The Stream: Standard biopic fare plays like a Michael Jackson highlight reel.

The Big Screen: The Music, duh! Plus, Jaafar Jackson’s dynamic and uncanny performance.

The Final Bill: Despite a paint-by-numbers script, Jaafar Jackson’s performance and Jackson’s catchy tunes make this one worthwhile.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writers: John Logan
Stars: Jaafar Jackson, Juliano Valdi, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Larenz Tate, Kendrick Sampson
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music
Rating: PG-13 for some thematic material, language, and smoking.
Runtime: 2 hours
Production Companies: Lionsgate, GK Films, Optimum Productions, Universal Pictures
Platform: In theaters April 24, 2026
Notable Trailers: The Odyssey, Wild Horse Nine, Disclosure Day, Masters of the Universe, Power Ball, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Who’s Bad, Streamers!?!? That’s right, Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, has finally hit theaters. There have been many depictions of the King of Pop in movies and on television over the years, which means this big screen effort has a lot to live up to in order to become the definitive version. In Michael, we follow Michael Jackson from his humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana as the youngest member of the Jackson 5 through his struggle to assert his independence from his father and manager, Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo). Spoiler Alert: Michael Jackson becomes the biggest solo musician of the 1980’s and beyond. Moonwalking and hee-heeing hijinks ensue.

Look, if you’ve seen one biopic about a popular musician, then essentially, you’ve seen them all. Michael does not attempt to do anything different in telling this story than any of those other movies. In fact, this movie moves at a breakneck pace and seems more like a highlight reel of Michael Jackson’s rise to prominence. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because Michael Jackson’s ascendance is pretty incredible and fun, especially with the catchy music. However, none of that justifies why this movie needed to made.

Nevertheless, Michael is an entertaining movie for multiple reasons. The performances of the cast are generally good, especially the young and old Michaels played by Juliano Valdi and Jaafar Jackson, respectively. They do not just do impersonations of the King of Pop, but they give him a tender and soulful presence. Jaafar, in particular, is uncanny. I guess that’s the family resemblance working for me. I’ll also note that Colman Domingo is giving his menacing-all as the terrifying patriarch. The make-up, production design and costuming in this movie is pretty top notch. The recreation of the Thriller music video is a highlight. More than anything, you’ll just be bopping along and maybe even singing out loud to these classic songs. That’s probably enough for a fan of Michael Jackson. Someone who isn’t already in the tank for Jackson might be more unsatisfied.

Ultimately, Michael is a standard celebrity biopic, but it has an incredible, uncanny performance by Jaafar Jackson as his uncle. The movie is more like a highlight reel of Jackson’s triumphs as he struggles to emerge from under the thumb of this father. Many fans already know that story, but the music is still as catchy as it ever was. The recreation of some classic videos is pretty awesome, too. Michael Jackson fans will love this movie and should moonwalk to the theater, but the rest of the audience may not be as edified and can mama say mama sa mamakusa on streaming.