Michael Jackson Biopic Sparks Family vs. Media Showdown
The Michael Jackson biopic simply titled “Michael” is set to hit theaters this Friday, and one member of the Jackson family isn’t waiting quietly for the reviews to roll in. Taj Jackson, nephew of the King of Pop and son of late Jackson 5 member Tito Jackson, has gone on the offensive online, taking direct aim at the media in the lead-up to the film’s release.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Taj made it clear he believes the press has spent decades shaping a distorted version of his uncle — and that the biopic is about to shake that narrative up in a big way.
Taj Jackson’s Fiery Message to the Media
In a string of pointed posts, Taj argued that the media no longer has the power to dictate how Michael Jackson is remembered. According to him, with audiences finally able to sit down and watch the film for themselves, they’ll be free to form their own conclusions — without a filter from journalists or long-running tabloid narratives.
He capped off his comments with a line that quickly caught attention: a jab suggesting the press simply can’t handle losing control of the story. Taj also made no secret of his delight at the idea of critics potentially being proven wrong, writing that he couldn’t wait until some of them had to “eat crow” — before cheerfully admitting he had no problem being petty about it.
It’s a rare public moment of defiance from within the Jackson family, and it sets an unmistakable tone heading into the film’s opening weekend.
What ‘Michael’ Covers — And What It Doesn’t
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-produced with the Michael Jackson estate, “Michael” tells the story of the singer’s rise, beginning when he was just a 10-year-old performing with the Jackson 5. The film carries viewers through his meteoric rise, ending around 1988 — the era of the groundbreaking “Bad” album and tour, when Jackson was 30 years old and arguably at the very peak of his fame.
The movie focuses heavily on:
- Michael’s early years as a child star.
- The making of some of his most iconic music.
- His transformation into a global superstar.
- The cultural impact of his most celebrated era.
But what the film leaves out may prove just as talked-about as what it includes.
A Dramatic Last-Minute Rewrite
Originally, the biopic was planned to stretch much further into Jackson’s later life, including the 1993 child molestation accusations that dramatically altered public perception of the singer. However, lawyers connected to the Jackson estate reportedly discovered that an earlier legal settlement with one of the accusers prevented any depiction or even mention of them in the film.
That discovery forced a major creative pivot. The filmmakers had to scrap large portions of the original third act and rebuild it from scratch. The result was an extensive reshoot process:
- Roughly 22 days of additional filming.
- An estimated cost of between $15 million and $20 million.
- A reshaped final act that steers clear of the legal landmines.
It’s an unusual situation for a major Hollywood biopic, and it offers a glimpse of just how carefully the estate is guarding Michael Jackson’s legacy on screen.
Box Office Expectations for ‘Michael’
Despite the production challenges, expectations for the film are huge. Early industry projections, reported by Variety, suggest:
- A domestic opening weekend in the range of $65 to $70 million.
- A potential global box office total approaching $700 million.
Those are blockbuster numbers, reflecting both Michael Jackson’s enduring global fan base and the curiosity surrounding any major project tied to his life.
A Lukewarm Reception From Critics
While fans may be ready to line up, early critical reaction has been far less enthusiastic. At the time of reporting, “Michael” holds a 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on aggregated critics’ reviews.
That mixed response appears to be exactly what’s fueling Taj Jackson’s online outbursts. In his view, critics have long been unfair to his uncle, and he seems convinced that audience reaction, not review scores, will tell the real story.
Whether that prediction holds up remains to be seen, but biopics — especially ones about beloved musicians — often perform strongly with general audiences even when critical reviews are divided.
A Family Determined to Reclaim the Narrative
Taj Jackson has spent years publicly defending his uncle, and his comments ahead of the film’s release fit a broader pattern. The Jackson family has increasingly used social media, documentaries, and official projects to push back on what they view as a skewed public narrative surrounding Michael.
By partnering on the biopic through the estate, the family clearly hopes to reintroduce Michael Jackson to new generations, highlighting his artistry, influence, and cultural impact — while sidestepping the darker, more contested chapters of his life.
For Taj, the release of “Michael” seems to represent more than just a movie premiere. It’s a moment he appears to view as a kind of public reckoning — one where fans, rather than critics or the media, finally get the loudest voice.
What to Watch for This Weekend
As “Michael” prepares to open on Friday, several storylines are worth keeping an eye on:
- Audience reaction versus critic scores: Will fan enthusiasm overpower the cool critical reception?
- Box office performance: Can the film hit its projected $65 to $70 million domestic opening?
- Public conversation: How will viewers respond to a biopic that deliberately leaves out some of the most controversial parts of Jackson’s life?
- Family messaging: Will more Jackson family members speak out alongside Taj, or let the film speak for itself?
One thing is already clear: whether critics love it, loathe it, or land somewhere in between, “Michael” is set to become one of the most talked-about releases of the year — and the Jackson family, led in part by Taj’s unfiltered posts, is making sure the conversation starts loud.
