Michael Jackson biopic breaks box office records but is hated by many

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The recent Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, likely succeeded financially. However, if its goal was to offer a truthful and nuanced depiction of Jackson as a person, it fell short. Director Antoine Fuqua faced challenges that made achieving that difficult.

Several people have sued Michael Jackson or his estate since his death in 2009. At least one case was settled privately, with an agreement preventing both the plaintiff and Jackson’s estate from profiting from anything related to the allegations against him.

Look, I’m not trying to say whether any of the things this artist was accused of actually happened or not. What I do know is that there were accusations involving minors, and some of those were handled privately with settlements instead of going to court.

Michael Jackson biopic breaks records despite terrible reviews

The film has received mostly negative reviews from critics. Its score on Rotten Tomatoes is just 38%. However, audiences who have seen it – and are probably fans of Michael Jackson’s music – rated it much higher, giving it a 97%. This difference is likely because the movie concentrates on Jackson’s career and doesn’t delve much into his personal life.

In a review for The Observer, Wendy Ide notes that despite its flaws, the film successfully conveys what many people remember most about Michael Jackson – his music, captivating performances, and genuine connection with his audience.

Michael Ward of Should I See It was more harsh and succinct, “Spectacle sells better than honesty.”

The movie earned a remarkable $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide during its opening weekend, setting a new record for music biopics. However, this success is likely due to Michael Jackson’s enduring popularity rather than the film’s quality. A movie about such a legendary figure was almost guaranteed to be a hit regardless of how it was made.

It’s seriously wild that artists can still ‘appear’ in movies long after they’re gone, especially if they aren’t even in the film itself. It just shows how much of a hold they can have on people, you know? Honestly, if you’re already a fan, you’ll probably check it out. If their music doesn’t do anything for you, though, it’s probably not going to change your mind – and that’s kind of the whole idea behind how the movie was made, leaning into that existing fanbase.

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2026-04-27 23:02