I saw the trailer last week. My first thought? That is not an actor playing Michael Jackson. That is his nephew.
And I got nervous.
Nephew casting usually means trouble. It means the estate wants control. It means the movie plays it safe. But Jaafar Jackson moves like his uncle. The way he tilts his head. The snap of his wrist. It is unsettling to watch.
So I dug into the release dates. I read the critic reviews that call this movie a disaster. Then I read the fan reviews that call it a masterpiece.
Here is what you actually need to know about the Michael Jackson movie 2026 before you buy a single ticket.
When Is the Michael Jackson Movie Coming Out in 2026?
Forget the October rumors. Forget the 2025 delays.
The Michael Jackson movie 2026 opens April 24, 2026.
Lionsgate handles the United States and Canada. Universal Pictures handles everywhere else. It is hitting IMAX screens too.
Why April? Simple. The fall release was too crowded. October had too many horror movies. April is wide open. A big musical biopic can own the month.
What changed? The film originally had a different ending. A darker ending. Then lawyers got involved.
Why the Movie Almost Did Not Happen (The Legal Mess)
Here is the part the trailers do not tell you.
The original cut of the film opened with police lights flashing outside Neverland Ranch. Michael Jackson staring into a mirror. The 1993 allegations front and center.
Those scenes are gone.
Lawyers found a clause in a settlement with Jordan Chandler. The Jackson estate agreed never to depict him. The filmmakers had to delete everything. Twenty-two days of reshoots.
Ten to fifteen million dollars extra. All to remove the controversy and refocus on the music. Nia Long, who plays Katherine Jackson, called the overhaul "heartbreaking". Scenes at Neverland Ranch. Scenes with the family. All cut.
So the movie now ends in 1988. Right after the Bad tour. Before the worst allegations. Before the trial. Before the isolation.
You are getting the rise. Not the fall.
Who Plays Michael Jackson? Meet the Nephew
The Michael Jackson biopic cast has one name you need to remember.
Jaafar Jackson.
He is Jermaine Jackson's son. Michael's nephew. This is his first movie ever.
Britannica confirms the rest of the lineup:
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Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson (the father)
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Nia Long as Katherine Jackson (the mother)
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Miles Teller as John Branca (the manager)
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Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones
But here is the thing about Jaafar. He did not just learn the choreography. He lived in it. Two years of boot camp. Dancing until his feet bled.
The early footage of the Bad tour rehearsals? I watched it three times. It is not a performance. It is a possession.
The Rotten Tomatoes Disaster (38% vs. 97%)
Let me show you something wild.
The Michael Jackson movie rotten tomatoes score is sitting at 38% from critics.
But the audience score? 97%.
That is not a disagreement. That is a war.
What the critics say
Kyle Smith from The Wall Street Journal did not hold back. He wrote that Jackson "was a horrible human being" and the movie ignores it.
The BBC gave it one star. Called it "bland and barely competent".
Another critic said it is "watered down" and "devoid of any real substance".
What the fans say
Fans are furious at the critics.
One Facebook post went viral: "The critics were trying to discourage people from going to see the movie. It didn't work".
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Social media is flooded with standing ovations. People crying in theaters. Clapping after dance numbers.
Who is right? Both of them. The critics want a hard-hitting documentary. The fans want a celebration. This movie is the second one.
Is This Just Bohemian Rhapsody with a Moonwalk?
Same producer. Same playbook.
Graham King made Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018. That movie had a 60% critic score and an 85% audience score. It also made over $900 million.
Michael opened with 217millionworldwide 217millionworldwide 97 million of that came from the United States
That is the biggest opening for any musical biopic. Ever.
Here is the pattern. Critics say the movie is too safe. Fans say the music sounds incredible in IMAX. The studio counts the money.
If you liked Bohemian Rhapsody, you will like this. If you thought that movie was shallow, skip this one.
Will There Be a Sequel? (Yes. Probably)
Here is something Lionsgate is not shouting from the rooftops.
The Michael Jackson movie 2026 is only Part One.
The film ends in 1988. That means no Dangerous album. No HIStory tour. No Neverland Ranch years. No 2005 trial. No This Is It rehearsals.
Producers have confirmed that roughly 30% of the footage cut from this film could be used for sequels.
Nia Long hinted at it too. She told Variety there were "scenes at Neverland" that could "come back if we do, in fact, do a sequel".
So here is your warning. You are not getting a complete story. You are buying chapter one.
Will the Michael Jackson This Is It Movie Return?
I keep seeing this question online.
Is this a remake of This Is It?
No.
This Is It was a concert documentary. It showed the rehearsals for the London shows that never happened. That movie came out in 2009. It is still available on streaming.
The 2026 biopic is a different thing entirely. It is a narrative film. Scripted. Acted. Choreographed.
Will Michael Jackson be in 3D? Short answer: no. The biopic is standard 2D. Some theaters will show it in IMAX. That is not 3D.
There is a separate project converting the Thriller music video into 3D. That is not this movie. Do not buy a ticket expecting glasses.
Should You See It in Theaters or Wait for Streaming?
Let me break this down based on who you are.
See it in theaters if:
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You want to hear "Billie Jean" on a sound system that shakes your ribs.
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You are a fan who wants to cry with a room full of strangers.
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You loved Bohemian Rhapsody and want more of that energy.
Wait for streaming if:
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You want a hard-hitting documentary about the allegations.
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You hate two-and-a-half-hour movies.
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You do not want to spend $20 on a ticket for an incomplete story.
My honest take: Go to the theater. The dance sequences need the big screen. You cannot feel the "Smooth Criminal" lean on a laptop. But go on a Tuesday when tickets are cheaper. And know going in that this movie plays it safe.
Practical Advice Before You Buy
I have seen people make these mistakes already. Do not be one of them.
Check the theater format. IMAX is worth the extra money for this film. The sound design is the best part. Standard screens are fine, but you lose something.
Do not watch a bootleg. I know you are excited. I know you want to see it now. But shaky cam footage ruins the dance numbers. Wait for the digital release in June or July.
Manage your expectations. This is not an exposé. This is a jukebox musical. If you go in wanting a balanced look at his whole life, you will leave angry. If you go in wanting to hear 30 Michael Jackson songs on a great sound system, you will leave happy.
The Final Thoughts
The Michael Jackson movie 2026 is not a great film. The critics are right about that.
But it is a great concert.
Jaafar Jackson is magnetic. The music hits like a truck. And the audience score tells you everything you need to know. Fans are seeing it twice. Three times.
If you can separate the art from the artist, you will have a good time. If you cannot, stay home.
April 24, 2026. Bring earplugs if you hate loud noise. Bring tissues if you cry easily. Leave your expectations at the door.
