Michael Jackson is one of the most influential and loved figures in the musical world. His biographical musical drama Michael is probably one of the most anticipated movies of all time, and it was finally released on April 24th, 2026. I have recently had the pleasure of seeing it. It was the kind of movie that made you feel completely immersed in a story and truly captured the image of the “king of pop”.
The movie starred Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, as Michael and Juliano Krue Valdi as younger Michael Jackson during the Jackson 5 era. The acting in the movie was phenomenal, and it also helped that Jaafar Jackson displays a striking resemblance to his uncle. There were times in the movie when I almost couldn’t tell the two apart. One of Michael Jackson’s signatures was his dancing, and I believe Jaafar Jackson did a terrific job of meeting those expectations.
The movie took us through the life of Michael Jackson, beginning with the Jackson 5 era, where Krue Valdi delivered a strong performance. It truly drew the viewer in to understand the struggles that went on throughout Michael Jackson’s childhood, and helped to display the hardships that he pushed through to become the man he was. All the acting was phenomenal, from his parents to all of his brothers and sisters. Although there was an absence of Janet Jackson, who is the youngest of the Jackson siblings and was not featured at all in the film, the two were very close. There was some inconsistency of that nature throughout the film, but from what was shown, the production was commendable.
The ending of the film left the viewer somewhat unsettled because it ended in 1988, when Michael Jackson had finally seen independence from his father and the Jackson 5. It left me with some questions, but future films will likely be produced to continue his story. Additionally, the casting choices were remarkably accurate and closely resembled individuals from Michael Jackson’s life, which I was very impressed with.
The film has now been named as the second-highest-grossing biopic of all time after only three weeks of its release (People), and I’m sure it will continue to grow. Overall, it was one of the best movies I have seen this year. I left the theatre feeling unsure, but angry at all the people who wronged Michael Jackson throughout his life, and with a greater sense of gratitude for the man that he was. It truly captivated my attention and left me wanting more.
