‘Michael (2026)’ Review: Inside Michael Jackson’s Rise and Family Struggles

“Michael” is a 2026 movie about the rise of Michael Jackson covering his life and stardom into the megastar he was once known had. There are several great things about this movie make it worth going to see, foremost among them is just how talented Jackson was as an artist.

Of course, there was a seedy side to Michael Jackson. The foundations of that came through in this movie as well. The third memorable thing about the movie was the star’s overbearing father, Joe Jackson. Joe cared almost exclusively about the family and the Jackson 5, and put a lot of pressure on Michael to forego his solo career and perform with the family. Michael would escape to fantasy already fixated on Peter Pan and Neverland, and had lots of “friends” which include a chimpanzee, a llama, a snake, a giraffe, rats, and peacocks.

‘Michael’ QUICK VERDICT

Score: 9/10

“Michael” is likely to resonate most with middle‑aged viewers and longtime fans of the performer. Those already familiar with his work will find plenty to appreciate, while newcomers may discover aspects of his life and artistry they hadn’t known before. Even with its tendency to soften or sidestep some of the more difficult chapters of his story, the film remains a compelling and worthwhile watch.

“Michael” unfolds chronologically, tracing the story from the Jackson 5’s pre‑Motown days through Michael’s solo ‘Bad’ era in the late 1980s. This straightforward timeline is one of the film’s greatest strengths; within the period it chooses to cover, it stays impressively faithful to the historical record. Still, the decision to end the narrative around 1988—followed by the vague promise that ‘his story continues’—feels abrupt, especially given that the Jackson 5 signed with Motown as early as 1968. There is a great deal of life and legacy left untouched.

Within its chosen scope, though, the film remains largely accurate. Michael is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, with Juliano Krue Valdi playing him as a child; both actors make strong debuts and carry the emotional weight of their respective eras. Their performances, along with several others in the ensemble, give the film a grounded authenticity that elevates the material.

‘Michael’ PROS & CONS

There are a couple of important pros in this movie. Foremost among these is the great conflict between Michael and his father. This is one of the major storylines in the movie. Joseph Jackson was a steelworker. Joseph was portrayed as being overbearing. He pressured the youngest child to perform with his family and forgo his plans to go solo. He even whipped the youngster with his belt. That is all that was shown, but it is logical to conclude that more violations took place. They obviously affected Michael, who is shown in one scene crying, huddled in the corner of his bathroom.

This pressure continued right up to the Bad tour. Joe made a deal with the legendary boxing promoter Don King to promote the Jackson 5 in a worldwide stadium-only Victory tour. Pepsi also sponsored this tour. Though on stage at the conclusion of the tour, he announced on stage that this was the last performance of the Jackson 5.

Moviegoers also learn about the Pepsi-sponsored tour. A major event in the movie, and in his life, which you probably remember, is his hair catching fire while rehearsing. He almost died and ended up in the burn unit ICU. There, he showed his good heart, talking for hours with pediatric burn victims and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the burn unit.

Michael’s Unusual Behavior Raises Questions Throughout the Film

His meteoric rise is shown as another pro in the movie. The 5-year-old front man for the family band, the Jackson 5, was his first claim to fame. As the most visible and cutest family member, he quickly captured the attention of the American public. He parlayed that fame into the solo albums ‘Off the Wall,’ ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Bad.’ All are shown in the movie.

A potential con of this movie is the strange behavior Michael was displaying. He obsesses over Neverland, and he says he will live there one day. He was right. He has various pets, whom he refers to as friends. He has a monkey called Bubbles. There is a snake, a giraffe, a llama, a peacock, and rats. He talks to all of them like real people.

Ultimately, ‘Michael’ is a good movie. It is historically accurate and does a good job of portraying the tension between Michael and his father. Viewers just need to be prepared for the movie to end in 1988, and they need to be prepared for the odd and disturbing fascination the star has with Neverland and exotic animals.