Michael (2026)

Michael Review: More of a concert film than a biopic

Brighton Nelson

24 Apr 2026 — 4 min read

The discussion of this film is even more nauseating than I expected—and I was already expecting a lot! Both critics and audiences have acted like big babies about this film. Though that's offensive to babies worldwide, honestly, it's that bad. This review will examine the deeply flawed sides of this polarized coin, unpack and evaluate them, and arrive at a more balanced, middle-ground take. Thank you so much for joining me here on The Reel Ranker, and I hope you enjoy your stay here on the site!

I do not nearly as much like any of my uncles as Jaafar looks like Michael.

Okay, let's establish both sides before we really get into this. Many critics have had reductive arguments over allegations that have nearly removed all objectivity. They are all mad that the film doesn't tackle MJ's allegations, but this film is only tackling the beginning of his career, pre-allegations. The critics are often judging the film by what they wanted it to be, not by what it is. I can get behind critics having the opinion, but it shouldn't be the main reason to give a film a thumbs down. There are plenty of flaws with this film, but the number of critics who have boiled it down to the nonsensical reason they're mad it didn't cover a different part of his life is ridiculous.

On the other hand, there are the fans who hunt down anyone who doesn't say this is a perfect 10/10 movie, calling them "true fans" or saying, "don't trust the critics." Putting every critic under the same umbrella is just as ridiculous, and saying that people "shouldn't watch the movie if they aren't fans" anytime a single criticism is directed at the movie is equally as embarrassing to humanity as critics judging the movie for what it isn't.

In the middle are the reasonable critics and audiences who don't understand how discord around film has become so one-sided, partisan, and devoid of nuance. With all the necessary setup out of the way, let's get into the pros and cons. As a fan of MJ, I really wanted to see more of him as a person, and especially the relationships between him and his siblings. I wanted more of the real stuff. While the content and music video recreations were great, spending more time on what we don't know would be awesome. I'm more of a fan of character work than spectacle, though.

I understand why some people love the more concert-movie vibe of the film; I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with its approach. There's a reason so many people love it! However, I do prefer films calibrated like, say, Song Sung Blue or I Wanna Dance with Somebody, which have a more balanced approach. I do feel like the marketing, leaning into this approach and selling it as a spectacle flick, could've been nice. When I go to any biopic, musical or not, I want to leave having learned more about the people involved. This film didn't give me any new information about MJ. And I'm 19, and wasn't part of the craze in any way, so that really shouldn't be the case. Given how the film was marketed, it set expectations for a more biopic than a concert film, so I was left a tad disappointed by the film's conclusion.

However, as much as the film isn't a great biography and lacks fundamental character work, it's still a really good version of a "greatest hits concert music movie". If you're okay with the film boiling down to really fun music scenes with some comedy and child abuse interlaced, this is a really fantastic way to witness MJ's work, especially on the big screen. The music is amazing as always, and Jaafar Jackson is incredible in his role, perfectly capturing every small mannerism of MJ. Colman Domingo does a great job as Joe Jackson, and his performance and relationship with Michael are the only real narrative draw of this film. The film also finds subtle yet effective moments of humor and levity, which were much appreciated and didn't feel like just MCU-like quippy comedy for the sake of it.

While the movie isn't bad by any means, the King deserved better.

The Reel Ranker Verdict

Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 62%
Letter Score: B-
Star Ranking: 3 out of 5

Michael is a superficially entertaining movie, but it struggles to go any deeper, even with Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo delivering great performances. However, as a glorified concert movie, it's a really solid piece of entertainment for Michael Jackson fans.

Interested in more reviews about biopics, musical or not? Check them out below!