The new Michael Jackson movie is creating controversy on the big screens.
April 24th, 2026, the movie “Michael” started airing in movie theaters. The production has already created skepticism and controversy in people as the film has left holes in it, including his alleged sexual abuse of children. The production explores Jackson’s life story, starting all the way from childhood in the Jackson 5, all the way to his pop star days.
The movie began its filming in early 2024 and took two years for it to be done. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael is played by actor and related member of the Jackson Family, Jaafar Jackson. Other stars include Miles Teller, Mike Myers, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, and Nia Long. The movie depicts Jackson’s life story.
Alex Talbert, a senior from Georgia and a fanatic fan of Michael Jackson, feels that the film failed to include some big moments in Jackson’s life.
“It focused more on his music and success and didn’t go super deep into all the controversies and harder parts of his life” she said. “His life was really complicated, so there’s no way they could fit everything in one movie, but it definitely felt like some things were skipped or softened”.
Talbert, after watching it, believes that the set up and cinematography of the movie paralleled his life well.
“I think the production and visuals were actually really good, ” she said. “The outfits, performances, and stage scenes felt super realistic and kind of gave you the vibe of what his career was like”.
The producers’ ability to gather a good cast for the movie succeeded too.
Talbert said, “The casting was decent too, especially for showing his different ages. It didn’t show everything perfectly, but it did a good job capturing his fame and energy”.
Although Talbert enjoyed the movie, there are some aspects that she feels the film got wrong.
“Yeah, I think there could be some bias,” she said. “If someone related to him is playing him, they might naturally want to show him in a better light and not focus as much on negative stuff.”
Michael Jackson has been allegedly accused of multiple crimes involving sexual misconduct. The first one dates back to 1993, when a 13-year-old boy accused Jackson of abuse. Jackson was not charged but allegations followed him throughout his career.
In 2005 others came out saying that Jackson had sexually assaulted them which led to more legal issues; ultimately Jackson was not convicted of anything. Years after Jackson’s death in 2009, a documentary was released, “Leaving Netherland,” in which two men came forward to say that they had been victims of Jackson’s during their early years.
Talbert also feels that with everything getting released about Jackson right now it could cause scandal.
“This is kind of tricky”, she said. “On one hand, people should be able to tell his story because he was such a huge figure in music. But at the same time, with all the allegations and things that have come out, it feels a little uncomfortable to make a movie that might ignore or downplay that.
Nilani Mathur, a senior from Longmeadow, Mass, has not yet watched the movie, and feels mixed emotions regarding its publishing, with all of Jackson’s recent accusations being released.
“In a time where more information about his subsequent, disturbing, and illegal behaviors are surfacing, it could be problematic to release it in that could influence a deviation from holding him accountable and acknowledging and memorializing his victims, and the many victims of grooming, and sexual abuse, living today”.
According to USA TODAY, the new film was supposed to show and reveal Jackson’s misconduct but failed to do so. The article also was said to have gone through many reshoots and was forced to write a new ending.
The movie has made around $423 million in its first two weeks.
Pharoahe-Ju’Quaar Gasasu, a junior from Mass., recently saw the movie and feels that it lacked some important parts of Jackson’s life.
“I think it definitely should have shown more of his life and everything that went on,” he said. “That would have made the movie more interesting and showed who he really was”.
