“Jaafar Jackson embodies his uncle so well here... he is downright possessed in ways I don’t think I fully understand.”
MICHAEL was a film that was released in 2026, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson as well as Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson... it is ultimately about the meteoric and deeply complicated rise of the King of Pop, tracing his journey from a heavily disciplined child prodigy fronting the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana, to a globally idolized, fiercely driven solo artist conquering the music industry with historic albums like Thriller, all while navigating the profound isolation of intense global fame, the physical and emotional scars of his father’s iron-willed upbringing, and a relentless, lifelong quest to reclaim the carefree childhood he lost to the spotlight.
Little bit of backstory before I dig into the film. My house growing up, Michael Jackson was... big. To say the least. Lots of people know my earliest memories involve a camera in my face, while my brothers and I would film endless short films where I ended up often being the star of the films. We were the Gilleand Brothers, and in a way, the acting and directing version of the Jackson 5... or at least that’s how I saw us. My oldest brother was a Michael Jackson impersonator, and apart from home movies, we’d also have little music videos with him in the front. That’s where he would be the star. He would go on to teach me a lot of the same moves, and I’d go on to learn some of MJ’s toughest dances, like Dangerous and Thriller... and that’s when the student would become the teacher... and I’d go on to teach him what I learned so that we would do these events where we’d all dance.
That was a lifetime ago, but it goes without saying that I’ve heard everything Michael Jackson ever did. I’ve sat down at the TV waiting for the next music video Michael would release on MTV. I was shocked along with the rest of the world in 2009 when we first heard the news that Michael Jackson died in the middle of preparing for a comeback tour, and then later watching This Is It...
Needless to say, I’m not your typical film critic that was a fan of Michael Jackson’s... his music, in a big way, defined a huge chunk of my life. I have a dad bod with a beer belly, I’ve lost my hair, and I get tired very easily these days... but if an MJ hit plays on the radio, I find the energy to dance along... and I’ll be honest, that energy came back a lot when watching Michael.
Jaafar Jackson embodies his uncle so well here. He is downright possessed in ways I don’t think I fully understand. His voice is so good I was convinced it had to at least be partially adjusted by AI, but apparently not. But even if it was, the dance choreography is spot on, Joseph Jackson is one heck of an imposing figure, and the legacy and spirit of Michael Jackson is alive and well throughout the film from beginning to end. I had a huge smile on my face watching this movie.
Now, it has a problem that everyone likes to point out... saying it idolizes the pop star and conveniently leaves out the biggest hurdles MJ ever had to face, especially with the child abuse allegations and lawsuits. Some think they will be touched on with a possible sequel, but I’m not sure we’ll ever see that... but if it happens, I’m sure the filmmakers will handle it with grace and in a way that delicately portrays both sides with dignity while still showing Michael Jackson as the human being he was.
However, I would have to argue that if this movie just showcased Michael as an idol... then that’s not a bad thing. Michael WAS an idol. For so many people, he went far past brilliant... or genius... and he shot straight for a god among men. People fainted when he sang. We’ve all seen those videos. There has never been another human being before or after Michael. Other artists may get more awards or numbers on the Billboard Top 10, but there’s something innately unique about who the King of Pop was that is beautifully and organically one-of-a-kind, and Jaafar portrays that concept perfectly.
People like Michael Jackson are impossible to get exactly right. It was a difficult balance for Jaafar to juggle without feeling like a poor imitation or Pennysaver version. I was worried that the end result would feel more like a bad cosplay than anything else, but that’s not the case. Jaafar does amazing. There were moments here and there where you can tell he’s definitely not Michael Jackson. But the mannerisms, the attitude, the cadence, and everything else is spot on.
My only complaint comes down to story. This film is definitely more of a concert film than anything else. It feels very much like a documentary without narration or interviews. Just a look into the life of Michael Jackson and his rise to fame and hurdles of escaping his father’s controlling clutches. It certainly felt light, as it was missing gravity. Obviously without Janet Jackson in the mix felt wrong as well, but she opted out of being portrayed, and they respected her wishes.
Overall, fantastic movie and so far... it’s in my top 3 of the year at number three. I haven’t seen everything out there yet, I’m sure this won’t stay top 3, but it may stay top 10. We’ll see.
Technical Unbiased Score: 47/50 (94%)
Biased/Entertainment Score: 44/50 (88%)
Total Overall Score: 91/100 (91%) | 4.5/5 on Letterboxd
(Currently 3rd best of the year on my ratings)