Bring your tissues and your dancing shoes because “Michael” (2026) will take you on an emotional walk down memory lane during this bio pic about Michael Jackson’s life. Playing Michael Jackson as a child is Juliano Valdi who voiced the English dubbed version of the Oscar nominated animated feature “Arco” (2025). In his first acting role, Jaafar Jackson, Jermaine Jackson’s son and Michael Jackson’s nephew, is the spitting image of his uncle and nails the role because maybe he was born to play him. More importantly the music is from the Jackson 5, the Jacksons and Michael Jackson, and the music is what makes or breaks a biopic about a musician for people who just want to sit in the dark and listen to music without anyone bothering them for a couple of hours. In addition, the story is more than a Cliff Notes version of the most important moments in Jackson’s life. Starting in 1966 and ending in 1988, it is a story about a gifted person struggling to become his own man and get out from under the thumb of his abusive father, Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo). While there are gaps in Michael’s story, generally it is a nice start as a popcorn flick for the strange Black kid who embraces the culture without sacrificing authenticity.
“Michael” is for longtime and new fans of the artist. If you were there, you will be impressed how everyone, especially director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan accurately depict every moment that appeared on television. People who lived and remember those moments will have zero complaints and may find themselves crying and recollecting other tangential associations such as the people that they shared that experience with, what it was like, how it felt, and where they were. People who were not there will suddenly find themselves hungry for more and may leave the theater eager to learn more about the artist. The music video recreations and the concert scenes are pitch perfect. It feels like being there. Film fans will appreciate the reminder that Michael adhered to the Fred Astaire principle of filmmaking of showing the entire body, “That’s how the audience feels the dance.” Action filmmakers, take heed!
Domingo has a talent for playing magnificent bastards from a pimp in “Zola” (2020), Victor Strand in “Fear the Walking Dead,” Mister in “The Color Purple” (2023), and an amoral host in “The Running Man” (2025), but as nightmarish stage dad, he disappears though that voice can never be disguised. The makeup department for “Michael” should be on the Oscars shortlist or is it too early? He sets the tone for the entire movie as it becomes a David and Goliath power struggle. Like all villains, he makes excellent points in his eagerness to get out of his grueling job at a steel mill and also warning his son about surrounding himself with yes men when he needs family to stay grounded.
Fortunately like David, Michael, an incredibly talented singer and songwriter, has a line of surrogate fathers eager to help him ascend to stardom: Motown Records’ Berry Gordy (Larenz Tate, who never shares a scene with his former “Love Jones” costar), his security guard, Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) and former president of CBS Records Walter Yetnikoff (Mike Myers). Jones becomes the masculine heart of “Michael” as a protector and nurturer who takes his ward shopping and encouraging his spirit and delivers an understated performance in an unexpected lead supporting role. Myers chews the scenery as a New Yorker businessman who is frank and does not play. It is a delicious scene that had the audience screaming because of how Michael stood on business and Walter straightened up and took orders. Also, my NYC heart warmed when the scene ended with a shot of Smilers!
“Michael” is fundamentally a movie about the ultimate strange Black, maybe autistic (compliment), kid who embraces his talents and learns how to stand up for himself without changing who he is. While his family accepts him, for all their talent, they cannot relate to the way that he navigates the world although it is impossible to watch Bubbles (Lilly Colucci) and not wonder how that animal never ripped off anyone’s face as he got older thanks to “Nope” (2022). Maybe the sequel will reveal how Michael kept everyone in check. It is a family authorized biopic, so it depicts Michael as an otherworldly gentle saint who prefers quiet evenings watching television on the couch with his mom, Katherine (Nia Long), Kate to her husband; playing with his sister La Toya (Jessica Sula); or having Tito (Rhyan Hill) defend him. If the film has a flaw, it does not depict all the time that he spent with Tito and Janet, who is nowhere to be found. It is as if she does not exist, and she was around at that time. Until costume designer Marci Rodgers denies it, styling Kate in a white pants suit when she finally stands up to her husband was a deliberate reference to Tina Turner when she escaped her husband and ran across a highway in “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (1993).
The ascent to success is not just a wonderful way to get more butts in seats with recreating Michael’s most memorable public appearances and performances, but it also becomes a way for Michael to become confident enough and test various ways of standing up to his dad through creative control. His second attempt was John Branca (Miles Teller), an unconventional lawyer and manager who connects with Michael and even encourages his taste. If Teller is not careful, he is going to become Black famous (compliment) considering his chemistry with Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “Eternity” (2025).
While Fuqua does a mostly perfect job, his predilection for extreme closeups was a lot to take and mostly happened at the beginning of “Michael” during the childhood sequences. It highlights how Valdi does not look like baby Michael though the energy is there. While Fuqua did not shy away from depicting the child abuse, he and the editing team move the camera and cut away frequently during the belt scene it felt as if they shot during an earthquake. No one wants to gawk at the horror, but it was ridiculous. On the other hand, Logan will probably receive thank you cards from plastic surgeons for squarely putting the blame on Joseph as they try to talk Michael down from getting a nose job.
“Michael” was not supposed to be a two-part movie. There were plans to address the child abuse allegations against Michael, but those scenes were cut because it would violate a settlement. Everyone is a little worried that the second movie is going to be depressing and a huge comedown after this entertaining and energizing film. Well, it does not have to be. This installation addresses the pain from the Pepsi commercial accident, and as a chronic pain sufferer who takes expired Tylenol for the pain, if I could afford a doctor feelgood to take it away every night and accidentally died, while it would devastate my loved ones and still be wrong, I would be totally thrilled to finally not be in pain, which is not how I felt when the news of his death and its cause was announced, but time teaches how to see things differently. That take would definitely be too edgy for a safe movie like this one.
“Michael” is a must-see film. If you just need an excuse to sit in the dark and listen to amazing music while watching a perfect public recreation, this is the movie for you. If you are feeling different from everyone, you will relate to the story. If you need to stand up for yourself but cannot imagine becoming the kind of person who can do it, this movie will convince you not to change and do things your way. Hopefully the filmmakers will take their time to make an equally amazing sequel that works on multiple levels. Disclaimer: it helps if you do not remember all the past biopics about this famous family.
