Michael - Review

I Told You What to Think.

Review written by Jack Aling

Michael is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan.

The story of Michael Jackson from his discovery as the lead of the Jackson Five through his rise to global superstardom as a solo artist, exploring both his life off-stage and his most iconic performances.

A hollow and generic biopic that feels so safe, you'd learn more about the King of Pop by watching a playlist of his early music videos.

To give it credit, Jaafar Jackson gives a transformational performance which added an incredibly immersive layer to the storytelling - embodying Michael

rather than attempting an impression.

The ultimate answer to 'how to address the controversies' is to not at all. Ending the film in the 80s is an expected but disappointing way to avoid a delicate subject, but the rest of the film's cleaning of the hardships of Jackson's early life shows that this film is only about the money and the music, not the man.

Our verdict: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Michael arrives in UK cinemas 22 April 2026.

Read more of Jack's reviews at: letterboxd.com/TheJackAling