Some legends may fade over time, but Michael Jackson has proved that the King of Pop still owns the spotlight. Personally, I never had a huge interest in Michael, at least not until May 5 at 10:15 PM. I walked into AMC theaters and walked out what felt like 30 minutes later (it was over two hours long) still hearing that distinct “HEE-HEE” replaying in my head on the drive home. I can’t believe I was so clueless for never giving his music a real chance because it’s impossible not to see why Michael made such a massive impact on the world. Somehow this movie managed to turn me from “yeah I know a few songs” into a person aggressively attempting to moonwalk throughout the day.
The movie “Michael” released April 24, 2026, tells the story of Michael’s life from childhood all the way to the peak of his fame, giving us the chance to see what was going on behind closed doors. I won’t give any spoilers but I will say that it’s completely eye-opening to watch the events that shaped him into the musical genius we all know. Most people have heard at least a few of his songs before, but seeing his performances recreated on screen and realizing just how untouchable Michael really was? Completely jaw dropping. I caught myself smiling through almost every scene.
Not only was the storyline done well but the amount of passion poured into each role brought everything alive on screen. The standout performance of MJ came from his nephew Jaafar Jackson. For his first ever acting gig, I’m shocked to say that his performance felt Oscar-worthy. At first, I didn’t really see a super strong resemblance, but as the movie went on, it was a thriller (hee hee… get it?) watching him fully transform into MJ. By the end, I swear Michael himself stepped back onto that stage. I was completely absorbed in what felt like more of an experience than just a movie.
Of course I knew of him, since let’s be real, he is Michael Jackson. But I never really gave him a shot and just thought: “Oh he’s an older artist,” or “He’s good but not really my style.” Well I’ll save you from that same painful mistake. Michael is everyone’s genre. Seeing how much soul and passion was put into his music, left me in awe. His legendary performances in the film were shot from an angle that felt like you were actually standing inside the crowd and made it hit so much harder. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to see him live.
The film also does a great job at reminding people that Michael was an actual human being, not the creepy “monster” the media tried so hard to paint him as for years (I mean appearance wise). Now what I’m about to say goes against my opinion on the movie a bit but let’s think about it this way: Michael’s nephew was the lead and his immediate family played a part in the film’s composition. Of course, with his family helping with the movie, they wouldn’t want problematic topics shown so they can keep their reputation. Now the question I’d like to ask is: what’s being hidden? Yes Michael was a good person at heart and I think that’s obvious to see but there are a lot of big traits and interests that weren’t included… if you know you know. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s an amazing movie and totally worth watching, but keep in mind that his story is romanticized and isn’t 100% realistic.
This has genuinely become my new hyperfixation for the month: Every song Played → Michael Jackson, every edit watched → Michael Jackson, and I have absolutely no complaints. Please keep ’em coming.
Even though critics ranked the movie surprisingly low with a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences clearly knew what was up, giving it a strong 97% score. Honestly, that made way much more sense because this movie was made for the fans who appreciate Michael’s impact and couldn’t help but jump up and dance in the theater (yes this actually happened) It was one of the first movies in a long time that turned a room full of strangers into a crowd connected by the same love and energy Michael put into his music. By the end, my theater sounded less like a cinema and more like an unforgettable concert from 1982.
