US EditionMichael Jackson Film Is a 'Whitewash' and 'Ghoulish', Critics Say
Critics are panning the biopic, which has a 26% Rotten Tomatoes score from 48 reviews ahead of its global release.
- Ahead of its Friday release, the Lionsgate biopic Michael is facing negative critical reception, holding a 27% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews.
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie covers the Jackson 5 period through the singer's early solo career but omits the singer's legal troubles, a narrative flaw critics say undermines depth.
- Reviewers described the film as a "stilted waxwork of a movie" and a "ghoulish, soulless cash grab," while noting the conspicuous absence of Janet Jackson from the narrative.
- Deadline critic Pete Hammond called Jaafar Jackson's performance "dazzles," though other outlets labeled the film "glossy, sanitized, and surprisingly dull," with some issuing 1/5 star scores.
- Despite the critical panning, the film is expected to perform well at the box office, drawing on a large built-in fan base eager to see the "King Of Pop" depicted.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)The Michael Jackson biopic is a ghoulish, soulless cash grab – review
This Jackson family-backed movie depicts the King of Pop as a well-intentioned saint who ends gang violence single-handed and cares for sick children
Michael Jackson Movie "Michael" Killed by Critics, Slapped with 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic: Will It Matter?
I’m not looking for “Michael,” the Michael Jackson movie, to be a bust at the box office. I went into it hoping for the best despite the many strikes it had against it. But the “MJ Musical” on Broadway had managed to sidestep controversy and became an international hit. Why not the movie? But “Michael” […] The post Michael Jackson Movie “Michael” Killed by Critics, Slapped with 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic: Will It Matter? appeared f…
Musical biopics may now be a triumphant trend in Hollywood. But fashion aside, making a film about Michael Jackson was a crystal-clear risk given the cloudy past of the pop king. Because in reality there is an unwritten rule with this typology of stories. The more friendly and complacent the portrait is with the turn star, the result is usually that of a mediocre audiovisual exercise of public relations. Now, a few hours after his arrival in cin…
Michael Jackson Biopic Blasted by Critics, But Will Audiences Agree?
The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic is finally nearing its theatrical release, but early reactions suggest a rocky reception. Initial reviews for Michael on Rotten Tomatoes have been overwhelmingly negative, with the film currently sitting in the high-20% range—a score that signals broad disapproval from professional critics. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film traces Jackson’s rise from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his peak during t…
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Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
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