Is the New Michael Jackson Biopic Worth the 2-Hour Watch?
After watching Michael (2026), I have some thoughts about the biopic that I wanted to share as someone who was raised listening to his music. Yes, there will be spoilers (even though I’m not sure how exactly you can spoil a biopic), so proceed with caution.
I’m going to break down everything right and wrong with this biopic, not just as a fan, but someone who enjoys movies that are thoughtfully directed. I will, however, also be giving my opinion as a fan, especially on certain things that I wished were different about it.
First of all, let’s bring back theater etiquette
I decided to go to Grand Cinemas in ABC Achrafieh, and though I was happy to see people of all ages coming to enjoy this film, the experience was ruined by the Gen Alphas. Unfortunately, Michael Jackson happens to be one of the most memed individuals to the new generation, meaning you’ll expect a lot of tomfoolery.
You cannot afford to get distracted or irritated during this film, especially not when they’re playing some of Michael’s greatest hits. I was thoroughly pissed at the children who were no older than 13 being obnoxious and loud. Many people watching the movie asked them to keep it down, so it wasn’t just me being a Negative Nancy.
As a regular moviegoer…
For those who will think that I’m being biased because I love Michael, I decided to review the biopic as a regular moviegoer with standard expectations for plot, pacing, acting, and storytelling, not just as someone emotionally attached to the music and the artist behind it.
The first half of the movie, specifically about his early life, was actually perfectly paced. It was arguably the most interesting part of the entire movie because of how well it tackled Michael’s relationship with his father. Juliano Krue Valdi could not have been a better fit for this role, capturing the quiet innocence of a child whose childhood was never fully his to experience. Jaafar Jackson also very thoroughly studied Michael. His mannerisms, facial expressions, the dancing…it was near-identical. You could see Michael’s love for performance and his artistry translated through Jaafar.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to believe a biopic is perfect when you’re so amazed by perfect casting. A biopic still needs enough breathing room for the audience to fully absorb and understand the weight of what’s going on, not just glide through major events in an artist’s career.
My problem with the movie starts after Michael’s solo debut. All of a sudden, it feels like major chunks were cut out (which is true, a lot was taken out of the final cut), and everything past the one-hour mark starts moving like a highlight reel instead of a fully developed story. In terms of plot, it’s very empty and nothing is thoroughly explored because we’re moving at such a fast pace from his albums Off The Wall (1979) to Thriller (1982).
As a Michael fan…
As a Michael fan, this is my time to be biased, but I think that the bias is very valid. Here are a number of issues I have with the biopic because I truly believe that although it doesn’t have to be 100% accurate and cover every major event in his life, it can’t simply skip the most pivotal moments of Michael’s solo debut.
1. Where is Janet Jackson?
Yes, other siblings are also missing from the story, but no Janet? She was the person he was closest to, and they had such a strong bond not only as siblings, but as artists. Her refusal to be part of the biopic makes you wonder: was she dissatisfied with what the movie was portraying? Or did she simply just not want to be part of this project?
Some gossip rags have their own theories, which you can read about here, but I have no interest in diving into all that.
2. “Dirty Diana” Ross
Kat Graham’s scenes portraying legendary singer Diana Ross were entirely cut from the final release due to “legal reasons”, and those familiar with Michael’s rise to fame know just how relevant she is to his career.
Diana Ross legally opting out of the movie means we don’t see anything about their relationship, even though she was around Michael ever since he was a child. In fact, when the Jackson 5 were signed to Motown in the late 1960s, she was already one of the label’s biggest stars, and Motown used her public image to introduce the group to the world (even branding their debut album Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5).
Beyond the marketing, she also played a real mentorship role. She hosted early showcases for the group, supported their rise in the industry, and became someone Michael Jackson looked up to from childhood. After it was announced that Ross opted out, many people criticized the film for feeling…sanitized. She was 14 years older than Michael and he refers to her as his “mother, sister, and lover” in his autobiography…kind of weird considering she met him when she was 24 years old, and he was about 9 or 10.
3. The Pepsi commercial
The commercial he reportedly didn’t even want to do, and which is widely linked to the start of his painkiller dependency, is reduced to a very small portion of the biopic. We’re suddenly fast-forwarded to him going on the Victory Tour as The Jacksons like nothing happened. At this point in the movie, the emotional depth had fizzled out entirely.
The disaster that was the Pepsi commercial isn’t treated as a turning point but a mere speed bump in his life. I’m sure severe nerve damage and a dependency on hardcore medication is a lot more than just a speed bump. Yes, the biopic does hint at darker times ahead, but it values momentum rather than depth, which is so disappointing considering how well done the first half of the movie was.
With this many things filtered out of the final cut, I’d much rather have a shorter, more detailed timeline that actually commits to its key moments, instead of stretching the narrative while still cutting out some of the most important parts of his life.
Again, this isn’t just about accuracy. Plot and pacing went out the window by the third act of the movie, and that’s probably because they had to reshoot and cut out so many scenes.
Is it worth it?
Of course, it’s still worth the watch. The cast does a great job, and none of the issues come down to their performances, especially given the final cuts and decisions made in the edit.
You can enjoy a film and still criticize it at the same time. Here’s the official trailer if you haven’t watched it yet:
I just hope you end up watching it with no Gen Alphas in sight.
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