Rating: Five stars.
Finally, I managed to see Michael – the long-awaited music biopic about the one and only King of Pop. And let me tell you, London Mums, it was worth every single minute of the wait.
Anything Michael Jackson excites me. His music was the soundtrack of my childhood, my teenage years, and honestly, still pops up on every cleaning-the-house playlist I make. But this film? It’s not just for super-fans. I genuinely believe every mum, dad, and music lover will fall for this movie.
A family affair – And it shows
The first thing that struck me – and I mean really struck me – is that Michael is played by Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s own nephew. And my goodness, the resemblance is uncanny. It’s not just the look; it’s the way he moves, the way he tilts his head, the way he breathes on stage. You can see his uncle in every gesture. Jaafar even imitates MJ’s voice so well – both speaking and singing – that at times I forgot I wasn’t watching the man himself. That’s what family brings to a role: a depth that no amount of acting school can teach.
Young Michael is portrayed by Juliano Krue Valdi (also making his film debut), and together, the two actors create a seamless, heartbreaking, and electrifying portrait of an artist who gave everything to music – sometimes at a terrible cost.
The man behind the moonwalk
What I loved most about Michael is that it doesn’t just give us the sequins, the spins, and the unforgettable dance moves. It gives us the why.
We learn, early on, that Michael was forced to endure gruelling rehearsals and a relentless working schedule by his father, Joseph Jackson (played with chilling complexity by Colman Domingo). While other children were playing out on the street, Michael and his brothers were practising until their feet bled. The film makes it achingly clear: Michael never really had a proper childhood. And that loss followed him for the rest of his life.
That’s why he kept a zoo at Neverland. That’s why he adopted a chimpanzee named Bubbles – who, by the way, gets a charming (and surprisingly moving) cameo in the film. That’s why he kept a llama and a snake in the house, and why he often seemed more comfortable with animals than with adults. The movie doesn’t shy away from his eccentricities, but it frames them with compassion: this was a man who was a child star, who grew up surrounded by fans who wanted photos rather than friendship, and who spent his whole life searching for the playfulness he was denied.
The music – And that box office smash
Of course, the music is the star of the show. The film uses Michael’s original vocals, and when those first familiar chords of I Want You Back kick in during a Jackson 5 rehearsal scene, I felt actual goosebumps. The recreation of the Motown 25 performance of Billie Jean – complete with the moonwalk debut – is so precise, so electric, that I had to remind myself I wasn’t watching archive footage.
The film follows Michael from his early days in Gary, Indiana, through the Jackson 5 years, and up to the Bad tour in the late 1980s. That means we get all the hits: Off the Wall, Thriller, Beat It, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal, and more. Each musical sequence is staged with such love and attention that you’ll want to stand up and dance in the aisle. (I may have done a little shoulder shimmy in my seat. No regrets.)
And the world agrees. Michael has smashed box office records, taking over $217 million globally in its opening weekend – the highest ever for a musical biopic. It beat Bohemian Rhapsody and even Oppenheimer. That’s because audiences are having a blast. As one distributor put it, “You don’t deliver this figure unless you’re seeing huge numbers across every conceivable demographic.” Mums, dads, teenagers, grandparents – everyone is going to see this film.
What critics say vs. what audiences feel
Now, I should mention that some critics have been a little cooler on the film (around 38% on Rotten Tomatoes). But audiences? A whopping 97% average rating. And I side with the audiences. Some critics have said the film is “sanitised” – it stops in 1988, before the later controversies, and doesn’t include the child abuse accusations. But you know what? As a mum, I actually appreciated that the filmmakers chose to focus on the music, the artistry, and the family dynamics that shaped him. This is a celebration of his genius, not a tabloid exposé. And given the legal restrictions (an old non?disclosure agreement prevented certain mentions), the team did a brilliant job reworking the film to end on a high note – literally, with a roof?raising Man in the Mirror sequence.
Director Antoine Fuqua (who also made Training Day) handles the material with real heart. He doesn’t pretend Michael was perfect – we see his strained relationship with his father, his loneliness, his perfectionism that sometimes hurt those around him. But we also see his kindness, his devotion to his craft, and his genuine desire to heal the world through music.
Why London Mums should see it
So, why am I recommending this for our readers?
First, because it’s a brilliant piece of storytelling that will make you appreciate MJ’s music on a whole new level. You’ll come out humming Billie Jean and crying at I’ll Be There.
Second, because it opens up conversations with older children (say, 12+) about talent, hard work, and the price of fame. It’s a chance to talk about how childhood should be protected, and how even the most successful people can carry deep wounds.
And third – because it’s just fun. It’s two and a half hours of incredible dance, unforgettable songs, and a performance by Jaafar Jackson that deserves every award going. Take a group of mum friends, book a babysitter, and go. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll leave the cinema wanting to learn the moonwalk.
The verdict
Michael is a triumphant, loving, and deeply moving tribute to the greatest entertainer who ever lived. Jaafar Jackson doesn’t just imitate his uncle – he channels him. The music will lift you out of your seat. And the story, while sad in places, ultimately celebrates a man who gave the world so much joy.
Go see it. Take tissues. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself shouting “Ow!” at the screen.
Five stars. Essential viewing.
Michael is in cinemas now, including IMAX. Running time: approximately 150 minutes. Parental guidance advised for children under 12 due to mild thematic elements and intense rehearsal scenes.
Have you seen it yet, mums? Let me know on X / Instagram @londonmums – I’d love to hear your favourite MJ memory.
Monica Costa
Editor & Founder
London Mums Magazine
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
