Michael Biopic Opens to Brutal Reviews as Rotten Tomatoes Score Tanks

Michael, the biopic tracing Michael Jackson’s journey from Jackson 5 prodigy to solo superstardom, is landing with a thud among critics — even with his nephew Jaafar stepping into the spotlight.

Michael Jackson is getting the big glossy biopic treatment, and early word from critics is not exactly a victory lap. The movie is called, wait for it, 'Michael,' and while it is not out for the rest of us yet, screenings have happened, reviews are in, and the reactions are... a bit rough, with a few bright spots.

The setup

The film charts Jackson from the Jackson 5 years through the solo megastar era. Playing Michael is his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson — yes, Jermaine Jackson's son — who is 29 and making his film debut here. 'Michael' opens in theaters on Friday, April 24.

Even before opening weekend, the temperature check is chilly: as of now, the movie sits at 32 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. So, mixed to negative overall, though not without defenders.

What critics are saying

• Consequence graded it a C-, arguing the film is scared to really examine who Jackson was on the inside and instead plays like a straightforward, crowd-pleasing playlist for fans.
• The Associated Press went 1.5 stars out of 4, warning that the movie leans hard on nostalgia and that buying into the polished myth all over again feels like repeating an old, sad cycle.
• Variety was more upbeat: it says the film is not interested in dwelling on the darker chapters, but it still works surprisingly well as an engaging, middle-of-the-road studio biopic.
• Deadline singled out Jaafar Jackson, calling his recreation of Michael's stage presence uncanny — the moves, the voice, the whole aura — and arguing he sells the illusion.

That spread kind of tells you everything: if you want a probing, warts-and-all character study, prepare for disappointment. If you want the iconography and the showmanship, you might be fine. And apparently Jaafar is the secret weapon.

Premiere night and family dynamics

The Los Angeles premiere went down on Monday, April 20. Several Jackson family members showed up: siblings Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, and Jackie, plus Michael's son Prince, who is 29.

Two notable absences: Janet Jackson and Paris Jackson. Paris has already made it clear she is not endorsing the movie. She has said she has 'zero percent involvement,' that she read an early script, gave feedback she felt was ignored, and then stepped away. She spelled it out back in 2025 on Instagram:

'I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my thoughts on what was dishonest/didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys not my circus. God bless and god speed.'

Bottom line

'Michael' looks like a big, polished overview that prioritizes the legend over the mess, with a lead performance that a lot of people are calling eerily convincing. Whether that trade-off works for you probably depends on what you want from a Jackson biopic. We find out for real when it hits theaters Friday, April 24.