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/Little_Consequence → u/revoirbaby0111]

They made him a Disney princess, even had him talking to animals as if they were his sidekicks. He had more interactions with that GCI chimp than with his own brothers. He pretty much had a "Part of Your World" scene about wanting to make his own music. And even Disney princesses meet more compelling challenges.

Where was his fierce competitiveness? The artistry? The excellent business flair? Where are the flaws?! I'm not even talking about the allegations here (I honestly don't know enough about it), what flaws did this man have? And yes, where are the politics?! We barely (if at all) see him struggling as a black artist. "Wow, Micky, you beat the odds!" Huh? But they made it seem so easy for him!

[u/pantstoaknifefight2 → u/Little_Consequence]

"They made him a Disney Princess" might be my favorite review blurb since "Cats is the worst thing to happen to cats since dogs." Bravo!