Critics Hated 'Michael' but Audiences Are Packing Theaters: Who's Actually Right About the New Biopic?

On April 24, Michael, a biopic about Michael Jackson, was released. While critics panned the movie, audiences were thrilled – in its first few days, Michael broke box office records.

Both reactions are understandable: the biopic bears little resemblance to the true story, yet it evokes powerful emotions, which is why it's so popular with audiences.

What Is 'Michael' About?

The movie chronicles Michael Jackson's journey from his impoverished, large-family childhood to his rise as the King of Pop. We witness the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Joseph, and see young Michael seeking solace in imaginary worlds.

The story ends in 1988, before the first child abuse allegations surfaced in 1993. Incidentally, the creators weren't afraid to address this topic – they intended to tell the story from Michael Jackson's perspective.

However, a settlement with the family of Jordan Chandler – whose father had accused the singer – forbade any mention of Chandler in the film. Ultimately, $15 million was spent on reshoots, and the controversial topic was cut.

'Michael' Works as a Myth, Not as a Real Story

Back in the fall, Paris Jackson, Michael's daughter, stated that the movie was far from reality. According to her, Michael caters to fans who live in a fantasy world.

Even positive reviews describe Michael as overly polished. Rather than the story of a real person – albeit an exceptional one – it's a myth crafted in modern cinema.

It's the story of a man who suffers from a toxic father, achieves success against all odds, and hears the cherished message, "You're the chosen one." For a film about the greatest pop singer of all time, one would expect something more subtle than the clichéd notion of uniqueness.

John Logan, who worked on Gladiator, The Aviator, and Skyfall, wrote the screenplay – Logan's strength isn't depth but theatricality, and it shows.

Director Antoine Fuqua is known for Training Day and The Equalizer, so it's no surprise that the biopic has taken a more blockbuster approach.

"Musical Biopics Have Been Making a Killing off Audiences Who Don't Want the Truth"

Michael has a lot in common with Bohemian Rhapsody – both movies were not well-received by critics but loved by audiences. Another comparable work is the TV series Glee – it has plenty of ridiculous plot twists and simplified characters, but also incredibly vibrant musical numbers.

Michael feels similar in that it has plenty of flaws, but it's impossible not to dance along to "Bad" at the end. Audiences get up and dance in the theater, which has already made the news because it infuriates other viewers.

Paste Magazine titled an article: "Musical biopics have been making a killing off audiences who don’t want the truth," which is spot on. The issue isn't the accusations themselves, but rather that a realistic biopic about the artist would be rather dark.

The storyline with the abusive father is a good example. In Michael, Joseph Jackson resembles a cartoonish villain. He was widely known to be extremely cruel, and if audiences had been shown the truth, the movie would have been a serious drama.

As an honest story about Michael Jackson, Michael wouldn't receive high marks. As a musical blockbuster "based on" his life, however, the score would be quite different.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Michael'?

• Michael has 39% from critics and 97% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.7/10.

• On Letterboxd, Michael scored 3.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Michael'?

Michael is currently playing in theaters.