“Thriller”, “Beat It”, “Black and White.” These are just a few of the most popular songs by legendary artist Michael Jackson. The performer, often referred to as the ‘King of Pop,’ made history in his lifetime: winning 13 Grammys, being the first African-American artist featured on MTV, and more.

In recent years, the artist’s legacy has been immortalized in modern media – most notably in a Broadway musical, MJ the Musical, and a film biopic titled Michael. Both pieces of media follow just over the first half of Michael Jackson’s life, with timelines varying slightly.

MJ the Musical

The musical, which opened on Broadway on February 1, 2022, follows the creative and rehearsal process of the 1992 ‘Dangerous’ World Tour. As an MTV reporter tracks the creation and interviews MJ, the audience is brought through flashbacks of Michael’s life leading up to this moment in his career. Audiences see scenes ranging from the origin and performances of the Jackson 5 to the creation of “Off The Wall” and “Thriller.”

The show, winning 4 Tony Awards including Best Choreography, features incredible dance numbers and impressive performances from every member of the cast. Broadway.com shares, “Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry has finally arrived on Broadway in a brand-new musical.” San Diego’s own Civic Theater hosted the musical on its national tour from May 5 through May 10, 2026. While slight tweaks were made, such as the show concluding with MJ popping out of a set piece rather than the stage due to theater restrictions, the show was incredible and worth seeing.

Michael

More recently, on April 24, 2026, Michael Jackson’s movie-musical biopic, Michael, was released in theaters worldwide. The film began at the creation of the Jackson 5 and, unlike MJ the Musical, followed a linear timeline, guiding the audience through his most notable career moments and concluding with the start of the ‘Bad’ tour in 1987.

Starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s own nephew, the movie has been breaking records and receiving audience praise. According to People, the film has brought in around $577 million, causing it to surpass Elvis and become the second-highest-grossing movie biopic of all time. The number one spot is still currently held by the Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed $910.8 million worldwide.

While the film was extremely well received by audiences, there has been a much harsher reaction by critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 39%. Esquire shares that many critics are put off by the lack of mention of various allegations against the artist, believing the film was a sugar-coated version of the artist’s life. Additionally, with legal troubles requiring $15 million worth of reshoots — an unusually large amount — in the months leading up to the release, the film did not feature important people in Michael Jackson’s life, such as his sister. And there was no mention of the 1978 film, The Wiz, which disappointed many fans.

Overview

While I greatly enjoyed both performances, I do agree with critics that any retelling of the star’s life has a responsibility to address the allegations and accusations surrounding him. The musical alludes to the allegations, with characters often mentioning great controversy and PR troubles surrounding MJ’s image. As for the film, I believe there may still be a chance the creators plan to remedy their mistake: the film, which focused strictly on the years of his life prior to any allegations or accusations, concluded by stating that Michael Jackson’s story would continue, suggesting a second film in which such controversies may be addressed.

I personally enjoyed the film and would recommend that students find a time to watch it, whether that be in theaters or, eventually, on streaming services. Jaafar Jackson’s performance was incredible to watch, as he took on the persona of his late uncle, and the musical performances were nothing short of catchy and captivating. As for the musical, it was truly like nothing I had ever seen before, the beautiful costuming and lively dancing captivating my attention and telling a dynamic story with a relatively limited cast. I would recommend that any individual who enjoys Michael Jackson’s music find time to see the show if they are ever in New York or a touring city stop.