What is the Metascore for Michael?

Michael has a Metascore of 48 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Michael Review (2026) — 65% Celluloid Score

Item: Michael
Rating: 3
Author: Kaiser Khan

Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 2026 · Last reviewed July 23, 2026

Answer Summary

Michael (2026) earns a 65% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Audiences (88%) responded more warmly than critics (55%).

Quick Verdict

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

65%

Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

55% Critic Score

88% Audience

48 Metascore

★★½☆☆ Letterboxd 2.9

7.5 IMDb /10

Runtime: 2h 20m
Cast: Jaafar Jackson , Nia Long , Colman Domingo , Miles Teller

Official theatrical poster for Michael (2026)

Lionsgate

Where to watch in the United States

Not yet streaming in the United States — check local listings.

Why this score?

Critics were divided or negative (55%).
General viewers mostly liked it (88%).
Celluloid Score 65% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.

Best for

Crowd-pleaser seekers — audiences liked it more than critics

Not ideal for

Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Is Michael worth watching?

Yes — Michael earns a 65% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Critics Consensus

A textbook critic–audience split — 55% Tomatometer versus 88% Popcornmeter — Fuqua's Michael rides IMDb midyear trending on fan devotion while reviewers fault gloss, length, and the biopic's refusal to fully engage the hardest questions.
Celluloid Critics Consensus

Audiences (88%) responded more warmly than critics (55%).

What is Michael about?

From Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom and the pressures that followed, Antoine Fuqua's authorized biopic traces Michael Jackson's creative genius and personal contradictions through performance, family, and the glare of fame. Jaafar Jackson — the pop icon's nephew — carries the title role in a film that aims for celebration even when the subject's legacy remains contested.

Critic Reviews

critic Michael

Michael Review: Jaafar Jackson in a Biopic That Splits Critics and Fans

★★★☆☆ 3/5

Antoine Fuqua's authorized Michael Jackson biopic rides 88% audience heat and IMDb midyear trending while critics stall at 55% — gloss, length, and legacy questions left open.

Mixed — a fan event more than a definitive portrait, useful for context on 2026's critic–audience divides.