3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Apr 22, 2026 12:06 PM IST The much-anticipated film Michael finally premiered for its US audience in Los Angeles on Monday night, with first reactions flooding the internet. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the biopic had its world premiere in Berlin on April 10. The film opened to a disappointing 27% Rotten Tomatoes rating that went up to 35% on Wednesday based on 95 reviews. The film stars Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, portraying the singer’s transformation from a member of a hugely popular boy band into the era-defining solo artist adored worldwide. Despite the buzz around it being the first authorised biopic—and a family member stepping into Jackson’s shoes—the film has received mixed to negative reactions overall. ALSO READ | ‘I will put you in jail’: When Mumtaz sued a journalist for questioning her father’s identity Michael receives mixed reactions The BBC, in its review, described it as “a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie,” adding, “It’s bad. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad.” The publication noted that while expectations for …