Michael follows the life of Michael Jackson, focusing on his journey from his early days in The Jackson 5 to his rise as a solo artist leading up to the Bad era.
The movie opens with kid Michael and his brothers, aka The Jackson 5, practising in their living room under their father, Joseph’s, strict watch, and right from that first scene, you already feel the pressure, the discipline, and the intensity that shaped him.
It’s evident that Joe was not a good father, as he is controlling, abusive, and completely focused on the Jackson family as a “brand” rather than his children as people.
The scenes where Joseph belts young Michael were hard to watch, but the moment he calls him “big nose”, that hits differently as it tied into Michael’s later insecurities and plastic surgeries and made it even more heartbreaking. You also start to see early signs of his vitiligo, which added another layer to his struggles with identity and self-image.
Another emotional aspect the film explored was Michael’s loneliness. Despite all the fame, he’s constantly isolated. His love for animals, adopting and treating them like friends, comes from this deep belief that people don’t really see him as normal, which was sad, as he is sitting among a never-ending pile of fan mail filled with love, but doesn’t actually feel it.
One sequence that really stood out was when his hair caught fire at the start of the Victory Tour. The aftermath of his time in the hospital, interacting with the children there, and that shift towards wanting to make the world a better place, was overwhelming and showed how trauma shaped not just his art, but his purpose.
Also, I had no idea he was the first POC artist to get major rotation on MTV. That moment highlighted how much he changed the industry, breaking barriers and redefining what global stardom looked like.
Watching Michael slowly take control of his life was satisfying, too. From convincing the studio to support his solo career, to getting his new agent to literally fire his dad via a one-line fax, to finally announcing on stage that it was his last performance with The Jackson 5 while Joseph stands backstage, he’s shocked. You really feel that shift from control to independence.
What immediately makes this film stand out is its casting. Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays him, alongside Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
And I have to say, casting Jaafar was probably one of the best decisions they could have made. He is genuinely incredible in this and is fully MJ. The mannerisms, the voice, the posture and the stage presence never feel like an imitation. It feels natural.
There are moments when you genuinely feel like this is how it was, watching Michael Jackson himself. Jaafar captured not just the performer, but the vulnerability, the shyness and the quiet loneliness behind the global fame. You can tell how much work he put into this role.
Talking about the performances? Insane! The entire process of creating Thriller, from the recording to the iconic music video, was one of the film’s highlights. Jaafar absolutely nails the dancing and the singing. The energy and the precision were not easy to pull off at all, but he really delivers.
Special shoutout to Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael. Even with limited screen time, he was amazing. He captured that innocence mixed with pressure so well, especially in the early scenes. Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson is intense and honestly kind of terrifying.
Having said that, the film isn’t perfect. Some parts do feel a bit slow, and there are definitely sequences that could’ve been edited, especially considering they’re trying to fit such a massive life into one movie. At the same time, it never really feels boring.
The film ends abruptly with a performance in London in the 1980s, followed by a “His story continues…” message that pretty much confirms they’re planning a second film.
Overall, Michael is an engaging movie that balances the highlights of his career with some of the darkness of his personal life. And at the centre of it all is Jaafar Jackson, who truly delivers a breakout performance.
Our Rating – 3.5/5
