Michael (2026)

I finally got around to seeing Michael, and I think it may be my favorite of the recent wave of music biopics we’ve been getting lately. Which says a lot, because I went into this as someone who was already very invested. I was one of those people who saw This Is It in theaters multiple times when it came out, so anything connected to Michael Jackson’s legacy was always going to have my attention.

One of the biggest strengths of this movie is the casting, particularly Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s actual nephew, stepping into the role. There’s something about having that real family connection that made the performance feel more natural and less like an impersonation. He captured so many of Michael’s mannerisms, movements, and stage presence in a way that never felt cartoonish, which had to be incredibly difficult considering how recognizable Michael Jackson was to literally everyone on the planet.

Also and this is almost a side note, but I will watch basically anything with Colman Domingo in it, and he was fantastic here as Joe Jackson. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing the pressure and intensity surrounding Michael’s upbringing, but what I appreciated most was that the story stayed heavily focused on his drive to become the greatest performer possible. More than anything, this movie feels like a portrait of obsession with performance and perfectionism. You really get a sense of how much of his life revolved around creating bigger, better, more unforgettable experiences for audiences.

I know there have already been plenty of conversations online about what the movie does and doesn’t include, especially regarding the controversies surrounding Michael later in life, but honestly, I wasn’t watching this movie looking for an investigative documentary. I was looking for entertainment, music, spectacle, and insight into the machine of fame surrounding someone who was arguably one of the most recognizable entertainers in history. On that front, I thought the movie absolutely delivered.

Watching a musical biopic in a theater is kind of its own experience at this point. It almost stops feeling like a movie and starts feeling halfway between a concert and a film. There were multiple moments where I had to stop myself from dancing in my seat because once those songs start playing at theater volume, it’s impossible not to get caught up in it.

The soundtrack alone makes this worth watching on the biggest screen possible.

This is also apparently only the beginning, since the story is expected to continue in at least one additional film, and after seeing this installment, I’m looking forward to where they take it next. There’s still so much of Michael’s life and career left to explore that this really feels more like the opening act than a complete story.

If it’s still playing near you, I definitely recommend seeing this one in theaters because the scale and music really deserve that environment. But if you end up waiting to watch it at home, at the very least, do yourself a favor and turn the volume all the way up.

This movie is basically a concert disguised as a biopic, and that’s exactly what I wanted from it.