Michael Jackson movie triggers huge split between critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes

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The new Michael Jackson movie is out in theaters, and people’s reactions are quite different from what movie critics thought.

The new Michael Jackson biopic has faced considerable controversy, both publicly and privately. Paris Jackson has publicly criticized the film as being based on falsehoods, and the director of the documentary Leaving Neverland, Dan Reed, has accused it of overlooking serious allegations of sexual assault against the singer.

Colman Domingo, who portrays Michael Jackson’s father, Joe, in the film, has explained why the movie doesn’t address certain accusations made against him.

The film has divided opinion, with most critics disliking the character of Michael, while audiences generally enjoy it.

Michael movie splits critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes

Okay, so I was checking out the Rotten Tomatoes score for Michael, and it’s kinda crazy! Critics aren’t super impressed, giving it around a 40%, but fans absolutely love it – it’s sitting at a 96% audience score right now. It’s a huge difference!

Most reviews of the film have been unfavorable. Empire described it as bland and unoriginal, IndieWire found it polished but boring, and IGN bluntly called it “really, really bad.”

As for the BBC, they said the biopic is “a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie.”

Okay, so all the negativity around the documentary really got to Michael’s nephew, Taj Jackson. He went on social media and basically said, ‘Look, the media can’t keep deciding how everyone sees Michael. People are going to watch the movie and make up their own minds, and that’s what you guys are afraid of!’ It’s pretty direct, but I get where he’s coming from – let the fans decide.

The media is no longer the sole authority on Michael Jackson’s legacy. Now that the public can see this film, they’ll form their own opinions, and that’s something the media seems unable to accept.

— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) April 21, 2026

Before adding: “Can’t wait till some critics have to eat crow. And yes I will be that petty.”

TJ Jackson supported his brother, stating that people shouldn’t trust professional critics when it comes to his family.

Most Michael Jackson fans believe the movie about his life is better than what critics are saying.

People shared their positive reactions after seeing the film, with one viewer saying they didn’t understand the negative criticism and really enjoyed it. Another commented that while the media often criticizes Mike, his fans consistently support him.

Don’t ever listen to “professional” critics when it comes to my family. Ever.

— TJ Jackson (@tjjackson) April 23, 2026

Someone else pointed out that people have been critical of Michael Jackson for decades, so it’s no surprise his biopic was so impactful and effectively countered those criticisms.

Frankie Muniz recently saw the movie Michael and really enjoyed it. He especially appreciated that the film depicted a time when people fully engaged with live performances without being distracted by phones.

Honestly, I’ve been seeing a lot of fans feel the same way about those reviews. One person pretty much nailed it for me – they don’t trust anything unless it comes directly from the Jackson family themselves, especially when it comes to Michael. They feel like these so-called ‘critics’ just aren’t worth the stress and drama.

I’m so excited – “Michael” is finally here! Everyone’s predicting it’ll make between $65 and $70 million domestically this weekend, and potentially up to $150 million around the globe. Fingers crossed it does even better!

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2026-04-24 14:19