Weeks before its theatrical debut, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael is already generating fierce conversation online. A clip released this week featuring Jaafar Jackson performing Billie Jean has been viewed more than eight million times, and the reaction has been largely unfavorable, with many viewers taking direct aim at how the scene was filmed and edited.
The footage recreates one of the most celebrated moments in pop culture history. In 1983, Michael Jackson stepped onto the stage of Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and introduced the world to the moonwalk for the very first time. It was a moment that rewrote the rules of live performance and cemented his status as a generational icon. The biopic attempts to bring that moment back to life, with Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of the late King of Pop, taking center stage in his uncle’s signature white glove and black bedazzled jacket.
Jaafar delivers but the direction draws fire
By most accounts, Jaafar holds his own in the clip. He moves through the choreography with confidence, pulling off his own version of the moonwalk in a way that acknowledges the weight of what he is recreating. The performance itself has not been the primary source of criticism.
What has frustrated many viewers is the way the scene was shot. Online commentary flooded in almost immediately after the clip dropped, with a recurring complaint that the editing disrupts the natural energy of the performance. Cuts to audience reaction shots were widely seen as breaking the momentum of what should have been a seamless, electric sequence. Viewers also took issue with the overall visual approach, describing it as flat and uninspired for a scene that carries so much historical significance.
The backlash drew comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody, the 2018 biopic about Freddie Mercury and Queen, which faced similar criticism for its editing choices, particularly during concert sequences. That film went on to become a massive box office success despite the mixed critical reception, a point that some fans were quick to bring up in defense of Michael.
A film that has already weathered plenty
The biopic arrives with considerable baggage. The road to its April 24 release has been anything but smooth, with the production navigating significant reshoots, a reworked final act, and a delayed rollout. Despite the turbulence, the studio has pushed forward with a star-studded cast that includes Colman Domingo as family patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long as matriarch Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as entertainment attorney John Branca. The film was directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan.
What happens next
Not all of the online reaction has been negative. A vocal portion of fans has pushed back against the criticism, pointing to the film’s potential global appeal and suggesting that the biopic’s audience will ultimately be drawn in by the legacy of Michael Jackson himself rather than any single clip.
Whether Michael manages to win over skeptics between now and its opening weekend remains to be seen. What is already clear is that this film will not arrive quietly. It opens in theaters on April 24, 2026
