It’s been over 15 years since we lost Michael Jackson, and despite the length of time, there aren’t many people in the world who can honestly say they don’t know or haven’t heard anything about Mike, be it good or bad.

After the massive success of Bohemian Rhapsody back in 2018, a movie about Michael Jackson felt inevitable. I mean, this is the King of Pop we’re talking about, so financially, a film based on his life was almost guaranteed to draw attention. Going into Michael, though, I genuinely didn’t know what to expect. Michael Jackson remains one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in modern history, and his legacy has always existed somewhere between unbelievable talent, worldwide admiration, controversy, mystery, and endless media scrutiny.

That’s what made this film such an interesting challenge from the start. There are certain parts of Michael’s life that people still consider uncomfortable or even untouchable, and because of that, I found myself wondering just how far the movie would actually be willing to go. After all, when you’re telling the story of someone this iconic and this complicated, you can’t fully capture the man without acknowledging the weight of the conversations that still surround his name to this day.

The film takes us all the way back to the beginning of Michael’s professional journey. The year is 1966, and his father, the infamous Joe Jackson, brings his sons together to form what would eventually become The Jackson 5, with Michael placed front and center as the lead vocalist. Right from the opening moments, the film makes it clear just how intense and demanding Joe was, portraying a man whose desire for success often came at the expense of his children’s childhoods.

It is hard not to sympathize with Michael during these early scenes. Even at such a young age, there is a constant pressure placed on him to perform, rehearse, and essentially grow up far too quickly. The movie does a solid job of showing how extraordinary his talent was, but also the emotional cost that seemed to come with it.

At the same time, this is also where the film quickly reveals what kind of biopic it wants to be. Rather than fully unpacking the complexities of Michael’s life, Michael often feels more like a cinematic highlight reel, moving from one iconic moment to the next while only briefly touching the deeper emotional and controversial layers beneath the surface. For some fans, that approach will probably be enough. Watching the rise of one of the biggest entertainers in human history recreated on screen is undeniably compelling. But for others, especially those hoping for a more unfiltered and introspective portrayal of the man behind the legend, the film may feel a little too careful at times.

Still, even with the film’s more surface-level approach to certain parts of Michael’s life, a lot of its emotional weight comes from the performances themselves. That starts with Jaafar Jackson, who had the almost impossible task of stepping into the shoes of one of the most recognizable figures in modern history. Thankfully, Jaafar does a genuinely solid job of bringing Michael back to life, capturing many of his mannerisms, energy, and stage presence without making it feel like a simple imitation. That said, I do wish the script gave him a little more to work with emotionally, especially during some of the film’s heavier moments.

The supporting cast also delivers respectable performances overall, but Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson feels a bit inconsistent visually at times, largely due to makeup and prosthetics that can occasionally become distracting enough to pull you out of certain scenes.

At its core, Michael is a well-made film. The cinematography is strong, the musical sequences are genuinely impressive, and the performances, especially from Jaafar Jackson, help bring many of these iconic moments back to life in a way that will absolutely resonate with longtime fans. You can tell there was real care put into recreating the scale, energy, and emotion surrounding Michael Jackson and his legacy.

At the same time, the film ultimately feels too cautious to truly reach its full potential. In trying so hard to preserve and sanitize Michael’s image for a wider audience, it avoids digging deeply into many of the complicated and uncomfortable aspects of his life that helped define how the world viewed him in later years. The result is a biopic that succeeds as a celebration of the icon, but struggles to fully explore the human being behind the fame.

Still, it’s hard to deny the film’s impact. Michael has already become a massive box office success, earning over $550 million worldwide so far, and with a sequel already officially announced, it’s clear that audiences are still deeply fascinated by the life, music, and mystery surrounding one of the most famous entertainers the world has ever seen.

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