Michael (2026)

I’ve always enjoyed listening to Michael Jackson’s music, and I even have a couple of his records. I guess that’s just the nostalgia junkie in me. I was also curious when I saw that they were making a movie on the early years of his life. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go see it after looking at its crappy Rotten Tomatoes score but after witnessing it on the big screen, it actually wasn’t that bad. I should probably start off by saying that I’m not going to talk about Jackson’s problems in his later years because the movie doesn’t cover that. That might be why the score sucked and why some people didn’t like this film. But, I heard there’s a sequel in development that will delve into the more complex and controversial years, so I really don’t see what there is to complain about. This also made for a good movie theater experience since I saw it in a packed house with an audience who seemed really into it. Almost as much as I get when it comes to my hobbies that most people wouldn’t care about. I have more to add to this recent biopic, so let’s moonwalk into one of the biggest stories in music.

     Again, the movie chronicles the early years of Jackson’s life, from his rise as a young performer in the Jackson 5 to one of the most influential entertainers in history. The story explores the pressures, creativity, and complexities that shaped his career and public image. I think one of my favorite aspects of this film was that he was played by his actual nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who totally crushed the part. Everything about him in this movie was amazing. I liked how he perfected his uncle’s mannerisms, dance movements, and he gave an incredible performance on the big screen. It was like watching Michael Jackson come back to life. The rest of the cast did a stellar job, which includes Nia Long as Jackson’s mother Katherine, Miles Teller, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, who pissed me off more than any overstimulating environment ever would. I guess that shows how great his performance was. There was even a funny cameo from Mike Myers. The film also did a good job at exploring Jackson in his kid years and showing how difficult his childhood was. Those scenes were tough to watch at times but Juliano Valdi as Young Michael also brought out an amazing performance as well. I think it’s safe to say that no matter what anybody’s opinion of Michael Jackson is, there’s no denying that he pretty much redefined what it meant to be a popstar. His music continues to be loved and it’s easy to see how he earned his title as the “King of Pop.” My only complaint for this movie is that it felt like a by-the-numbers story and it didn’t really offer anything new to the biopic genre but I can’t worry too much about that since I was enjoying listening to the music and I can’t think of a bigger reason to see this movie than that.

     If you’re hoping for a story that will discuss Jackson’s issues later on in life, don’t count on that here because again, you’d have to wait for the sequel to come out. Having said that, it was cool to see how he rose to fame and to see what inspired him to create his sound. Overall, I would have to give this move a 7 out of 10. If you enjoy listening to Michael Jackson as well, then ignore the Rotten Tomatoes score and go check this film out in the theater while you still can. The music soars, even when the story feels familiar.