**This article contains “Michael” spoilers.** 

Watching the new Michael Jackson movie feels like stepping into a kaleidoscope. Every turn shows a different color of his life – some bright, some dark – all spinning around the same center: a boy who just wanted to create freely.

The film doesn’t pretend Michael’s world was simple. It shows the politics between the Jackson siblings, the pressure from Joseph, and the way fame wrapped around Michael like a spotlight he couldn’t escape, even when he wanted to.

Michael is portrayed as shy and gentle, almost like a bird that sings beautifully but never quite feels safe in its own cage. You can feel how badly he wanted genuine connection, not just applause. The theme, “be true to who you are, free to create,” isn’t just a line, it’s the heartbeat of the whole movie.

One thing of note is how the film leans into Michael’s Peter Pan obsession. Neverland becomes more than a place; it’s a metaphor for the childhood he never got to have. Joseph Jackson, his father, is framed almost like Captain Hook, the force pulling him back to reality, while Michael keeps reaching for magic. And the animals – the chimp, the giraffes, the snake, the llama, parrots – aren’t random. They’re symbols of the world he built to feel safe, a world where innocence could breathe.

The musical moments are where the movie really lifts off. “Thriller,” “Human Nature” and  “Bad” each hit like a jolt of electricity. It felt as though the theater really transformed into a live concert. People were tapping their feet and bobbing their heads. It was a reminder that Michael’s music is a universal language. The film even hints at how his art could bring together groups as divided as the Bloods and the Crips. Only Michael could do that.

The actor playing him? Honestly, he doesn’t just imitate Michael; he channels him. In certain scenes, especially the ending, it felt like you were watching Michael Jackson himself. The fact that Jaafar Jackson is family (he is Michael’s nephew) makes it feel even more authentic, as if the role was passed down rather than cast.

Reviews of Jaafar Jackson’s performance almost make him sound like a ghost made of rhythm and memory. Critics say he “dazzles,” that watching him is “unexpectedly emotional,” and that his performance is as close as a movie can get to bringing Michael back onstage, according to Deadline.

The movie also doesn’t hide Joseph’s exploitation. It shows how Michael had to take ownership of his life, piece by piece, even when the world tried to claim him. That part hits hard. 

This movie will make you want to get up and dance, and maybe think a little deeper about the man behind the moonwalk. And it turns out my theater isn’t the only one buzzing. Critics describe the movie as a “warm rush” for anyone who grew up with his music, the kind of film that sends you right back to dance floors and living rooms where his songs were everywhere.

At the same time, some say it’s flashy but “a little hollow,” like a glittering stage with some shadows still hidden behind the curtain. There has also been some backlash that the film doesn’t cover any of the controversy that swirled around him, and his Neverland Ranch, in the later part of his life. While not unfounded in that criticism, this movie stops before that period in his life. Whether the second installment (which has been green lit to start production in 2026 or 2027) covers these issues is yet to be seen.

At the end of the just-over two-hour run time, the words ”His story continues” appear on screen. It’s simple, but it lands because it’s true.

After the credits rolled, a little boy walked out of the theater dancing and snapping like Michael, and everyone around him smiled. That moment said more than any review could. Michael still inspires. His art still moves people. His story really does continue.