TL;DR: Michael (2026) is the PG-13 biopic of the King of Pop, starring Jaafar Jackson (Michael's real-life nephew). It's a visual and auditory feast — but the script is essentially estate-approved, ending in the late '80s and skipping the 1993 and 2005 controversies entirely. What it does show is heavy in different ways. If your kids are into TikTok dance challenges or you've caught them falling down a YouTube rabbit hole of 80s music videos, they're going to want to see this.
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If you feel like you've been hearing about this movie forever, you're not wrong. After years of development and a ton of hype, Michael has finally hit screens. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film attempts to compress the rise and the peak of Michael Jackson's career — from the Jackson 5 era through the Bad tour preparation — into a single cinematic experience.
The casting of Jaafar Jackson is a stroke of genius — not just because of the DNA, but because he nails the uncanny physicality of his uncle. The movie covers the discovery, the Motown years, the breakthrough of Off the Wall, and the cultural earthquake of Thriller. It's essentially the Bohemian Rhapsody or Elvis treatment, but for the man who arguably defined the modern music video.
You might be wondering why a Gen Alpha kid — who wasn't even alive when MJ passed away — cares about a moonwalking guy from the 80s.
It's the "Digital Echo" effect. Michael Jackson's catalog is the ultimate fuel for TikTok and Instagram trends. Whether it's the "Smooth Criminal" lean or the "Beat It" choreography, MJ's work is tailor-made for short-form video. Our Screenwise community data shows that "Michael Jackson" consistently ranks in the top 20 music-related searches for kids aged 9-14 on YouTube.
To them, he's not just a historical figure; he's the "Final Boss" of pop music. Seeing the "origin story" of those iconic moves is a huge draw.
Let's get into the "No-BS" part of the guide. This movie is rated PG-13 and earns it — but probably not for the reasons you'd guess from the news cycle.
The Music and Magic
The performance sequences are incredible. The recreation of the Motown 25 Moonwalk and the "Thriller" short film are basically worth the ticket alone. If your kid is a performer or a dancer, they will be glued to the screen.
What the Movie Shows (and What It Skips)
The filmmakers had a choice: address every part of MJ's life, or stick to "the music and the trauma that built it." With the Jackson estate as a producer, they chose the latter. The film ends in the late '80s and skips the 1993 and 2005 allegations entirely. Some parents will find that a relief. Others will find it dishonest.
What the movie does show is heavy in different ways:
- Joe Jackson's physical abuse. Multiple scenes depict 8-year-old Michael being beaten with a belt. They're not graphic in a Hollywood-violence sense, but they're emotionally brutal and a few of them run long. Colman Domingo's performance as Joe Jackson is genuinely terrifying.
- The Pepsi commercial fire (1984). The recreation is intense — Michael's hair catches fire on stage, and the movie doesn't cut away from the aftermath, including a visible scalp burn. Sensitive kids will not love this scene.
- The grind of fame. Long sequences depicting Michael's obsession with perfection, exhaustion, and increasing isolation from anyone who isn't paid to be near him. Less scary than thematically heavy.
The movie sidesteps the harder conversations parents might expect a biopic to spark. That's worth knowing going in — and might be the bigger conversation to have on the car ride home, depending on your kid's age.
Ask our chatbot how to talk to a kid about what the movie leaves out
Every kid is different, but here's how we're seeing parents in the Screenwise community break it down:
Ages 5-9: Probably Wait
Honestly? This might be a "wait for streaming" situation. The movie is over 2 hours (128 minutes), and the Joe Jackson scenes are genuinely upsetting at this age — even without graphic violence. The Pepsi fire scene is also more intense than what most G/PG-rated films would show. If they just want the music, you're better off showing them the Motown 25 Moonwalk performance on YouTube or the Thriller short film.
Ages 10-13: The Sweet Spot (With Context)
This is the age the WISE score lands on, and it makes sense. Tweens can handle the music, the drama, and the "stage parent" dynamic. The abuse scenes will land — they should — but they're processing it as story rather than nightmare fuel. They'll need you to help them understand the timeline (and to tell them what the movie skips). Great opportunity to talk about the price of fame and how the media treats celebrities.
Ages 14+: Green Light, With a Catch
Teenagers are likely already aware of the "MJ discourse" from Reddit or YouTube video essays. They can watch this critically and notice what it leaves out — which is a vital media literacy skill in 2026. Some teens will love it. Some will roll their eyes at how sanitized it is. Both reactions are correct.
This is the big one. How do we let our kids enjoy "Billie Jean" while acknowledging the very real and very serious allegations against the man who sang it?
- Don't ignore the question. If they ask, "Did he really do those things?", you can say: "There were very serious accusations and court cases that the movie doesn't cover. Some people believe he was innocent, and others believe he was guilty. The real story is more complicated than this film tells."
- Focus on the Craft. You can appreciate the revolutionary choreography and the music production without needing the artist to be a perfect role model.
- Discuss the "Stage Dad" Dynamic. The movie portrays Joe Jackson's parenting style with brutal clarity. It's a good (if painful) way to talk about boundaries, pressure, and what happens when a childhood gets replaced by a career.
- Notice the framing. This is the rare biopic where the production company is the subject's estate. That's worth discussing with older kids — who decides which version of a real person's life gets told?
If you decide your kid isn't quite ready for the full biopic drama, there are plenty of other ways to engage with music history that are more age-appropriate:
- The Apollo (HBO): A great documentary about the legendary theater where the Jackson 5 got their start.
- Summer of Soul: An incredible, vibrant look at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
- The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix): A documentary about the making of "We Are the World." Shows Michael's genius in the studio in a positive, collaborative light — without needing to skip anything.
Michael (2026) is a cultural milestone and a beautifully made tribute. It's also, very explicitly, a tribute — not a full accounting. Jaafar Jackson is a revelation, the dance sequences are unbelievable, and the Joe Jackson storyline is wrenching. But the movie ends right where the harder questions about the man's life would start.
As intentional parents, we don't have to ban the complicated stuff. We just have to be the ones holding the flashlight while our kids explore it. Go for the music, stay for the moonwalk, and be ready for the "what isn't in the movie" talk afterward.
Next Steps:
- Check your local theater for showtimes (runtime is 128 minutes, plus trailers).
- Watch a few Jackson 5 clips with your kids first to give them the "before" picture.
- Join the Screenwise community to see how other parents in your school district are rating the movie.
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