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Opening Weekend is a Thriller
April 30th, 2026 Film review by Jimmy Alvarez
It is known as the decade of decadence; an era where everything over-the-top took on a life of its own. Of all the names that shined in the lights, there is none bigger than the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Michael Jackson was the diamond of the group that blew up in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s known as the Jackson 5. The hits that made them household names were “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There.”
Notably, the band was a family affair, led by the band’s father and manager, Joseph Jackson. The band itself were brothers Tito, Jermaine, Jackie Marlon, and of course, Michael – the brothers Jackson.
We all know the story: Michael went his own way and became one of the biggest names in music history. But – yes, there’s a but – his legacy is entrenched in more than his epic catalog of music.
The biopic was released last week and did very well at the box office; it even blew past Straight Outta Compton numbers. The reviews are mixed, so it depends which side of the Michael Jackson fandom you are on. If you don’t like Mr. Jackson, this film will not change your viewpoint. But, if you are a fan, wow… this is the film for you.
The movie was written by John Logan, directed by Antonine Fuqua, and produced by Graham King, John Branca, John McClain, with contribution to scene development from the Jackson Family Estate. I think the film did a lot of things right, and fell short on a few as well.
The elephant in the room was never addressed; we all know what that is. Neverland was never addressed, and the subsequent issues related to his legacy’s controversy. Not addressing it is a criticism, and a fair one. What was addressed was the rise of the Jacksons, and the journey those boys were on that the public was not aware of, until now.
The early scenes of the family were very well done, and every good story always has a hero we root for and an evil villain. For this film, we were given both. Colman Domingo was an absolute despicable human being in this film; he was thoroughly hate-able as the patriarch of the family: Father of the Year, he certainly was not. How he treated the kids like a drill Sargeant versus a father explains a lot, and the PTSD they most likely had.
Michael, being a true lead singer, had his own thoughts and visions on how to perform, which did not align with father Joe. As a result, a few sad scenes of Michael being beat at the end of a belt by Joe while the family looked on.
Those scenes were truly hard to watch, living through that is something many people can relate to and that made Michael more like one of us instead of that larger-than-life character he played while he was with us.
Another heart-wrenching moment was a scene where young Michael was having breakfast with his mother Katherine (played by Nia Long). She said she wished he had more friends closer to his age versus having a chimp. Michael’s response was very sad; he said kids his age look at him weird and just want to take pictures with him. He was about 10 years old and that was his life – he was already an outcast. What was striking is that his sister Latoya was featured, but Janet was not. Apparently, she opted out and was not portrayed in the film.
Through the film as Michael got older, it referenced his skin disease. This dispelled many of the rumors about how he was taking treatment to change his skin color. No, he had a skin disease (vitiligo), which was chronicled throughout the film. This should put that rumor to rest. The film also introduced us to his long-time bodyguard Bill Bray (played by KeiLyn Durrel Jones) and it was an excellent casting move as he played a very important role in Michael’s life – kind of like a replacement or surrogate dad.
Photo courtesy of Lionsgate
As film Michael got older, the actors changed. Older Michael was played by his nephew, Jafar Jackson (Jermaine’s son). Wow, what a portrayal! His onstage performance of Michael was unreal and literally brought those legendary performances back to life.
The film chronicled the insanity of his inaugural solo album, “Off the Wall.” Songs off the album that were played upfront or in the background include “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” “Rock with You,” and “She’s Out of My Life.” The film took off with live concerts by Jafar Jackson and it was really something. It really felt as if it was Michael incarnate on that stage.
Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate
Then, they told the story of “Thriller” and how it came together and the process to bring that music to life. Smash hits, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “PYT,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean” were featured.
The segment of how the video for “Beat It” was filmed is simple fascinating. Another great scene was when Michael and his attorney meet with CBS record exec Walter Yetnikoff (played by Mike Meyers). How they got “Billie Jean” played on MTV was a jaw-dropping scene.
For “BAD,” that too had its moments; it was simply over-the-top kick-ass film making on an epic scale how they brought that performance back to life. In the end, it was the accident that nearly took his life that was a pivotal moment. The Jackson reunion tour was not a Michael idea, nor did he want to do it, but Papa Joe bullied him into it. As a result, he had an accident that left him with severe burns on the top of head that caused him to wear a toupee and left him in constant pain for the rest of his life.
He recovered and finished the Jacksons tour, and went on to kill it on the “BAD” tour, but that moment of innocence and flair for life was gone. Although, one area I think anyone who sees this film will appreciate is how Michael was very generous with his support of those who needed it and donated lots of money to great causes.
Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate
Not only would he talk to his fans but he was like a big kid and talked to all, and he did it outside of the cameras so his interactions with fans were sincere. Sure, it was a good call that the producers included those scene, but I personally know for a fact Michael did do things like that. He was a big kid at heart; the film did right by him portraying that.
The take way for me, the film stayed away from the controversial aspects of his life and death, and some will say it’s a revisionist story, and some will say it’s how they remember him. For me, I know the story, the good, the bad and the ugly. I honestly learned a little bit about his life that I didn’t know before, and the music, how that was done by Jafar Jackson reminded me why this guy was so loved worldwide. This film keeps you on the edge of your seat. For me, I give the film a very enthusiastic thumb up.
Others may have a different opinion, and that’s OK. I think when you have time to digest what you saw, you will have a different appreciation OF what he went through, and the film explains a lot of why he was the way he was. A rags to riches story for sure…. But, it is also a modern day tragedy.
SID 240229 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
