Michael Jackson Biopic Michael Premieres in Theaters

The biopic "Michael," directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, premiered in theaters this week, offering a sanctioned portrait of the pop icon's early career from his childhood in the Jackson 5 through the blockbuster success of albums like "Off the Wall" and "Thriller." The film, which runs 127 minutes and spans 1966 to 1988, focuses on Jackson's rise to fame while emphasizing his family dynamics and personal struggles, and it arrives amid ongoing discussions about the singer's complex legacy.

Set against the backdrop of Gary, Indiana, the movie opens with young Michael, played by Juliano Krue Valdi, enduring rigorous rehearsals under the strict guidance of his father, Joe Jackson, portrayed by Colman Domingo. It traces the Jackson 5's breakthrough at Motown Records, Michael's emancipation from his father's management, and key milestones such as the 1984 Pepsi commercial accident that left him with burns. The narrative highlights Jackson's musical genius, his childlike interests including pets like Bubbles the chimpanzee and a fondness for Peter Pan, and his efforts to break racial barriers, such as pressuring MTV to air...