The new Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, is dominating global box office projections, but it has failed to impress critics, becoming one of the lowest-rated biographical films in recent memory. On the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film debuted with a dismal 27% 'fresh' rating, which has since climbed only slightly to 34%. This places it far behind other recent biopics in critical acclaim.
Critical Comparisons Highlight Poor Reception
When compared to other biographical releases, Michael lags significantly. The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown boasts an 82% rating, while the Robbie Williams film Better Man scores 89%, and the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer stands at 93%. Other biopics that outperform Michael include The Apprentice (82%), which details Donald Trump's rise, the 2023 Priscilla Presley biopic Priscilla (84%), and Ferrari (73%) about Italian racer Enzo Ferrari.
Even 2022's middling Whitney Houston movie I Wanna Dance with Somebody fared better with a 43% rating. The critically-panned 2024 Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black is currently rated one percent higher than Michael at 35%. The only major biographical film to fare worse with critics is the 2024 Ronald Reagan biopic Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid, which holds a mere 18% rating.
Box Office Success Defies Critical Panning
Despite the harsh reviews, Michael is shaping up to be a monumental box office hit. According to industry reports from Deadline, the film is on track to open with approximately $150 million worldwide. Domestically, it could achieve the highest opening for a musical biopic in history, with projections around $65 million or more.
Film Details and Creative Team
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, best known for helming The Equalizer trilogy, Michael follows the legendary entertainer from his early days in the Jackson 5 through to the beginning of his solo career. The late Michael Jackson is portrayed by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, adding a personal touch to the production.
Critics Slam 'Sanitized' Portrayal
Critics have widely condemned the film for its 'sanitized' portrayal of Jackson's life. BBC News described it as 'a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie'. Daily Mail critic Brian Viner was equally harsh, blasting the biopic as 'simplistic, unchallenging and riddled with egregious omissions'.
One of the most significant criticisms revolves around the film's decision to exclude the child abuse allegations that plagued much of Jackson's career. According to Variety, the original 127-minute cut ended with investigators arriving at Jackson's Neverland Ranch to search for evidence, with much of the third act dealing with the fallout from these allegations.
Controversial Edits and Legal Constraints
The entire child abuse plot was removed from the film after producers discovered a clause in a settlement with one of Jackson's accusers, Jordan Chandler, that prohibited any depiction or mention of him in a movie. This forced filmmakers to shoot a new ending, delaying the release by approximately one year.
Family Reactions and Refusals to Participate
Several key figures in Jackson's life declined to participate in the film, including his sister Janet. LaToya Jackson confirmed this at the Hollywood premiere, stating, 'She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.'
Jackson's daughter Paris has also publicly criticised the film, claiming she found the script 'dishonest'. In a statement last September, she said, 'The film panders to a very specific section of my dad's fandom that still lives in a fantasy, and they're gonna be happy with it.' She added, 'The thing about these biopics is it’s Hollywood. It’s fantasyland — it’s not real. But it’s sold to you as real, and a lot of sugar-coated… the narrative is being controlled. There's a lot of inaccuracy and there's a lot of full-blown lies. At the end of the day, that doesn't really fly with me. I don’t really like dishonesty.'
In summary, while Michael is poised for significant commercial success, its critical reception remains overwhelmingly negative, with accusations of glossing over controversial aspects of Jackson's legacy and facing backlash from family members.
