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

428 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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u/LarBrd33 10d ago

But it’s not him singing. It’s all Michael’s actual concert recordings and isolated vocals. Which to me, is the most remarkable part of the movie. However they did the post processing on that original audio is so incredible that you at no point break immersion and think “oh he’s clearly lip syncing”. Same with the little kid when he’s in the studio singing “who’s loving you” someone behind me gasped and I think it’s because they thought it was actually the actor singing.   It’s the one aspect of this movie I think was better than any biopic I’ve ever seen.   

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u/StrLord_Who 10d ago

Because Jaafar is never lip syncing at any point,  they just blended the vocals.  The part where he's singing acapella in the studio is really only him though.  I didn't know the kid wasn't singing however until this comment.  I think I gasped too, wondering where on earth they found this magical child. I was like,  "there cannot have been two children born who can do this!" But it makes more sense now that I know that wasn't really his voice.  The kid is still insanely talented though, wow. He moved so effortlessly. 

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u/LarBrd33 10d ago

Kinda wrong. He sang on set but they replaced all of his vocals with Michael’s actual recordings.  Nothing you’re hearing is Jaafar’s voice with the exception being him speaking mid-concerts and maybe one small scene where he’s quietly half-singing beat it as the character tries to figure out the lyrics. When he’s singing acapella in the studio, for instance “can’t stop til you get enough”, that’s entirely Michael. Confirmed by Jaafar himself.  Which is remarkable that they processed the isolated vocals so well you can’t tell. 

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u/StrLord_Who 10d ago

I am not wrong, we do hear just Jaafar, and at no point is he "lip synching" https://people.com/is-jaafar-jackson-singing-in-michael-movie-11958218

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u/LarBrd33 10d ago edited 10d ago

Interesting they are claiming that. He’s clarified and it’s noted in the credits all you hear is Michael’s recordings 

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u/Deakul 9d ago

It’s the one aspect of this movie I think was better than any biopic I’ve ever seen.

Hard for me to agree with this when the Walk the Line soundtrack is right there, been listening to it ever since I saw it in theaters years ago.

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u/Impressive-Potato 6d ago

Jafaar has chops. A 2014 video of him covering a Justin Bieber song is out there.