Although the receipts have yet to be counted, the reviews for Michaelare in, and they don't look pretty. Released on April 24, 2026, the biographical drama charting the rise of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson (played by his real-life nephew Jafaar Jackson), has been ripped apart by critics for being a safe, sanitized version of the supremely talented singer and dancer's personal and professional life that conveniently omits the darker aspects of his time in the public eye.