Michael Jackson movie is now the worst-reviewed biopic in YEARS amid backlash for axing child abuse scandal

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While the recent Michael Jackson movie is a box office success, critics aren’t very enthusiastic about it.

The movie Michael is currently receiving very poor reviews and is considered one of the lowest-rated biographical films in recent history, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

I have to admit, when Michael first came out, it got a pretty rough reception – only 27% of critics on the site liked it, though it’s climbed a little to 34% now. It’s a shame, because it means it’s falling behind some really successful biopics like the Bob Dylan film (82%), the Robbie Williams one (89%), and even the huge hit, Oppenheimer (93%). I really hoped it would do better!

Several other biographical films have received better reviews than Michael. These include The Apprentice (82%), which tells the story of Donald Trump’s ascent to power, Priscilla (84%), a 2023 film about Priscilla Presley, and Ferrari (73%), focusing on the life of race car driver Enzo Ferrari.

Even the 2022 Whitney Houston movie, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, received a 43% rating, which is better than the current 35% rating for the 2024 Amy Winehouse biopic, Back to Black. The Michael biopic is only one percent lower in ratings.

The only other biographical movie to receive such poor reviews is the 2024 film Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid, which currently holds a 18% rating.

Despite the backlash, Michael is shaping up to be a huge hit at the box office. 

According to Deadline, the film is on track to open with $150million worldwide.

Within the United States, the film is predicted to have the biggest opening weekend of any musical biopic ever, potentially earning $65 million or more.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is famous for directing The Equalizer movies, ‘Michael’ is a film that traces the life of the iconic performer, starting with his early days in the Jackson 5 and continuing through the launch of his successful solo career.

The late Jackson is portrayed by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

Reviewers have strongly criticized the film, saying it presents a watered-down version of Jackson’s life. BBC News described it as a dull and poorly made television movie.

Even Brian Viner, a critic for the Daily Mail, strongly disliked the film, calling it overly simple, predictable, and full of significant gaps and inaccuracies.

A major point of criticism is the film’s choice to leave out the disturbing accusations of child abuse that significantly impacted Michael Jackson’s career.

Variety reports that the initial version of the 127-minute film concluded with investigators searching Jackson’s Neverland Ranch for evidence. The film’s final act originally focused heavily on the consequences of the allegations against him.

The filmmakers removed the entire storyline about child abuse from the movie because of a legal agreement with Jordan Chandler, one of Michael Jackson’s accusers. This agreement specifically prevented any portrayal or mention of him in films.

Because of this issue, the filmmakers had to reshoot the ending, pushing the movie’s release date back about a year.

The movie faced challenges because several important people from Michael Jackson’s life, including his sister Janet, declined to be involved.

LaToya Jackson explained to reporters at the premiere of Michael’s film this week that someone asked her to do something, but she politely refused, and her decision should be honored.

Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s daughter, has criticized the film, saying she found the script to be untrue and misleading.

Paris explained last September that the creators will produce what they intend to produce, and the main reason she hadn’t commented earlier was because she believed many fans would be pleased with the outcome.

She explained the movie is really aimed at a particular group within her dad’s fanbase – those who still enjoy living in a world of make-believe – and she thinks they’ll love it.

‘The thing about these biopics is it’s Hollywood. It’s fantasyland — it’s not real.

Honestly, it just bothers me so much that they present everything as the truth, but it’s all…polished, you know? Like they’re carefully crafting a story and feeding it to us. And it’s full of things that just aren’t true, or straight-up lies! I can’t stand it. I just really, really hate dishonesty. It just doesn’t sit right with me at all.

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2026-04-22 22:27