Early in the Michael biopic, Colman Domingo as patriarch Joe Jackson tells his sons, “In this life, you’re either a winner or a loser.” The senior Jackson’s mantra sets the stage for what’s to come as Michael Jackson begins his rise from precocious Jackson 5 frontman to solo global star.
Being released on April 24, the much-anticipated Michael is the first installment in a two-part biopic given that Jackson’s career is too expansive to encapsulate in one film. But part one — which runs a little over two hours — does spotlight the key highs and lows in chronicling Jackson’s ‘60s journey from Gary, Indiana and to Los Angeles and beyond.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael stars Jackson’s nephew (and brother Jermaine’s son) Jaafar Jackson (more about him below). In addition to the aforementioned Domingo, the film also features fellow co-stars Nia Long as mom Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as Jackson’s attorney John Branca. But the main costar — no surprise — is the music. Over the film’s opening studio credits, you hear Jackson’s indelible “eee hee” riff. You’re hooked into what’s to come even before the film’s first visual appears.
Michael is a bountiful, generational musical feast. Day one Jackson 5 fans get to relive the group’s hard-won but meteoric ascension through songs and performances like “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” They will also re-experience young Michael’s extraordinary vocal skills on “Who’s Lovin’ You” and “Ben” while still with the Jackson 5.
Then as Jackson begins blueprinting his own unique style in the late ‘70s into the ‘80s, that next generation of fans (and beyond) get to relish again his classics such as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Bad.” Exponentially adding to the experience are the film’s depictions of the group’s stage and TV performances and Jackson’s performances as a solo act. The IMAX surround sound optimization, especially in the latter case, makes you feel like you’re right there among the concert crowd.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 20: Colman Domingo attends the premiere of Lionsgate’s “Michael” at Dolby Theatre on April 20, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
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Not wanting to give away too much more — viewers need experience this for themselves — here are five takeaways from Michael.
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Jaafar Jackson Skillfully Captures His Uncle
For the younger generations of fans who weren’t around to experience Michael’s zeitgeist in real life, Jaafar provides the next best thing to having been there. Between the physical and voice similarities to his uncle plus the younger Jackson’s stunning recreations of MJ’s lithe dance moves —especially in depicting the origins of the “Beat It” dance routine and Motown 25’s “Billie Jean” performance — you can’t help but feel like you’ve boarded a wayback time machine and been catapulted back into the movie’s ’60s-‘80s time frame. Jaafar also insightfully conveys MJ’s loneliness, love of animals (especially Bubbles), kid-at-heart personality and close relationship with mother Katherine.
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Colman Domingo Delivers Complex Portrayal of Joe Jackson
Acting as a fictional character can be difficult enough. Stepping into the shoes of a real-life person and zeroing in on that individual’s personality nuances is quite another, especially when said person isn’t very likable. As he did in another complex role — his Academy Award-nominated turn as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin — Domingo deftly flexes his formidable acting skills as daddy Joe. The on-screen tension between Domingo and Jaafar is very palpable as the estrangement between Joe and Michael takes hold.
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Bill Bray’s Impactful Role in MJ’s Life
The film brings to light a person that many may not have been aware of: Bill Bray. Hired by Joe early on as a security guard for the Jackson 5, Bray later became MJ’s driver and confidante, and a longtime member of the artist’s inner circle. Watching that behind-the-scenes relationship unfold over the course of the film is a very telling chapter in MJ’s career evolution from kid star to adult superstar.
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Wanted: Just a Bit More Context
There’s been plenty of pre-release drama surrounding Michael. Like daughter Paris’ public dismay over the biopic plus media reports about the absence of sister Janet and reshoots of the film ahead of its premiere. While the project is a biopic focusing on Michael Jackson’s solo career and relationship with Joe, it would have been nice to have just a little more context. Like including how Quincy Jones and Michael initially hooked up while working on The Wiz, which morphed into teaming up for the latter’s solo breakthrough Off the Wall.
Or perhaps showing a bit more interaction between MJ and his brothers coming up or of Katherine with her sons. Of Michael’s three sisters — Rebbie, LaToya and Janet — only LaToya is featured. In fact, while the audience filed out of the screening this writer attended last evening (April 20), one attendee was overheard asking, “Where was Janet?” And although Kat Graham is listed online as playing Diana Ross, that role didn’t show up in the movie. However, it was cool to see Gladys Knight & the Pips depicted in the film.
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What Could Have Been
The film does make you wonder what it would be like if Michael was still here. What would his input have been in making this biopic? Was he even contemplating a biopic in his future plans? And what would he be doing musically right now? At the time of his death in 2009, Jackson was on the eve of launching his This Is It residency at the O2 Arena in London. His last major outings had been 1997’s HIStory World Tour and 2001’s 30th Anniversary Celebration. The announcement of the O2 residency, following his acquittal on sex abuse charges in 2005, garnered record-breaking sales as fans clamored to see the King of Pop in action once again. That unfulfilled fervor comes back to mind while watching Michael. Time will tell if the biopic — and the second part, if there does end up being one — can satiate his global fans.