Michael Jackson Biopic Faces Backlash Despite $70M Box Office Debut

The Controversial Michael Jackson Biopic

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is on track to achieve a record-breaking opening weekend at the box office, grossing approximately $70 million. However, the film has been widely panned by critics, raising questions about whether a famous subject alone can guarantee a biopic's success.

The movie stars Jaafar Jackson, the late pop star’s real-life nephew, as Michael Jackson. It follows Jackson’s childhood through the peak of his career in the 1980s, featuring non-stop musical sequences of the King of Pop’s greatest hits. Despite its star power and musical appeal, critics argue that Michael fails to capture the complexity of Jackson’s legacy.

The Elephant in the Room: Omitted Controversies

The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score currently stands at a dismal 34%, with many critics criticizing its omission of Jackson’s 1993 child abuse allegations. These allegations, which resurfaced in the 2019 HBO docuseries Leaving Neverland, significantly tarnished Jackson’s reputation despite his acquittal in a 2005 criminal trial.

Critics argue that the film’s portrayal of Jackson feels like calculated damage control. Monica Castillo of AV Club wrote,

"There are scenes that can only be described as whitewashing, sainting Michael Jackson in such a way that it feels explicitly like calculated damage control."

Jake Coyle of The Associated Press echoed similar sentiments, stating,

"Michael slides a sequin glove over the pop star’s tarnished legacy."

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN criticized the film’s lack of depth, writing,

"Michael does the impossible: It makes the King of Pop boring. It’s a frictionless, flat, paper-thin story that’s so concerned with fidelity to bullet points and recognizable highlights that it robs its characters of soul."

Defenders vs. Critics: A Divided Reception

Some defenders of the film argue that the movie’s timeline ends in 1987, before Jackson faced any allegations, making it reasonable to exclude the controversy. However, critics contend that this approach feels like an attempt to rehabilitate Jackson’s reputation without acknowledging his darker legacy.

Social media users drew comparisons to other biopics, such as ending an O.J. Simpson biopic after he won the Heisman Trophy or a Harvey Weinstein biopic after he won an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love. The absence of any mention of Jackson’s controversies left many viewers feeling that the film was incomplete.

Scrapped Third Act: What Could Have Been

Originally, the film’s third act was intended to address Jackson’s child abuse allegations and their impact on his life. However, this storyline was ultimately scrapped. Attorneys from the Jackson estate, which produced the movie, reportedly intervened after filming, raising concerns about the inclusion of such sensitive material.

The film’s box office success stands in stark contrast to its critical reception, proving that star power and nostalgia can drive box office numbers even when a film fails to resonate with critics.

[Photo: Glen Wilson/Lionsgate]