Michael

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1:00

Michael

PG-13

In Theaters Apr 24

2h 7m

Biography

Drama

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

152 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

500+ Verified Ratings

MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Critics Consensus

While Jaafar Jackson's smooth moves bring the King of Pop to uncanny life, this musical biopic mostly plays like a "greatest hits" album that could've benefitted from including liner notes to give actual insight into the icon.

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Antoine Fuqua

Director

Jaafar Jackson

Michael Jackson

Miles Teller

John Branca

Colman Domingo

Joe Jackson

Nia Long

Katherine Jackson

Jayden Harville

Young Jermaine Jackson

Alison Willmore

New York Magazine/Vulture

3h

What Jaafar does amounts to an elaborate impression instead of an interpretation, re-creating the voice and the famous choreography and otherwise staring blankly into the middle distance when called upon to transmit emotions.

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

4h

3/5

This truncated version is bland and cautious, but never exactly dull.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

4h

2/4

Either way, there is no denying that “Michael” only scratches the surface of Michael the troubled person, even though it does a commendable job of showcasing Michael the star performer.

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Mario Alegre

Próxima Tanda (Substack)

30m

Ending the film with the release of Bad is akin to concluding a hypothetical Polanski biopic with the 1975 Oscars: it makes narrative sense to choose the artistic peak as a cinematic sendoff, but it also falls somewhere between convenience and cowardice.

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Grace Randolph

Beyond the Trailer

40m

Jaafar Jackson - astonishingly - re-captures the lightning in a bottle that was his uncle, Michael Jackson. This is an electric, tragic, and haunting movie. See how Michael became a legend, but also how things began to go wrong...

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Robert Denerstein

Denerstein Unleashed

2h

...director Antoine Fuqua concentrates on something incontestable: Michael Jackson’s riveting performance skills and the connection he made and still makes with his legion of fans. If you think that’s insufficient, stay home.

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Chris

2h

I expected more story & depth. I learned nothing new here. But shoutout to Jaafar & Nia Long & Colman Domingo, they all did great

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Joe

2h

Absolutely amazing you truly feel like you are watching Michael. Fully emotional. What a show!

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fatima B

@RT51437700 2h

One of the best biopics ever made and I’m a huge fan of biopics. I think they couldn’t have chosen a better actor to play the one and only. Jaafar is just getting started in film, he did a wonderful job showcasing emotional intelligence and performance capabilities. He’s a star. Michael was humanized and truly felt every second in the film. The child actor playing Michael did a beautiful job too. Coleman Domingo and Nia Long as the parents were deeply felt too, I loved their performances. I loved the quick scene Mike Myers was in it as well, that was fun!just a fun and cool watch if you love his music and just good music period!

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chris

3h

Phenomenal movie. Great direction alongside the casting team. Really depicts MJ to the fullest! Loved it

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Cassandra

4h

Michael is a 5 Star, 10/10 MASTERPIECE!! It is by far the most compelling biopic theatrical experience since Ray!! The entire movie effortlessly flowed like lyrical poetry from 1966 - 1988, the unprecedented era of the rise of music royalty. Michael offered a beautiful balance of "pain and glory", capturing the " humanity" behind the legend and the music. Jaafar Jackson delivered a genius level transformative performance of a lifetime as Michael Jackson (Oscar worthy). His delivery embodied the quiet tenderness, love, intuitive perseverance and inventive boldness of a human being who skyrocketed to a larger-than-life legend. Needless to say, Colman Domingo gave me chills as Joe Jackson. Juliano Valdi as little Michael had me at "hello" and grabbed my heartstrings with his precocious talent and sweetness. Nia Long warms the screen with a perfect grace and strength that could make anyone feel the safety of a mother's enduring love. My heart beat to the rhythm of both music and story as tears and smiles beamed across my face. BRAVO to the entire cast and crew. When you can't stop thinking about an experience...it must've been truly special. I will be going back to see it again with my Glitter & Glove! Michael is the perfect title for the film because it gives an insider view of "walking in his shoes (loafers) for at least 2 hours." With so much going on in the world today, I promise you it's not hype. It's healing. You will love it. Go see it!!

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Shaquon Williams

6h

This movie was amazing I am so glad I purchased my tickets early and would go back and see it again. You have to see It dont wait till it comes out on video or social media experience it in theaters

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Michael First Reviews: Flashy and Nostalgic, but Safe and A Little Hollow

Antoine Fuqua Recreated the ‘Thriller’ Video in Its Original Location Under a Full Moon

Michael: Release Date, Cast, Trailer & More

See 'Michael' on the Big Screen!

0:26

Michael: Featurette - Before the Big Screen

1:47

Michael: Final Trailer

1:00

The Michael Cast Reveal Their Favorite Scenes

1:22

Colman Domingo on Playing Joe Jackson

1:06

Michael: Featurette – A Conversation with Jaafar Jackson

1:50

Jaafar on Getting the Role of Michael Jackson

1:09

Recreating the Thriller Music Video

1:02

Michael: Teaser - Early Access Event

1:15

Antoine Fuqua & the 'Michael' Cast on Familial Bonds and Capturing Michael Jackson's Essence on Film

16:57

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Synopsis

MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Producer: Graham King, John Branca, John McClain
Screenwriter: John Logan
Distributor: Lionsgate
Production Co: GK Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Material|Smoking|Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2026, Wide
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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