Michael Review

This review is labeled Researched. We have not watched the film ourselves. It is built from critic reviews, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic data, audience polling, box office reporting and press coverage of the production, and we say where sources disagree. See How We Review for what that distinction means.

The question the numbers raise

Most films have a gap between what critics think and what audiences think. Michael has a canyon. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds 38% from critics (from 307 reviews, averaging 4.9 out of 10) and a 97% audience score, and Metacritic sits at 39 out of 100. At the same time, CinemaScore gave it an A-minus and PostTrak reported 90% of audience members were positive.

So the interesting question is not “is it good?” but “good at what?” The reviews, read together, give a fairly consistent answer: it is very good at the things a fan comes for, and noticeably timid about the things a biographer would be expected to confront. Which of those matters more depends entirely on why you are buying the ticket.

What is actually on screen

The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua from a screenplay by John Logan. It was released on April 24, 2026 in the US, distributed by Lionsgate, with Universal handling international markets. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, plays him in his film debut, with Juliano Valdi as the young Michael. Colman Domingo plays Joseph Jackson, Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, and Kendrick Sampson plays Quincy Jones.

The story covers 1966 to 1988: the formation of the Jackson 5 through the Bad World Tour. It closes on a title card reading “His Story Continues,” which tells you the studio has a sequel in mind. A sequel is reportedly in development, and the film’s original cut was said to run about three and a half hours, so there is footage that could be reused.

The theatrical version runs for around two hours. Our earlier figure was 2 hours and 10 minutes, but Wikipedia and several other outlets list it at 127 minutes (2 hours 7 minutes). We have kept the earlier figure in the FAQ below, and flagged the difference.

The performance people keep praising

If there is one thing nearly every review agrees on, it is Jaafar Jackson. Variety’s reviewer wrote that he “nails the look, the moves — and the mix of delicacy and steel that made Michael who he was”, in what that review calls an effective middle-of-the-road biopic. Deadline’s headline says he dazzles in a feel-good biopic.

Several reviews single out the sequences built around the music. The making of the “Thriller” video, the moment Michael brings rival gang members together for “Beat It”, and the Motown 25 performance of “Billie Jean” are the highlights people mention again and again. That tells you what the film’s strengths are: it works best when it is a show.

What critics say is missing

The strongest criticism comes from the reviews that call it sanitized. One described it as “a filmed playlist in search of a story”, and another said it is “immediately apparent how sanitized the movie will be”. Looper’s review rated it 6.5 out of 10 and called it a polished biopic that refuses to take risks, while RogerEbert.com’s review was far harsher.

Here is the context that explains why. The film was made with the approval of the Jackson estate, and the production reportedly changed course because of it. According to reporting, the original script included the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson. Reshoots in June 2025 removed all references to them, after the discovery of a legal settlement clause, and the estate reportedly funded the reshoots, which added an estimated $10 to $15 million to the budget. Scenes depicting investigators at Neverland Ranch were also cut for legal reasons.

Because the story ends in 1988, the allegations that came afterward never appear. Reviewers note that across a runtime of more than two hours, there was no room to mention them. Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter, publicly criticised the film for inaccuracies and said it panders to a specific section of fandom.

Two other omissions are worth knowing about. Actress Kat Graham confirmed that all of her scenes as Diana Ross were cut for legal reasons, so although she is credited in early cast listings, she is not in the finished film. Siblings Janet, Rebbie and Randy Jackson also do not appear on screen. This site’s earlier version listed Kat Graham as part of the cast; that is now corrected here.

To be fair to the film, the allegations are a matter that Jackson’s estate has long contested, and it has strongly defended his innocence. We are not weighing in on that. Our point is narrower and practical: if you want a film that deals with those questions, this is not that film, and its makers made that choice on purpose.

The family at the centre

The film frames its central conflict around Michael’s relationship with his father, Joseph Jackson, who functions as the story’s antagonist. That gives the film a clear emotional spine, and several reviewers found it effective, with the supporting cast doing strong work. Others felt it simplified a complicated family into a single villain. Both views can be true: a clean story is easier to watch, but it is also less truthful.

The box office story

Whatever the critics said, people showed up. The film opened to $97.2 million in the US, a record for a musical biopic, and $217 million worldwide. It later became the first biopic to pass $1 billion at the global box office, with one count of about $629.8 million overseas and $371.8 million domestically at the time, and Wikipedia now lists about $1.029 billion. That makes it Lionsgate’s biggest film ever and its first to reach $1 billion. It beat Bohemian Rhapsody’s $911 million for the highest-grossing musical biopic and overtook Oppenheimer’s $975 million as the biggest film based on a real person.

The film arrived on digital platforms on June 9, 2026, and streams on Starz after its theatrical run. Availability and windows change, so check before you plan an evening around it.

How to decide

Watch it if you are a fan of the music, you want a big-screen celebration of the early career, and you are mostly interested in Jaafar Jackson’s performance. For that audience, the 97% score and A-minus CinemaScore make sense.

Be cautious if you want an honest account of Jackson’s whole life. The film is not trying to be one, and it tells you so with its 1988 ending.

Skip it if you find “family-approved” biopics frustrating, because the production history is exactly that.

A useful way to think about it is as a concert film with a story attached, not as a documentary. Measured on those terms, it largely delivers.

If you want something else to watch

If this film’s critic and audience split made you curious about how streaming hits are really received, read our The Last House review, where critics and audiences agreed for the opposite reason. For more films to stream, see our guide to the best Netflix movies from summer 2026.

FAQ

What is Michael’s runtime and MPA rating? The film runs 2 hours and 10 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating. Note that several other sources, including Wikipedia, list the runtime as 127 minutes, or 2 hours and 7 minutes.

How accurate is Michael to Michael Jackson’s real life? The film was made with the Jackson estate’s approval, and several changes followed from that involvement: references to the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were removed, the third act was revised, and reshoots took place in June 2025. The story ends in 1988. Its central family conflict centres on Michael’s father Joseph as the antagonist. Critics have flagged this as a softened account rather than a warts-and-all biography, which lines up with the critic and audience gap discussed above.

Where can I watch Michael? It arrived on digital platforms on June 9, 2026 and streams on Starz following its theatrical run. Check current availability, as streaming windows and platforms can change.

Who plays Michael Jackson in the movie? Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, in his film debut. Juliano Valdi plays the young Michael, and the cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as John Branca and Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones.

Who directed Michael and when was it released? Antoine Fuqua directed it from a screenplay by John Logan, and it was released on April 24, 2026, distributed by Lionsgate in the US and Universal internationally.

Is there a Michael sequel? The film ends with a title card reading “His Story Continues,” and reports say a sequel is in development, expected in late 2027 or early 2028. We have not found a confirmed release date, so treat that timing as unconfirmed.

Why is Diana Ross not in Michael? Kat Graham, who played Diana Ross, confirmed her scenes were cut for legal reasons, according to reports, so she does not appear in the finished film.

Is Michael the highest-grossing biopic ever? Yes. It was the first biopic to cross $1 billion worldwide, passing Oppenheimer and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Sources: Deadline — Michael review, Odeon — Michael release date, age rating and plot, Wikipedia — Michael (2026 film), AOL — Michael movie runtime revealed, Forbes — Michael nears $850 million in theaters, Variety — Michael review, Looper — Michael review, RogerEbert.com — Michael review, Variety — Michael crosses $1 billion, Variety — Michael opening weekend record, Today — Michael movie controversy explained, Deadline — What the reviews are saying about Michael