Film: Michael [2026] – Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo

Michael has a problem. And it’s not the casting, or the production. It’s the overly produced story to use Michael for other marketing needs.

While the film has a lot of drama behind its production, including completely skipping Janet Jackson, this review won’t be about it.

Purely speaking, I enjoyed the movie because of its actors, and the music. However, this film is clearly not interested in being a biopic about its titular character. The family producer film uses Michael the same way it portrays his father, Joseph, using him: A vehicule to advertise the Jackson Five’s music.

Starring Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, and others, the film mainly covers the first half of Jackson’s career. However, that’s not my problem with it.

My main issue? The film uses and enhances Jackson’s quirks for dramatic reasons, while also skipping on the actual events in his life. From being clearly “different” to being abused by his father, physically and mentally, the film tries to balance music with drama, while falling flat on both.

Domingo tries really hard to give the father some layers, but he falls flat. Same with Jaafar. Jaffar looks and feels like his uncle, however, you can’t really connect with him emotionally. And the problem is the story.

Should You Watch It?

While Bohemian Rhapsody was clearly promoting Queen’s music, it didn’t’ sell itself as a Freddy Mercury biopic. Michael makes the mistake of overly sanitizing a story with a hidden agenda to spike up streams.

Where Can I Watch It?

Michael is now playing in theaters.