By Jate Britton
Ranger Reporter
On Nov. 6, 2025, “Michael,” a biopic about musician Michael Jackson, debuted its first trailer, gaining 116.2 million views in its first 24 hours. Five months later, the film was released in theatres as one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The film follows Michael Jackson’s journey from a child singer for the family music group, The Jackson 5, to his solo career, eventually being named “The King of Pop.” While the film’s conclusion may leave some people unsatisfied, the emotional Jackson family dynamics, paired with Jaafar Jackson’s authentic performance, make the film a must-watch for all MJ fans.
In the movie, Michael Jackson is played by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson. This casting choice adds a near-uncanny level of authenticity, almost like Michael Jackson is playing himself, with Jaafar replicating his facial expressions, mannerisms and dance moves with incredible accuracy. Michael’s appearance is also replicated throughout the movie, with his nose becoming slimmer, his skin becoming lighter and his hair becoming longer as the movie progresses.
Jaafar’s connection to the Jackson family adds an extra level of depth to Michael’s relationship with the Jackson 5 and his father, which is a large focus of the film. The movie starts with a young Michael, played by Juliano Valdi, singing for the Jackson 5. This segment of the movie spends significant time establishing the overarching story of Michael’s relationship with his father and kicking off the band’s success, showcasing Michael’s short-lived childhood before his rise to stardom. The film also uses this segment to establish Michael’s father, Joseph Jackson, played by Colman Domingo, as the antagonist, caring more about his children’s ability to earn him money than their well-being.
While the film consistently builds momentum, leading to the peak of Michael’s career, that momentum comes to a halt with an abrupt and seemingly incomplete ending. The final performance of the movie presents a great example of Michael’s worldwide influence, with an immeasurable audience and impressive execution of the character. Still, it feels more like a closing music video than a meaningful conclusion to the story, making the film more of a prologue than a fully comprehensive biopic. While there is no confirmation yet, the lack of a clear resolution may be hinting at a sequel focused on the later years of Michael’s life.
Overall, “Michael” explores the singer’s rise to fame with a tremendously accurate representation of the character and a compelling narrative. However, the film is unable to keep up with the momentum it builds and falls short with an abrupt and fairly unsatisfying conclusion. Michael’s reintroduction to audiences old and young helps secure his role as the “King of Pop”, and with such a spectacular performance by Jafaar for his acting debut, I look forward to his future in acting.
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