Biography
Drama
Review: ‘Michael’ is a Greatest Hits Compilation of Michael Jackson’s Most Iconic Moments, Delivering an Over-Simplified, Audience-Friendly Portrait of the Pop Music Legend
April 22, 2026Ben MK
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Known to his legions of loyal fans around the globe as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is an artist who needs no introduction. With a whopping 13 Grammy Awards to his name and over 500 million records sold, not to mention the bestselling album of all time, Jackson remains an icon among icons. In spite of a tumultuous personal life and a professional career that has seen its fair share of ups and downs, Jackson's music has withstood the test of time. And now, with the succinctly titled biopic Michael, director Antoine Fuqua is bringing the late singer-songwriter's life story — or, at least, part of it — to the big screen, in this feel-good underdog drama about the young boy from Gary, Indiana who would grow up to become one of the most talented, influential and recognizable people in the world. Beginning in 1966 and spanning 22 years of his life, the film introduces viewers to a 10-year-old Michael Jackson (Juliano Valdi), as he and his four older brothers, Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie, work tirelessly to rehearse and perfect their musical talent — a talent that their domineering father, Joseph (Colman Domingo), hopes will be the family's ticket to escaping their blue-collar life in Gary. Fast forward several years, and with the Jackson 5 now one of the most adored music groups in America, no one in the family feels the pressure to always be at the top of their game more than Michael (Jackson's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson). Even though the quintet's skyrocketing success has allowed Joseph and his wife, Katherine (Nia Long), to relocate their family to a lavish home in Encino, California, where Michael enjoys the company of a variety of different animal companions — including his famous chimpanzee, Bubbles — Michael still can't escape the iron-fisted grip of his father, who runs the family like a business. However, when Michael decides to try to branch off from the Jackson 5 and try his hand at a solo career, that's when the tension between father and son really starts to boil over, as Michael struggles to balance his duties to his family with his need to fulfill his own creative desires. Releasing his breakout solo album, Off the Wall, in 1979, Michael is immediately met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction from his fans, sending Off the Wall to the top of the music charts and cementing the then-20-year-old as one of the industry's most bankable performers. Nevertheless, Joseph's stubborn insistence on overseeing every aspect of Michael's career continues to dog the pop star. And it isn't until Michael works up the long-overdue courage to fire his father as his manager that Michael's trajectory towards superstardom really starts to steeply ascend. Following up the immense success of Off the Wall with the equally popular Thriller in 1982 and partnering with entertainment lawyer John Branca (Miles Teller), Michael becomes an unstoppable force in music, delivering hit after chart-topping hit. But when Joseph seeks to capitalize on his youngest son's popularity by sending him and his four brothers on a reunion concert tour, will Michael once again become a pawn in his father's game? Or will he use the opportunity to finally break free, emancipating himself and ensuring that he and only he be the one to determine the future of his and his music's legacy? Written by John Logan, the result is the perfect showcase for Jackson's music; and combined with his nephew's uncanny resemblance to the pop superstar — not to mention his mastery of his uncle's signature dance moves and mannerisms — Michael will no doubt leave audiences eager to see the King of Pop's most iconic performances recreated on the big screen with their jaws on the floor. Where the movie falters majorly, though, is in its depiction of Jackson's personal life and many struggles. And while Fuqua does an impeccable job of bringing the singer's most popular songs to life in true cinematic fashion, the film barely scratches the surface when it comes to shedding any light on Jackson's motivations, his complex family relationships, and his many quirks and peculiarities. Needless to say, viewers willing to overlook this biopic's shortcomings will find it easy to enjoy it for the music. As a portrait of a tortured artist, however, the movie certainly leaves a lot to be desired. A greatest hits compilation with little interest in delivering an honest portrayal of its subject, Michael is very much a product designed to reintroduce his music to a new generation of fans. Still, for those who don't mind that it relegates the more complicated parts of Michael Jackson's life to the liner notes of history — or the inevitable sequel — there's still a decent amount of entertainment to be had. Make no mistake, you're likely to find a more in-depth exploration of Jackson's life in the pages of Wikipedia. As superficial as it is, however, it's hard not to be at least a little thrilled, even if that feeling is as fleeting as a moonwalk. Michael releases April 24th, 2026 from Lionsgate Films. The film has an MPAA rating of PG-13 for some thematic material, language, and smoking. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 7 min. |
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