Audience Says: Michael Is Pure Entertainment for MJ Fans
The biopic is Verified Hot, with dazzled fans calling it the closest you can come to an actual Michael Jackson concert.
97%
Fan anticipation has been high for Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, ever since it was announced, and if there were any doubters, they were all silenced by the film’s record-setting opening weekend. It’s true that musical biopics have been popular for the past several years, but Michael danced circles around all of them with a $97 million debut, besting previous record-holder Straight Outta Compton, which opened at $60 million.
While critics acknowledged star Jaafar Jackson’s talents in bringing the King of Pop to life, they weren’t so impressed with Antoine Fuqua’s film overall. But it was an entirely different story with audiences, who propelled Michael’s Popcornmeter to a Verified Hot 97%, echoing the critics’ sentiments about Jaafar Jackson’s performance and calling the film the closest thing to a Michael Jackson concert that anyone could ask for.
Here’s what the fans have been saying in the Verified Audience Reviews for Michael.
These reviews have been edited for clarity.
“This movie was pure good old fashioned entertainment! Fantastic history of the great Michael Jackson on full display with great actors to play the parts! Both young and old Michaels were fantastic!!! I’m a big MJ fan but I dragged my husband along and he was so surprised because he loved it too and even shed a tear or two!!”
— Anne, 5 Stars
“Jaafar Jackson’s performance as Michael Jackson is phenomenal, capturing the voice and stage presence we all know and love. Colman Domingo also gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Joe Jackson. The entire supporting cast did a phenomenal job, with Nia Long as Katherine Jackson serving as a great addition to the film. The film’s cinematography and soundtrack are outstanding! This is a must-watch for all MJ fans! Will definitely be rewatching it again soon!”
— Daniel, 5 Stars
“Beautiful, amazing, and spectacular! This is the closest I will get to a concert.”
— Alyssa, 5 Stars
“Yes this is a very Cliffs Notes version of events, but the cast, the staging, the directing makes for such an awesome visual experience. The recreations of the Victory Tour, BAD and Pepsi commercial alone were awe inspiring and Jaafar might be the first time someone is playing Michael that doesn’t come across as an imitation. A must see for fans, I understand the critics takes on it and they aren’t wrong per se but I just left feeling like I immediately wanted to watch it again.”
— Jeffrey J, 4 Stars
“Michael Jackson is my favorite artist. And seeing his story come to life in a film was such an experience. So many emotional scenes and so much joy that came from his life and performances. This movie was a 10/10!”
— Elizabeth, 5 Stars
“Absolutely loved it. Cried a lot… Juliano Krue Valdi who played Michael as a child was compelling and delivered a great performance… Michael, portrayed by Jaafar Jackson, was outstanding. His voice resembled Michael’s, and his dance performance was incredibly authentic. Nia Long conveyed her role as a mother with care and respect. Colman Domingo (Joseph) was portrayed convincingly… Overall, very good movie. Looking forward to Part II asap.”
— Hiwot T, 5 Stars
“This movie was more like a concert!!! Jaafar really embodied his uncle and it was an absolute MASTERPIECE!!!! I left with my jaw dropping because I have no words to express how much fun and joy this movie brought to me.”
— Brand, 5 Stars
“It’s nearly impossible to dive deep into the complexity of the man Michael was in just two hours without leaving out his greatest hits—that would make the movie three or four hours long. However, it touches on the essentials. I laughed, I cried, I got goosebumps, and I left wanting more.”
— Antonio M, 4 Stars
“Michael is a 5 Star, 10/10 MASTERPIECE!!Jaafar Jackson delivered a genius level transformative performance of a lifetime as Michael Jackson (Oscar worthy)… Needless to say, Colman Domingo gave me chills as Joe Jackson. Juliano Valdi as little Michael had me at “hello” and… Nia Long warms the screen with a perfect grace and strength… I promise you it’s not hype. It’s healing.”
