Weekend Pick or Pass: Michael (2026) on Moviebox

Get yourself comfortable folks, we're gonna have some chatter about Michael this weekend, the film we'll all get some up close and personal look into the life of one of the greatest musicians ever. Biopics are very tough to tackle and Michael Jackson is undeniably a tough subject to tackle. Tackling the life of Michael Jackson will be the task of director Antoine Fuqua with Jaafar Jackson in the lead. It's clear that they are trying to make this film on an epic scale, but sometimes it feels like they're moonwalking on a tightrope between praise and analysis of his life.

Right from the get go you can just feel the drive. The plot says we will be following Jackson from the Jackson 5 to his fame and the life off stage, and his early performances that made him a solo superstar. The movie sure brings out the performance brilliantly and this is not a lackluster trip back in time, this is more of a full blown concert as we are looking back at the live performances that redefined entertainment. The movie strives to preserved the remind the talent we will never see on this level ever again. Does it bring the 'life beyond the music' that it shows promise to?

Stepping Into the Moonwalk's Shadow

Let’s get into Jaafar Jackson. The Phoenix must have felt the heat from the cryptic embers. However, it looks like he has won over most of the audience and me with his acting and showing the tremendous physical presence of Michael. Critics have noted that he has the "look, the voice, the electrostatic moves,” and the balance of sweetness and steel. It honestly doesn't seem like he’s copying Michael. He is successfully channeling Michael's spirit. There are a lot of excellent recreations of famous performances in the film. It's exhilarating and probably will get you moving like no other. Colman Domingo gets praise as Joe Jackson for his big presence that clearly made Michael Jackson the man we know and the star he was at a young age. The film has a great portrayal of Michael’s childhood on the journey to being a visionary artist from his childhood as a prodigy.

While Jaafar's energy on stage is charismatic, some audience members found his characterization, especially in the quieter, more intimate moments, lacking. The film begins in his early years during which we are given brief glances of the domestic struggles, but the narrative is fixated on the next big performance. It’s like a greatest hits album. Audiences get to enjoy all the biggest hits, but the true context that drives and evolves the artist is often lost.

Beyond the Spotlight's Glare

Here, 'Michael' becomes a more complex watch. The PG-13-rating may correlate to the more tame yet safe approach to storytelling. Critics dub it ‘slick yet safe, an accessible ad for Jackson’s recent imperial phase.’ It offers a shallow take on the most impressive aspects of Jackson’s career and overall legacy, and does not veer past spectacle. It does well at showing ‘what’ Michael Jackson did, but is lacking in the ‘why’ and ‘how’ it shaped him. An overwhelming consensus in the professional reviews says there is no ‘real insight’ on the icon. It was ‘less forensic’ on his songwriting. Overall, while the film does a good job in tracking the 'what' over Jackson's career, some come away feeling like, “the film gives much, but not enough.”

In contrast to the professional reviews, however, audience ratings showcase immense enjoyment for the film’s endeavor to track Jackson’s legacy and provide insight to a potentially more positive version of Michael Jackson. With the focus placed on Jackson’s introduction to the world and the members of his musical family, it ‘brings Michael Jackson back from the grave,’ and ‘epitomizes’ the celebratory Jackson for many fans, with a focus on the great singer and artist, rather than the controversies. This serves as a documentation of the ‘message’ the film provides to its audience in a concise manner. For some members of the audience, it is on the positive side of Michael Jackson’s performance. For others, this documentation is lacking, and does not give a complex enough image of Michael Jackson.

As with most elements of a film, there has been criticism of the pace of Michael. While a lot of people appreciated the ‘Fast paced’ look at Michael Jackson’s early life, many of Michael’s contemporaries and professional critics noted that the film had bad structure, focusing too heavily on the Jackson 5 and Jackson brothers, leaving out key detail. At 2 hours 8 minutes, we assume that Michael doesn’t do too much of a deep dive into the story, however, in an effort to cover as much of Jacksons’s life as possible, they do jump through some of the more important aspects. It is an interesting watch, but at times, it does leave you wanting to know more, even after the highlight reel that is Michael.

For your weekend viewing? Michael is a clear choice for Saturday Night, as a celebration of the King of Pop. If you are a fan of Michael Jackson, if you loved his music, his performances, and loved the magic that he created, this film is clearly for you. It is a celebration of his life, created with magic and visual effects, as well as a wonderful performance, and you really get that 'King of Pop' vibe. If you are not a fan or want a more in-depth film of Michael’s complex and unique life, this is probably not for you. It is not film school deeper, however, it does not drag. It is a brilliant entertainment film, and at times, that's all that is worth the fuss of a lazy weekend.