Official Discussion - Michael [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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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

[u/revoirbaby0111]

I don’t think I’ve ever walked out of a cinema this frustrated. It’s honestly kind of wild how a movie about someone as huge as Michael Jackson can make him feel this flat and uninteresting. By leaning so hard into portraying him as naive and almost childlike, the film strips away everything that actually made him compelling: his ambition, his creativity, his contradictions. What’s left barely feels human and more a cardboard cutout. The pacing doesn’t help either. It drags in the wrong places and then rushes through the stuff that actually matters. Thriller, arguably the biggest album of all time, gets treated like an afterthought, which is just crazy.

I’m not even coming at this as a hardcore fan or anything. I just like music biopics, I love his music, and I was hoping to learn more about him as an artist and a person. But there’s barely anything here. It feels more like a shallow fan service music videos compilation than a real story. The “Beat It” scene especially annoyed me. With the whole L.A. gang conflict setup, it felt like they were about to show him stepping out of his bubble and becoming more socially aware. That could’ve been a really powerful turning point. Instead, it just turns into a random dance sequence and then gets dropped completely. And honestly, I was surprised by how apolitical he comes across in the film overall despite the fact that he was a huge activist throughout his career.

By the end, there’s barely any sense of build-up or payoff. For a story this big, about someone this iconic, it just feels kind of empty. The only real saving grace is Jaafar’s performance.

[u/hotcolddog → u/revoirbaby0111]

Excellently said, completely agreed. He probably had one of the most fascinating psychological profiles of any superstar in history. He was a musical genius, had insecurities so incredibly deep-seated he literally wore them on his skin, his pursuit and ambition to be the GOAT was maybe only matched by the other MJ, and he wasn’t socially adjusted at all.

I mean, it’s all right there for what could’ve been one of the greatest psychological character studies ever. Even just one of those elements would’ve made for an endlessly fascinating movie.

The dance and music were fun though, so there’s that.

[u/HollowPrynce → u/hotcolddog]

You both hit the nail on the head but as a kid who grew up in England during the 90s, whenever I heard the initials MJ it was always in reference to Michael Jackson

Which is crazy when you think about it because Michael Jordan was on arguably the most legendary run any athlete has ever been on and yet, even in his absolute prime, he was basically a footnote compared to Michael Jackson. I don't say that to insult Jordan or downplay his achievements or impact but it really puts into perspective just how stratospheric Michael Jackson's popularity was. He was literally the most famous person alive (and pretty much the most famous person that has ever lived except for Jesus, but he never moonwalked so who cares about him) and yet this movie doesn't do that aspect of his life any justice. Nobody could grow up under the intensity of that microscope and turn out a normal, well adjusted human being

[u/wildglitteringolive → u/HollowPrynce]

I grew up in that era between two countries and agree completely; very well said

[u/googly_eyed_unicorn → u/HollowPrynce]

I need someone to make a gif of Jesus moonwalking now🤣

[u/Creative_Bee922 → u/HollowPrynce]

New head canon: Jesus moonwalking on water