Overview
- The Lionsgate biopic, starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, reaches theaters with Thursday previews and a nationwide release on Friday after early access screenings on Wednesday.
- Early reaction skews negative, with Rotten Tomatoes showing 27% from 48 reviews as critics fault the film for a sanitized approach and major omissions.
- Producers cut scenes about abuse allegations after lawyers flagged a 1994 settlement with accuser Jordan Chandler that bars public depictions, prompting Lionsgate-confirmed removals and roughly 22 days of reshoots reported at about $15 million.
- Jackson’s estate is credited among the producers, and reviewers widely praise Jaafar Jackson’s uncanny performance and the concert set pieces powered by the real Michael Jackson vocals.
- Family divisions have surfaced, with Paris Jackson saying she had zero involvement and called out inaccuracies, reports of Janet Jackson being very critical at a private screening, and unconfirmed chatter of a possible sequel circulating in fan and rumor outlets.