Michael

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Michael

PG-13

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2h 10m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

272 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Verified Ratings

MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Critics Consensus

While Jaafar Jackson's smooth moves bring the King of Pop to uncanny life, this musical biopic mostly plays like a "greatest hits" album that could've benefitted from including liner notes to give actual insight into the icon.

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Audience Says

Boosted by stellar performances, most notably Jaafar Jackson’s breakout turn, Michael tops the charts and has fans moonwalking across the globe.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

1d

A hokey, corny, safe, clichéd, sanitized look at Michael Jackson.

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Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

1d

“Michael” might be a self-evident, self-sustaining, self-indulgent piece of PR. But layer a catchy tune over all that artifice, and the music is the only thing many people will hear.

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Cortlyn Kelly

Chicago Reader

6d

The film is so chopped and screwed that my heart beat fewer times than the number of cuts in a single scene.

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Terry Staunton

Radio Times

10h

2/5

This syrupy biopic becomes a test of endurance – packed with over-simplified plot points and mawkish, underwritten scenes.

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Brian Gill

Mad About Movies Podcast

16h

D

Informed almost entirely by Bohemian Rhapsody (derogatory).

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Beandrea July

FilmWeek (LAist)

1d

It begs the question of why was this necessary?... The best parts of it are the music, which you can see elsewhere.

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Wendy

7h

LOVED IT ALL DROM THE START!

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Duane

7h

Brilliantly done! Definitely watching it twice!

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Michael E

7h

Enjoyed the build up from child era, but appeared to leave out other elements like birth of Janet. Gave no interactions with siblings, or reference to Reba.

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Ree

7h

Well done. However a couple of key individuals missing - Diana and Janet to name a couple. Left feeling it was not complete. I wanted to see the full story till the end. All the acting was phenomenal. Most of the movie I really thought I was watching Michael. Jaafar definitely embodied his uncle in voice, dance moves and mannerisms.

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Stephen

7h

"Michael" was amazing! Jaafar Jackson did an excellent job portraying his uncle. The movie did not dip into any Michael Jackson controversy, but was not necessary either. Just pure "King Of Pop" magic. If you are even remotely a fan, it is a must see.

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Romeo B

7h

exploitive cash grab

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Antoine Fuqua

Director

Jaafar Jackson

Michael Jackson

Miles Teller

John Branca

Colman Domingo

Joe Jackson

Nia Long

Katherine Jackson

Jayden Harville

Young Jermaine Jackson

Michael: Music Clip - Billie Jean

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See 'Michael' on the Big Screen!

0:26

Michael: Featurette - Before the Big Screen

1:47

Michael: Final Trailer

1:00

The Michael Cast Reveal Their Favorite Scenes

1:22

Colman Domingo on Playing Joe Jackson

1:06

Michael: Featurette – A Conversation with Jaafar Jackson

1:50

Jaafar on Getting the Role of Michael Jackson

1:09

Recreating the Thriller Music Video

1:02

Michael: Teaser - Early Access Event

1:15

Antoine Fuqua & the 'Michael' Cast on Familial Bonds and Capturing Michael Jackson's Essence on Film

16:57

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Synopsis

MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Producer: Graham King, John Branca, John McClain
Screenwriter: John Logan
Distributor: Lionsgate
Production Co: GK Films
Rating: PG-13 (Smoking|Language|Some Thematic Material)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2026, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $184.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)