Overview
- The film, which opened in theaters Friday, brought in $12.6 million from Wednesday–Thursday previews and holds about a 95% audience score as critics sit near 36–40% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Estate lawyers found the Chandler clause during post-production, forcing the removal of scenes about the 1993 investigation and triggering reshoots reported at $10–15 million by some outlets and $40–50 million by the New York Times.
- The released cut covers Jackson’s life through 1988 and hints at a possible follow-up that could address later years, according to cast interviews.
- Reaction inside the family is split, with Prince Jackson backing the production as an executive producer, Paris Jackson calling it “pandering,” and Janet Jackson declining to be portrayed.
- Critics across major outlets describe the film as shallow or hagiographic but praise Jaafar Jackson’s performance, and strong turnout positions a box-office run the estate and Lionsgate are banking on.