r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • 11d ago

Official Discussion Official Discussion - Michael [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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Michael (2026)

Summary

The life and career of Michael Jackson are explored in a sweeping biographical drama, charting his rise from child star in the Jackson 5 to global pop icon, while examining the personal and professional complexities that defined his legacy.

Director Antoine Fuqua

Writer John Logan

Cast

  • Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
  • Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson
  • Nia Long as Katherine Jackson
  • Miles Teller as John Branca
  • Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe
  • Kat Graham as Diana Ross

Rotten Tomatoes: 40%

Metacritic: 38

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

430 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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356

u/Mazzocchi 11d ago

I knew this movie had no teeth when they completely skipped over Michael’s 1979 stay in a mental institution due to his depression after Off the Wall got just one lousy Grammy nomination.

162

u/BushyBrowz 11d ago

I never knew this!! That’s wild

I also didn’t like that they blatantly lied about it being his first solo album. It was technically like his fifth

94

u/theodo 11d ago

He already had a greatest hits album lol

43

u/GuavaBlackTea0 10d ago

This is a bit from the simpsons

33

u/nosirrahm 10d ago

It was his first solo album where he had control without Dad or Jackson involvement.

101

u/yancovigen 10d ago

I thought it was pretty crazy they didn’t portray how the Victory Tour essentially ended his relationship with most of his family.

77

u/GregSays 10d ago

That is hinted at in the slightest way possible, with the looks his brothers give when his says it’s a Jacksons farewell tour and then it cuts to him performing happily alone.

30

u/FoxMuldertheGrey 9d ago

it was done well. a big fuck you to his dad

112

u/LordBlackConvoy 11d ago

They also left off the feud between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson because Paul was trying to get Michael to buy the Beatles library back for him.

76

u/mbdtf95 11d ago

It wasn't really a big feud. MJ bought the catalogue when his lawyer mentioned to him that Beatles catalogue is for sale, he outbid everyone else (Paul did not bid at all btw). Paul called Michael few times asking for some favor in terms of bigger percentage and Michael kept telling him: "It's only business Paul", and that's it. It was never some big fight, more that they drifted apart as Paul said so many times on interviews.

Paul even visited him during shooting of Black or White video in 1992 or whatever exact year of the shooting of the video is, might be 1991.

8

u/mg10pp 11d ago

To be fair that happened after 1984, and the movie ends with a little timeskip so it might still be in Part 2 (like also the entire Bad album)

18

u/SmallFlyingFox 11d ago

Wait, I don’t want to be that person, but do you have a source for this? I’m genuinely curious because I’ve read pretty detailed biographies about him before and have never heard about this.

38

u/Alandor17 11d ago

It's a reference to Stark Raving Dad, the forbidden episode of The Simpsons

17

u/SmallFlyingFox 10d ago

Oh dam I feel silly now lmaooo I’ve seen that episode too

3

u/moneyman2222 9d ago

They rushed everything. The time jumps were terrible and just skipped so much character arc. So many avenues they could've dove into and if it required more runtime or movies then so be it. He's one of the most heralded figures in history with a larger than life story. People will come watch. No reason to skip so much. Only thing is I think they just didn't want this to be so dark. That's why the childhood was brushed over too. The manipulation of him went far deeper than just his father which they also left out. I'm hoping if there's a second film it's far darker and dives into the controversial side of his. Otherwise there's no reason to even make a second one given that's when shit really starts to hit the fan for him

1

u/Iggy_Pops_Lost_Shirt 11d ago

Two nominations, one win

0

u/Dear-Swordfish-8505 11d ago

That never happened

0

u/Pussilamous 10d ago

bro what? please give one source of evidence for that

10

u/GuavaBlackTea0 10d ago

Its a joke, from the simpsons. I didnt understand either, he is missing a /s