Showing the life of Michael “the King of Pop” Jackson in a way that is justified is incredibly difficult. There have been countless biopics, documentaries and films done on Jackson, yet director Antoine Fuqua is the first to absolutely nail it. “Michael,” released April 24, is an electrifying depiction of Jackson’s life, done in the best way possible.

The rumors are true; the film does not cover every aspect of Jackson’s life. Ending the film shortly after the devastating Pepsi commercial incident in which Jackson suffered life-changing injuries in 1984 was arguably a good choice by Fuqua. The movie focuses on the early days of Jackson, primarily looking at his time in his family’s notorious band, The Jackson 5, and the early days of his solo career. 

At its core, the movie is about Jackson’s upbringing and the making of a star. The audience is able to see firsthand the hunger, discipline, pressure and otherworldly talent that it took for Jackson to end up as the star that he was. The movie is for the true fans of the King of Pop, rather than those looking for a true biopic on Jackson.

The best part of the film is the star, Jaafar Jackson. Upon hearing Michael Jackson’s nephew would be playing him in the movie, audience’s expectations around the world skyrocketed – who would be better to play him than his own blood? Jaafar heard the expectations and absolutely exceeded them. Truly, his performance was phenomenal. It felt as if the audience weren’t even watching a movie, but watching Michael himself. His embodiment of his uncle made the film so much more immersive and definitely secured him a spot for the 2027 Oscars. 

Another admirable aspect of the film was the music sequences. Growing up as a Jackson fan, every scene was incredibly nostalgic. It was as if the audience was right there in the live audience, watching Jackson light up the stage. The soundtrack was to die for – every song was perfectly picked, and some of Jackson’s best songs. 

Audiences are quick to criticize the film for not showing all of Jackson’s life; however, this film was not intended to do that. It was intended to shine light on the beauty of Jackson’s artistry and what he represented. It shows that Jackson always called on people to spread love and light in times when people were divided, and this still applies today. However, Fuqua is allegedly working on a sequel to “Michael,” which is predicted to show his life from the “Bad” era to his untimely death in 2009. 

Overall, the movie is incredibly emotional. It shows the struggles that it takes to truly become great. Covering various traumas such as Jackson’s father, Joe, to his life-changing Pepsi incident, the movie hits the heart. It is one thing to read or hear about Jackson’s life, but to see it acted out in a way that is so… real was incredibly heartwrenching. 

Yes, the film has its flaws, but at its core, it’s for those who truly just love Michael Jackson and his music. It’s entertaining, it has heart and it has soul. Despite what critics say, the movie is absolutely worth watching. No, it doesn’t show all of the ugly, but it shows the rise of one of the best performers the world has ever seen, and it’s incredible.