— Cassandra, 5 Stars
“For me, it’s a great movie. It shows Michael’s humanity and what a wonderful person he was, someone who cared about others. I’m not interested in the legal aspects; I just want to enjoy what he did with his music, which is what I love. Without a doubt, he’s the best pop artist of all time.”
— Jorge Y, 5 Stars
“It doesn’t portray him as a saint: flaws are shown and contextualized, simplifying without distorting… The main issue is the absence of the artistic genius. The creative process is barely explored… Narratively, the focus on the father-son relationship is excessive, while key periods are rushed or skipped… The performances are strong: both young Michael (Juliano Valdi) and adult Michael (Jaafar Jackson) are convincing, especially on stage. Overall, it’s effective and emotionally engaging, but clearly incomplete.“
— Gabriele P, 4 Stars
“Great entertainment. It’s okay to leave a movie feeling good just for the pure entertainment of it. Jaafar WAS Michael. Colman Domingo WAS Joe Jackson. John Branca wishes he looked as good as Miles Teller.”
— Deborah, 5 Stars
“It’s incredible, Jaafar doesn’t just embody MJ he becomes him… The dancing, the mannerisms, the voice (is spot on) and the finger snapping. Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson was intense and complex… Nia Long is very warm and gentle throughout… If I were to give any critiques it would be the pacing of the story; I feel it skipped over important moments that needed more depth… You must see this in IMAX.”
— Keiron D, 5 Stars
“What a fantastic tribute to Michael Jackson! I just finished watching the early screening at the IMAX theatre, excellent cast and of course excellent movie! The whole theatre was singing along to all of his songs. GO SEE IT!!!”
— Basilio B, 5 Stars
“The music & dance scenes are amazing if you love the music. If you are looking for any juicy details of his life it’s not in this movie. They get in the brutality of Joe Jackson to his son. Most of the storyline is sugar coated. I feel this was made to try to improve his image and renew interest in his music.”
— Lisa, 3 Stars
“This film was nothing short of epic. Jaafar Jackson stepped into impossibly big shoes and delivered… You remembered why the world fell in love with him in the first place. What struck me most was how nostalgic it felt. These are songs I have known my whole life, melodies sewn into my memory, and hearing them in that context brought everything rushing back… I came home ready to revisit every album, every era, every sequined glove. A brilliant film. Go and see it. And don’t be too dignified to dance.”
— R B, 5 Stars
“This will be the cheapest concert you can attend this year. and the movie is really really good too.”
— Mel, 5 Stars
“The Michael Jackson film was a powerful and emotionally engaging experience. Jaafar delivered an impressive performance, truly embodying his uncle’s essence—particularly during the musical sequences, where his presence, movement, and energy felt both authentic and captivating… Coleman Domingo’s portrayal of Joe Jackson was equally compelling… Watching this movie with my family made the experience even more meaningful. It was more than just a film—it became a shared moment filled with laughter, nostalgia, and emotion.“
— Racheal S, 5 Stars
“My entire theater broke out singing and dancing and it was truly the closet thing to a Michael concert other than a Michael concert itself. Jafaar Jackson did such an amazing job portraying his uncle… Juliano Krue Valdi also blew me away… Colman Domingo was menacing as Joe Jackson and you can IMMEDIATELY feel his intensity… Nia long did an amazing job portraying Kathrine as well. Great movie overall and I will be seeing this again tonight”
— DaQuan B, 5 Stars
“I’ve been waiting for this movie to come out since it was announced, and it did not disappoint. The whole cast did a stellar job, and Jaafar absolutely crushed it as Michael… His appearance, voice, mannerisms, and dance moves were all top notch. If you are a fan of MJ, this movie will be both uplifting and also have a few moments that will rip your heart out. My only complaint is that some iconic moments and eras were not shown in the movie.”
— KD, 4.5 Stars
Michael is currently in theaters.
Thumbnail image by ©Lionsgate
