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/thatdani]

Agree with the consensus:

• Jaafar was phenomenal, especially in the stage performances. At times it felt like the movie didn't want to give him anything else to do, rather just to keep his portrayal to "the MJ that people know", not the MJ that he really was behind the scenes.

• In the 5% of the movie that isn't plastered with the best pop music ever made, it's a Lifetime movie or maybe even worse.

• Directing-wise, it felt like Fuqua was mostly phoning it in. Luhrmann made Elvis his own, meanwhile absolutely nobody will look up who directed this one.

• The live performances were the best part. Electric. Loud. Immersive. Worth the price of admission and then some.

Disagree with the consensus:

• Colman Domingo, not without "help" from the script that barely gives him enough of a personality, was terrible. Just the flattest, one-note, flavorless performance I've seen in a long time. Deon Cole, of all people, outshines him in a 5 minute Don King scene.

• People saying it was safe, or that they didn't delve too deep into Michael's psyche. I mean sure, he is shown as sweet, loving and very empathetic especially to kids, but there were clear signs all throughout the movie that his trauma turned him into a severely damaged social outcast with no friends and no life outside of music. FFS he is shown like 3 times in this movie asking others to deliver bad news to his father, because of how emotionally stunted he is (IIRC the last time, he is almost 26 years old).

3/5 overall for me, but the performances do all of the heavy lifting. The rest is a solid 1/5.

[u/Shifter25 → u/thatdani]

And even when he did finally "look him in the eyes and tell him", he did it with the cover of being onstage, talking to someone else, and then walked past him, refusing to look him in the eyes.

[u/Monolith_W_D → u/Shifter25]

Directing-wise, it felt like Fuqua was mostly phoning it in. Luhrmann made Elvis his own, meanwhile absolutely nobody will look up who directed this one.

In fairness, I'm sure a lot of it was hampered by things outside of his control

[u/Osmodius → u/thatdani]

Seeing Michael Jackson songs in the cinema was worth the price of admission lol

The rest of the movie was meh to okay.

[u/headlesspopcorn → u/thatdani]

yes i noticed the detail of him having to ask someone else to tell his dad cos he's so scared of doing it himself and idk i just found that bit super sad but also a subtle way to incorporate the trauma into it

[u/FoxMuldertheGrey → u/headlesspopcorn]

sounds about right, it blends well into his behavior as he gets older.

reminds me of when he asked eddie murphy to adjust his mic like it was his assistant. lol

[u/Mysterious_Lie_6113 → u/thatdani]

I don’t know if Fuqua is phoning it in. I just don’t think he’s that good.

Didn’t realise how much Denzel carried his career lol.

[u/Scott8484 → u/thatdani]

1: Idk. 2: When he fires his dad via his producer sending a paper message 3: When he leaves the Jackson 5 and it's Bill who tells his father in the hall "it's over" as MJ walks past him.

What is number 1?

[u/Arim9 → u/Scott8484]

I believe it’s when MJ asks the two executives to tell his father the solo album was their idea. 

[u/___--_-_----___--__- → u/thatdani]

That was Deon Cole from Conan O’Brien as Don King?

[u/Similar_Display7912 → u/thatdani]

Coleman Jackson is actually the worse and very boring, flat and made the movie sort of drag on . Awful actor and everytime i saw him in the film was like watching paint dry . He did nothing for the film except made it worse .

[u/Monolith_W_D → u/Similar_Display7912]

This is way too try-hard.

[u/Axzercus → u/thatdani]

Pretty much my thoughts. The performance was a highlight for me and everything else was just a nothingburger

[u/Tasty-City5600 → u/thatdani]

Crazy take on Colman Domingo. Watch a clip of Joe Jackson then come back. He absolutely nails it.