Michael is the cinematic biopic of the early life (and early adulthood) of music legend and superstar Michael Jackson as portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson.
© 2026 Lionsgate
The story of Michael Jackson has been well-documented, especially for those of us who grew up listening to and marveling at the talent and star power of the “King of Pop”. What more could a movie about his life tell us? Seventeen years after his death, this new star-studded biopic re-tells the story of his abusive childhood and the extraordinary gift that he showcased as the lead singer of The Jackson Five. Michael the movie follows an inspiring narrative that shows the visionary and creative ambition which fueled the King of Pop’s relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. A feat which he achieved. As you would expect, the movie features a familiar and nostalgic soundtrack of some of Micheal Jackson’s most iconic songs, up until 1988 when the film concludes.
As well-known as his narrative is, Michael is still an emotionally moving watch. Within the first few minutes of the beginning of the film, Joseph Jackson (played by two-time Academy Award® nominee Colman Domingo) cements his position as the villain of the piece. Despite knowing the story, it was still difficult to see a young Michael, skillfully portrayed by Juliano Krue Valdi, displaying his customary sensitivity and gentleness and yet still subjected to beatings. We get to see the family dynamics and gain insight into the early years of Micheal and [most] of his family.
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However, it’s not all trauma and sadness, the film gives us a unique behind the scenes view into Michael’s gifts and inexhaustible work ethic. There’s a careful balancing act of telling the story and interspersing it alongside the much-loved songs and performances. This will no doubt satisfy the urge for reminiscing about some of Michael’s greatest hits that viewers will bring with them.
© 2026 Lionsgate
It must be acknowledged that the cast are central to the success of this movie. They were phenomenal. It says a lot when the audience can lose themselves in the character and engage completely with the story. Especially difficult to do when the characters are household names and their lives so well-documented. Nia Long (Empire, The Best Man franchise) thoughtfully embodied the quiet strength of Katherine Jackson and Coleman Domingo as Joseph gave us a domineering and relentless patriarch. He was multilayered and single minded in his ambition to create and sustain brand The Jackson 5. They both completely embodied their characters as Michael’s parents. However, it was the two actors portraying Michael who stole the show. Juliano Krue Valdi successfully captured the adorable and gentle spirit of a young Michael. His voice and mannerisms were spot-on.
© 2026 Lionsgate
Rarely do the stars align so well to deliver a talent like we see in Michael’s real-life nephew Jaafar, playing his uncle. In this, his feature film debut, there are many scenes where his resemblance to Michael, his movements and his stage presence is uncanny. There are many scenes where you genuinely cannot discern Jaafar from Michael. Do not pop to the toilets and miss his soulful and spellbinding performance of “Human Nature”. His rendition faithfully channelled the spirit of his uncle, and it will give you all the feels.
The movie did a wonderful job of shining a spotlight on some of the less well-known people who played a pivotal role in Michael’s life. Notably his head of security Bill Bray played by Keilophus Jones. This is another example of excellent casting. His quiet and steady presence in Michael’s life appeared to be a constant and much-needed presence in his life. They reportedly had an extremely close relationship with Michael seeing him as a father-figure.
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Michael the movie is a perfect reminder of the impact and legacy Michael Jackson left behind. From the early Motown hits, to his yet to be beaten stats on the Thriller album. His steely ambition was often underestimated. An example is when he is negotiating for his Billie Jean music video to be shown on MTV; unprecedented at the time for a Black artiste. When faced with resistance, he told a CBS Records executive “with love, try hard harder”, showing the unassuming yet persistent and ambitious nature of his vision. History tells us he won that fight. His tenacity and single-mindedness will no doubt serve a new generation of fans, encouraging them to follow their dreams and ambitions.
© 2026 Lionsgate
Michael is directed by Antoine Fuqua, the award-winning filmmaker of Training Day, and The Equalizer franchise and the screenplay was written by three-time Academy Award® nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator). At time of writing, Michael has taken $217m (£160m) worldwide in box office sales globally since the film’s release, scoring the highest opening weekend ever for a musical biopic.
As someone who experienced Michael-mania and saw the impact he had on his fans all over the world, this film reminds us of how special he truly was. He had a gift, and he successfully used his platform to bring joy and happiness to his fans all over the world. Michael was one of a kind and his talent will likely never be replicated.
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For those looking for mention of any of the scandals that followed Michael during his life, this is not that movie. Michael the movie is strictly a movie for his fans. For nostalgia. And that’s okay.
Whether you are a fan or simply want to learn more about the man behind the legend, go watch the movie and enjoy the talent of this one-of-a-kind musical genius for old times sake.
