“Ghoulish” Michael Jackson biopic branded “one of the worst films of 2026” in first reviews

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The new movie Michael opens in theaters tomorrow and is predicted to have a record-breaking opening for musical biopics in the US. However, early reviews haven’t been great, with the film currently holding a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The new movie about Michael Jackson stars his nephew, Jaafar, as the singer and covers his life and career, starting with the Jackson 5 and going up to his 1988 Bad tour. The film has faced some problems before its release, and the original ending had to be completely removed.

Early reviews of the movie Michael indicate it focuses more on showcasing his music, similar to the MJ musical. However, critics haven’t been impressed, with the BBC calling it “one of the worst films of 2026” and The Independent describing it as “ghoulish.”

Wondering if you should check out Michael? Here’s a collection of early reviews to help you decide.

BBC

The new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, isn’t good. While it was produced by people close to the singer – family and associates – viewers might have expected a somewhat biased portrayal. However, the film is shockingly uninspired and feels like a low-budget television movie.

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Empire

While the young performers who portray Michael Jackson deliver incredibly strong musical and dance numbers, the show noticeably avoids addressing the more troubling aspects of his life and legacy.

Variety

This isn’t a film focused on the troubled aspects of Michael Jackson’s life. The real surprise of Michael is how enjoyable it is, and it turns out to be a surprisingly captivating, if fairly standard, biographical movie.

The Independent

Michael simply copies Jackson’s most iconic images, presenting them in a robotic, uninspired way. It’s a much simpler approach. Instead of showing a real person, he treats Jackson like a brand to be replicated.

RogerEbert.com

Antoine Fuqua directed this biopic about Michael Jackson, and while it looks and sounds like a film, it’s more of a collection of music videos than a cohesive story. It feels like a filmed collection of songs, rather than a fully developed movie.

The Hollywood Reporter

If you fondly remember when his music was everywhere – on the radio, at parties, and in clubs – you’ll likely find this movie a wonderfully nostalgic and enjoyable experience.

TheWrap

Despite appearing sincere, this doesn’t feel like a genuine story. It’s possible something was there originally, before changes were made, but now it reads more like a long advertisement designed to fix a negative image.

Rolling Stone

Hearing Jackson’s music brings back memories, but those memories are still shadowed by controversy, even though the film tries hard to distance itself from it.

Michael is released in cinemas on 22 April.

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2026-04-21 17:22