The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, simply titled Michael, has been met with widespread critical disdain, securing a dismal 35 percent 'rotten' rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. The film, which stars the late pop icon's real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, traces his journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the beginnings of his solo career.
Critical Reception
Critics have expressed disappointment with what they describe as sanitised storytelling, particularly given the singer's controversial history, including allegations of child sexual abuse. Brian Viner of the Daily Mail awarded the film just two stars out of five, summarising: 'the storytelling is simplistic, the omissions egregious, but $200 million (the estimated budget) sure buys a fabulous karaoke act.'
Family Divisions
The backlash extends beyond critics, with members of Jackson's own family distancing themselves from the project. Notably, his daughter Paris Jackson and sister Janet Jackson have publicly disassociated themselves from the biopic. At the world premiere earlier this month, Michael's sons Blanket and Prince were joined by relatives including Jermaine and Randy Jackson, but Paris's absence was conspicuous.
Paris has been outspoken in her criticism, reportedly struggling after growing close to families of alleged victims and now believing the accusations against her father. She has also been involved in a legal dispute with the executors of her father's estate, John Branca and John McClain, accusing them of financial mismanagement and using estate funds to finance the film's $150 million budget. In response, the estate's lawyers dismissed her claims as 'without merit,' accusing her of playing 'media games.'
Janet Jackson, 59, refused to participate in the film and has been scrubbed from it entirely. According to reports, after a private family screening, she was 'very critical' of nearly every scene, including the acting, makeup, and even how the actors walked. LaToya Jackson confirmed at a Los Angeles screening that Janet 'kindly declined' to be involved, adding, 'everybody has their opinion and their choice.' Other siblings, including Randy, Jermaine, and Rebbie, also do not appear in the film, though Randy and Jermaine supported the biopic at the premiere.
Director's Perspective
Director Antoine Fuqua told Variety that involving the Jackson family was important to ensure accuracy, stating: 'You're telling somebody's life, you want to make sure that they're happy.' He added that he has 'so much respect and love for Janet' and that her support for Jaafar is what matters. Regarding his approach, Fuqua said he aimed to 'tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly.'
Production Details and Delays
Michael is set for release this week, a year later than initially planned. Sources told Deadline that delays were due to distribution plans for IMAX screens, an excessive running time (one edit was over three and a half hours), and the need to remove references to Jordan Chandler, who accused Jackson of sexual assault, due to a pre-existing agreement. A second movie about Jackson is reportedly in development.
Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, began filming in 2023. The cast includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Jessica Sula, Kendrick Sampson, and Juliano Krue Valdi. The first trailer, released in November, teases the fractious relationship between Michael and his father Joe as a central theme.
According to the official synopsis, Michael will bring audiences 'a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,' presenting 'his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale.' The film is scheduled for release in cinemas on Friday, April 24.
