Hello and welcome to the second edition of the It’s A Stampede! Newsletter. In this edition I want to talk a little bit about the Michael Jackson bio-pic which is now playing in cinemas.
Those who read the weekly editions of Movie Reviews 2026 will know yesterday I reviewed Michael, and you’ll be aware I awarded the film a score of three stars out of five. I’m not reviewing the movie again here, you can read my general thoughts on Michael in yesterday’s review post (along with reviews for Feel My Voice, Balls Up, and Pizza Movie) but I do want to have a general conversation about the film, about my response, about other critical responses, and about whether reviews can help or hinder your decision to watch something.
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Michael in the middle
OK, so as noted above I gave Michael three stars out of a possible five. The reason for this score is because I believe the movie operates somewhere in the mid-range, i.e. it has wide appeal and will entertain many audiences, but it is unlikely to work for everyone.
Now, I should say it is a generous three stars as Michael does have significant problems. It is clear all involved with the movie are keen to focus largely on the positive, and ignore a great deal of the negative, which in turn glosses over some very big topics associated with Michael Jackson.
No matter what you think about Michael Jackson as a person or as an entertainer, he came with baggage. You simply can’t reach the level of stardom he did at his height, and not have plenty of stories or skeletons in the closest that need addressing.
The problem with Michael is the film is keen not to address these things at all. So much so, the timeline of the movie doesn’t go anywhere near the ‘90s or ‘00s eras at all, when accusations were flying around and the singer was making headlines for the wrong reasons.
But by ignoring these things instead of addressing them head on, Michael is not giving a full picture. Everyone involved in the movie might be keen to preserve the music and the icon, but Michael Jackson was a public figure who did some unusual things, and these things are part of who he was and how he was seen in many people’s eyes, so they needed addressing in some way.
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Critics vs. fans
Many of the critics of Michael have been fairly negative about the movie, specifically because of the reasons highlighted above. And while I don’t think the film is the car crash that some would have you believe, it is difficult to disagree with some positions and viewpoints.
If you are setting out to make a film which is a biographical picture, then you really do need to take the rough with the smooth. There are ways to address even the most uncomfortable subject matters – that’s what writers and directors have the ability to do.
Look at something like the 1993 Tina Turner story, What’s Love Got to Do With It. That movie tackled the abusive side of Ike and Tina’s relationship in painful detail, because it was a key part of her life, and it was something the audience needed to see.
The movie could have easily been two hours of Tina Turner tunes instead, but that would have made for a less compelling film. What’s Love Got to Do With It had to delve into the difficult areas of Tina Turner’s life.
Yes, there are different issues between Tina Turner and Michael Jackson, so it isn’t quite as straightforward, but the point remains the same. Michael opted to ignore some important talking points, many critics have found this unacceptable, and it’s difficult not to see this side of the discussion surrounding the film.
Of course, if you’re a long time fan of Michael Jackson you may stand on the other side of the discussion. It’s possible you believe many of the stories reported in the press are best left out of the movie.
Maybe you just want to watch a two hour celebration of Michael Jackson’s music and his rise to stardom. Are you in the wrong for this? Hey, if that’s what you want, then that’s what you want.
Of all the movies released this year, I definitely feel Michael is one which will create a significant split between audience interest/appreciation and critical response. Even if critics hate it, the film will make money and get bums on seats.
Critics (myself included) are looking for certain things when reviewing movies. General audiences are not always looking for the same thing.
So, we will see a film and dislike it. Doesn’t mean audiences won’t show up in their millions to watch it.
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Should you go and watch a movie which is critically panned?
So, the question is: If a movie is not well received by critics, should this stop you from seeing it? Honestly? For the most part, no.
There are occasional reviews where I urge people not to waste their time on a film, because it is so poorly made that it is just a waste of money, yet despite this I still believe it is up to you the individual to make your choice. My job, and the job of other critics is to make you aware of movies, and to offer our opinions – nothing more.
One hundred critics could hate a film, yet one hundred members of the public could love it. At the end of the day, reviews and critiques are just opinions.
As a film critic it is my responsibility to be fair, to offer an unbiased viewpoint, and to use my experience to inform. But that doesn’t mean you or anyone else has to take notice of what I say or what is said by my peers.
If you become aware of a film like Michael, or any other movie that I discuss on Movie Reviews 2026, then my work is largely done. If you’re engaging with movies because of critics, then as far as I’m concerned that’s the most important thing.
In an ideal world, we’d all watch a variety of movies, form an opinion, and then have a discussion about what we liked and disliked. Personally I want to know why you liked/disliked a film, and I just want to talk about movies in general.
So, if you want to see Michael, go and see it, and if you don’t, then watch something else instead and let’s chat about that. The film industry is a bit all over the place at the moment, so support it where you can, and let’s talk about things you like.
Alex
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