark contrast to Joseph. Scenes where she interacts with Michael are completely different. Moments where the two bond over a movie and snacks in the living room are tender and provide a much-needed break from not only Joseph but a movie jampacked with electric dance numbers.
Dance sequences are crucial to this film’s success. Along with his one-of-a-kind vocal abilities, Michael was, of course, known for his killer dance moves. Jafaar and the movie’s choreographers showcase these scenes well, and the movie also does a great job of showing his evolution as a dancer, as well as his growing confidence as a stage performer the older he got.
Scenes from “Michael,” now in theaters. (Photos courtesy of Lionsgate) 
Scenes from “Michael,” now in theaters. (Photos courtesy of Lionsgate) 
Scenes from “Michael,” now in theaters. (Photos courtesy of Lionsgate) 
Lionsgate hosted U.S. premiere of “Michael” at Dolby Theatre in LA on April 20, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate)
While these dance and singing breaks, where he performs hits like “Thriller,” “Beat it,” “Billie Jean,” and “Human Nature,” are superb, they do feel a little repetitive. As jaw-dropping as the moonwalk is, we can only see it so many times in a movie before thinking, “Okay, we get it.”
Another element missing from the film was Michael’s relationships with his brothers and sisters. There are only a few scenes where he is interacting with them, and I think the movie would have benefited from showing their relationships a little more.
Something else that holds the film back is the fact that many of the producers are members of the Jackson family. With their input, it seems like the film mutes certain parts of Michael and his backstory. With their input, it seems like the film mutes certain parts of Michael and his backstory. The point of biopics is to shed light on these topics. The Jacksons are probably trying to portray a certain image of Michael and the family, mostly keeping things happy and celebratory. The issue is that it gives this biopic a kind of cookie-cutter feel. Nothing ever really jumps out at you. This is also very apparent in the script, which contains a lot of flat dialogue between characters
The movie does make sure to highlight Michael’s fan interaction. It also shows the compassion he had for less-fortunate people — there are multiple scenes of him visiting hospitals, something he was known to do in real life.
Viewers are also shown personal sides of Michael and some of his anxieties about his appearance. Most notably, the movie shows his insecurities about his nose and his progressing vitiligo.
While not perfect, the film does its best when showcasing who Michael Jackson was as a stage performer, leading moviegoers from his time in the Jackson 5 up to the Victory Tour. Superfans are not likely to learn anything new, but for people completely unfamiliar with him, it is a solid introduction to Michael Jackson as a person and artist.
“Michael” is in theaters now.