‘Michael’ biopic thoughtfully pays homage to legendary King of Pop

Jaafar Jackson delivers an absolutely brilliant performance as his uncle, Michael Jackson, in “Michael,” Antione Fuqua’s biopic about the King of Pop. Fuqua boldly made the decision to make two separate movies about Michael’s life, with this first film focusing on his upbringing as well as his first few years as a solo artist.

Even though it only covers Jackson’s early years, “Michael” is a beautiful tribute to the singer’s life, as well as his illustrious career.

Jaafar Jackson is extraordinary in his film debut. His physical resemblance to Michael Jackson is remarkable, but what really amazed me is how similar their voices are. He doesn’t imitate his uncle; he embodies him. The years of work it took for Jaafar to prepare for this role were evident through his onstage performances, which are eerily similar to his uncle’s.

Many other actors also went above and beyond in their roles, including Coleman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Michael’s father. Juliano Krue Valdi’s performance as a younger Michael also surprised me because of his impressive acting and singing abilities despite his young age.

 Where “Michael” falls short is in its pacing. The film seems to rush through his younger years, making them feel less prominent. In Michael’s youth, he was a part of an iconic musical group with his brothers called the Jackson 5. Despite the group helping develop him into the musical star he eventually became, that period of his life is glossed over in the film. Who Michael was before his solo career isn’t addressed enough, and some of the film’s later emotional moments land softer than they could have. 

In contrast, the film does a great job of showing traumatic events in Michael’s life that shaped him into who he was later on. One such example is Michael’s experience with his father’s abuse, which caused him to become more timid and softer in his older years. During the group’s rehearsals, if the kids made errors, they would endure their father’s abuse. This dynamic caused Michael to resent his father. 

The movie also touches on Joe’s negative comments about the size of Michael’s nose, which led him to later get a nose job because of his insecurity. 

One of the more effective creative decisions in the film is its foreshadowing of details that will be featured in the second part, such as references to Michael eventually establishing the Neverland Ranch, which was Michael’s residence after moving out of his parents’ compound. Neverland Ranch also served as an amusement park, taking inspiration from Peter Pan, who is mentioned in the film several times. 

Michael Jackson is a household name, yet Fuqua does a great job of humanizing such a revered individual. Despite faulty pacing choices, the movie is ultimately a successful retelling of Michael’s life from birth until 1988. The actors’ talent and the narrative elements are absolutely fantastic and completely blew me away. For fans, it’s absolutely worth the watch, and skeptics of Michael Jackson or his music might change their mind because of Jaafar Jackson’s near flawless performance.

Published and digitized May 2026.