I finally saw Michael on May 4, and ever since then, I’ve been down a full Michael Jackson rabbit hole. I’ve loved every second of it!
From the very beginning of the film, the moment the music started playing, I found myself smiling. The movie immediately pulled me into a journey through sound, creativity, and all the feels. I laughed, sang quietly in my seat, smiled through so many scenes, and even found myself tearing up at times. It reminded me that music has a way of reaching places words often cannot.
One of my favorite parts of the film was watching young Michael in his early days at Motown. There’s a scene where Berry Gordy, played by Larenz Tate, is awestruck listening to Michael sing in the studio. That moment gave me chills. Even as a child, Michael carried a gift that was impossible to ignore and that scene reminded me of his undeniable talent.
That part of the movie especially touched me because my two-year-old son is currently obsessed with Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. We listen to their music almost daily, and he’s already trying to dance like the Jacksons around our living room. Watching a young Michael on screen instantly made me think about my son — his joy, his innocence, and the way music naturally lights him up.
And that’s part of what makes Michael Jackson’s artistry so amazing to me: it transcends generations.
My son was born 41 years after Thriller was released, yet songs like “Beat It” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” still capture his attention instantly. In a world where trends come and go overnight, Michael’s music continues to connect people across ages, cultures, and backgrounds. That kind of impact is rare.
The movie also did a beautiful job pacing Michael’s story. I appreciated that it didn’t spend too much time on his childhood years because so much of that story was already explored in The Jacksons: An American Dream. Instead, the film moved into the early ’80s and highlighted Michael becoming a global superstar — and those scenes left me in complete awe.
Watching his creative process and ultimate influence on the world reminded me that true gifts come from God.
Michael clearly understood that music was more than entertainment. He believed it had the power to make people feel something, to unite people, and to bring joy into a hurting world. You could see how deeply he cared about creating experiences that connected people emotionally. And decades later, his music is still doing exactly that.
I didn’t grow up listening heavily to the Jackson 5, and while I always loved songs like “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “P.Y.T.,” the Michael Jackson I knew most was the Michael of the early 2000s. My friends and I always had “You Rock My World” and “Butterflies” on repeat.
So watching the film gave me a deeper appreciation for the 20-something year old Michael navigating unimaginable levels of fame and pressure as the newly crowned King of Pop. I won’t spoil too much, but how unimaginable that at the height of his career success he still felt lonely and struggled to not feel controlled by his father. My heart broke for the young MJ as I thought about how much he sacrificed because he was incredibly gifted.
Overall, the music, acting, cinematography, and pacing were all 10/10 for me.
I know some people have critiques about what or who was left out of the story, but personally, I think the film accomplished exactly what it intended to do. We already know so much about Michael Jackson’s controversies, his famous family, and the heartbreaking ending to his life. What felt refreshing about this movie was that it focused on a specific chapter of his journey — his artistry, his creativity, his humanity, and the impact of his music.
And I think there’s something important about that.
Sometimes we can acknowledge someone’s complexity while still appreciating the beauty of what they created during a certain season of their life. Sometimes every story does not need to contain every detail in order to feel meaningful or complete.
I was on a high as I walked out of the theater this past Monday. Our world has so many awful things happening, so it was encouraging to see how art still makes people sing together, dance together, smile together, and remember together across generations. Michael Jackson and his music continue to do this decades later.
I already can’t wait to see the movie again — to relive the music, the emotion, and the creative genius all over again. Because whether you grew up in the Jackson 5 era, the Thriller era, or the “You Rock My World” era, one thing is undeniable: Michael Jackson’s music brings people together.
And to me, that’s what makes his artistry truly timeless.
