To say that I got into Michael Jackson’s music late would be an understatement. I obviously knew who he was growing up and knew some of his singles, but shortly after he died in 2009, my Dad, probably feeling some nostalgia, bought a set of Jackson 5 albums and a Michael Jackson Greatest Hits CD. These songs became the soundtrack to our trips to school every morning and turned us from casual listeners into fans.

I’m not sure the world will ever have another talent like Michael Jackson. The ‘King of Pop’ earned that title through every moment he gave to his craft, so it’s no surprise how highly anticipated this biopic about him has been.

Michael takes us through the life of Michael Jackson (played by Juliano Valdi and Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson) from his Jackson 5 days into the start of his solo career. The film also stars Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and Kendrick Sampson.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in Michael. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate

The early years of Michael’s life portrayed at the start of the film set the scene for the rest of it, emphasising how hard Joe Jackson (Domingo) worked his children, effectively robbing them of childhoods. Valdi’s Young Michael takes every opportunity to escape into a fantasy (although he loves what he does) which makes you want to protect him, and which makes it more heartbreaking to see just how emotionally neglected he is by his father. The viewer escapes with Michael – into music, into movies, into Peter Pan – and is not surprised then when this childlike-ness follows him into teenage and adulthood. There’s a commitment to wonder woven throughout the film, and it is especially precious to see Michael be so inspired by art from other people. Knowing Michael as the ‘icon’, it is strange to think of him copying James Brown’s moves in his living room or pulling from films that he watched with his mother at night.

Michael approaches his art, and his life, with an innocence that is somewhat unusual. He genuinely believes he can change the world, that if he can see his dream it will happen, and that his ideas were given to him for a reason. He gives each song, each performance, and each music video his all just because that’s what’s in him. Even his more ‘confusing’ decisions, like getting a monkey, or a nose job, have that innocent thought process behind them (“the animals are friends”, “my face needs to be symmetrical for the pictures”).

Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson in Michael. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

There’s an element of that innocent approach to creating that I always love to see, where an artist comes to their art with no agenda, just a surrender to what needs to be said, and the best ways to facilitate that. I LOVE seeing an artist put their whole self into a performance with no regard for looking ‘cool’. It’s what makes Michael Jackson’s performers so much fun for me to watch, and so I’m glad to report that Jaafar Jackson absolutely EATS in this role (and man, so does Juliano Valdi!).

For all of the wonder and imagination in Michael, it did feel a little empty for me. Not in the way that nothing was happening, but rather that we had to get through so many moments that it felt like we didn’t really get to be in any one. His eras are easily recognisable and celebrated in the film, but we don’t’ get to experience the process of getting to each one. Michael does promise a second (arguably deeper) film, so maybe those slowed down moments will come then.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray in Michael. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate

Still, I’d watch it again. It’s full of great acting performances, and if you love music/musical performances like I do, there are many treats in this film for you.

Michael is in theatres on Friday, April 24th, 2026.