Beyond 'Michael': 5 Best Movies & Miniseries About Michael Jackson, Ranked by IMDb
From grand tours to candid documentaries.
Antoine Fuqua's ambitious biopic, Michael, dedicated to the life and work of the King of Pop, has been finally released.
It is just one of many projects chronicling important stages of Michael Jackson's development. Here, we explore projects that reveal different facets of the legendary singer's personality.
5. 'Moonwaker', 1988
IMDb Score: 6.1/10
For Michael Jackson fans who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the musical anthology Moonwalker was a revelation. It wasn't a classic biopic about the rise of a great star, nor was it a love letter to Jackson's work.
Moonwalker is a series of music videos and surreal scenes inspired by the King of Pop's iconic songs: Man in the Mirror, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and Speed Demon.
Overall, the anthology can be divided into four distinct categories: concert, parody, animation, and fantasy. In the fantasy section, for instance, Jackson plays a wizard who tries to save children from a villainous drug lord portrayed by Joe Pesci.
4. 'This Is It', 2009
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Released just a few months after Michael Jackson's death, the movie is a combination of a concert recording and a deeply personal documentary chronicling the final days of the King of Pop.
Director Kenny Ortega's camera captured 50-year-old Jackson rehearsing for his triumphant return to the musical stage.
The project showcases grueling dance choreography, incredible discipline, monstrous perfectionism, and Jackson's simple desire to not just exist, but live on stage.
3. 'Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon', 2011
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
This rare documentary offers a chronological look at the life of its main character. It was created by David Gest, a close friend of Michael Jackson's.
The director approached the narrative with emotion, empathy, and interest in the subject. The Life of an Icon, released two years after Jackson's death, arguably put an end to the debate about his childhood trauma.
The film features interviews with Jackson's family and friends who recount in detail his early tours with the Jackson 5 and his journey as a solo artist.
2. 'The Jacksons: An American Dream', 1992
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
The Jacksons: An American Dream is perhaps the best miniseries about real-life musicians you'll ever see. This subtle, uncluttered work gradually immerses viewers in the emotionally complex story of the Jackson family.
Wylie Draper plays the young Michael with remarkable precision, capturing the innate innocence and growing strength of the future music legend.
Even today, An American Dream stands up to most modern movies that attempt to reveal the truth about Michael Jackson's traumatic childhood.
1. 'Bad 25', 2012
IMDb Score: 7.9/10
Director Spike Lee made Bad 25, an ambitious sequel to Thriller, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the iconic music album Bad.
Lee has essentially created a paradise for music lovers and a hell for everyone else – only those interested in the process of creating a musical masterpiece will enjoy this movie.
Spike Lee meticulously studies every stage of the process, interspersing the action with interviews of all the participants: Quincy Jones, Martin Scorsese, and many others.
