Michael Movie Early Buzz Calls It One of the BEST Music Biopics in Years! | VIDEO
*The first reactions to “Michael,” the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, dropped on April 10, 2026, following an early screening in Berlin, Germany. The response from critics and journalists on social media is overwhelmingly positive, with many calling it one of the strongest music biopics in years. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day,” “The […] The post Michael Movie Early Buzz Calls It One of the BEST Music Biopics in Years! | VIDEO appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.
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*The first reactions to “Michael,” the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, dropped on April 10, 2026, following an early screening in Berlin, Germany. The response from critics and journalists on social media is overwhelmingly positive, with many calling it one of the strongest music biopics in years.
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day,” “The Equalizer”) and written by John Logan, stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in the lead role. It traces Michael’s journey from the Jackson 5 era through his rise as the King of Pop, emphasizing his artistry, ambition, and the cost of fame. The runtime is 2 hours and 7 minutes, with a PG-13 rating. “Michael” hits theaters and IMAX on April 24, 2026.
Jaafar Jackson Earns Raves as Michael Jackson
The most consistent theme across early reactions is Jaafar Jackson’s performance. Critics are calling him electric, dazzling, and genuinely uncanny in the role.
Hunter Bolding wrote on X that Jaafar Jackson is ELECTRIC, adding that Colman Domingo is monstrous as Joe Jackson. Bolding noted that the ending leaves a bit to be desired, but the journey there is fascinating and fitting of the greatest entertainer of our time.
Liam Crowley of ScreenRant posted that “Michael” is why we go to the movies, praising the recreations of Thriller and Beat It as perfect. He wrote that the film makes you smile where it wants to, wince where it needs to, and called Colman Domingo an early supporting actor candidate despite some pacing woes.
Junior Felix, another early viewer, called “Michael” one of the best music biopics I have ever seen, describing Jaafar Jackson as dazzling and mesmerizing with incredible musical sequences.
Colman Domingo Shines as Joe Jackson
Alongside Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo is earning significant praise for his portrayal of Joe Jackson, Michael’s controversial and often harsh father. Multiple critics have used the word monstrous to describe his performance, and several have already mentioned him as an early Best Supporting Actor contender for the 2027 Academy Awards.
Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson, with Miles Teller also appearing in a supporting role. According to reports, Teller plays John Branca, the longtime executor of the Michael Jackson estate, a casting choice that Paris Jackson later called peculiar.
Some Minor Criticisms Emerge
While the overall sentiment is highly positive, a few early reviewers noted minor issues. Pacing concerns were mentioned by multiple critics, and some found the ending slightly unsatisfying. However, these critiques were consistently presented as small drawbacks rather than major flaws, with the overwhelming praise for the performances and musical sequences far outweighing any negatives.
Full professional critic reviews remain under embargo until Tuesday, April 21, 2026, just before early fan screenings. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic currently show no official scores yet, but the early buzz suggests a potential Fresh rating and strong audience appeal.
Paris Jackson’s Criticism of The Biopic
The film has faced pre-release scrutiny, particularly from Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson. In September 2025, she publicly distanced herself from the project after reading an early script draft. She accused the film of being sugar-coated and filled with inaccuracies, saying it contained full-blown lies and pandered to a segment of her father’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy.
Paris emphasized that she had zero per cent involvement in the project. She pushed back when Colman Domingo described her as helpful during production, clarifying that she had only met him twice, sent notes on one early draft that went unaddressed, and then disengaged with an attitude of not my monkeys, not my circus.
In early 2026, she escalated her concerns by criticizing estate executors, primarily John Branca, for what she called a botched production. Specific issues she raised included costly reshoots reportedly tens of millions of dollars due to a settlement agreement that limited use of certain footage, questionable casting decisions such as Miles Teller playing Branca himself, and overall budget concerns on a film reportedly costing around $150 million or more with reshoots.
She has framed her stance as preferring truth over sales and monetary gain, saying she does not like dishonesty even if fans might enjoy the movie.
Production Controversies and Reshoots
Beyond Paris Jackson’s criticism, the production encountered a significant legal issue related to a settlement with Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson’s former accusers. The settlement reportedly prohibited any depiction or mention of Chandler in any movie. This clause was spotted by attorneys for the Jackson estate, but not before scenes involving the allegations were already filmed. The discovery forced reshoots and rewrites, adding an estimated $10 million to $15 million to the film’s budget.
The film’s original ending, which would have addressed the 1993 accusations, was scrapped. Michael now reportedly ends during Jackson’s Bad tour and focuses more on his music and his relationship with his father. The estate-approved film aims to humanize but not sanitize while focusing heavily on the music and early career.
Brian May’s Early Endorsement
Prior to the Berlin premiere, Queen guitarist Brian May shared his reaction after an early screening. He wrote on Instagram that he and his wife were truly blown away by the film, praising the recreations of Jackson’s video creations as extraordinary. He added that Michael’s millions of faithful fans around the world will love this film as a reassertion of his true status as a wildly gifted and innocent soul, calling him the Peter Pan of Pop.
Box Office Projections and Release Date
Despite the controversies, Lionsgate is confident. The studio lifted the social media embargo early, which is often a sign of positive buzz. Box office projections are strong, with tracking suggesting a possible $50 million or more opening weekend, which would be a record for a musical biopic.
The true test will come with full reviews next week and audience reactions after wide release on April 24, 2026.
MICHAEL in one word? “Amazing.” #MichaelMovie – in theaters and IMAX April 24. Tickets on sale now: https://t.co/il8dZTONDq pic.twitter.com/FOrxO34SM2
— Michael (@michaelmovie) April 10, 2026
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