The Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opens in German cinemas – and receives devastating reviews. Whitewashing, weak story: What the film is so heavily accused of.
There is now a new biopic about the most famous musicians in history every year. For example, the lives and works of Elton John, Bob Dylan and the band Queen were brought to the big screen. The latest offshoot of the genre has been in German cinemas since April 22, 2026. The film “Michael” deals with the life and career of the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. The biopic attracted a lot of media attention – but the film did not do well in the reviews and was sometimes torn apart. Why is that?
What is “Michael” accused of?
On the website Rotten Tomatoes, among others, the biography only received a score of 35 percent. Film connoisseurs and cineastes know: This is a bad result. How does this come about, and what criticisms give the work this poor rating?
The main criticism is that the film is whitewashing and one-sided and also completely ignores the allegations of abuse that were made against the singer during his lifetime. It is known that the Jackson estate is responsible for the production, which could explain the hiding of the allegations. “PC Games”, for example, attests that the film is a “feel-good tribute”, while “Euronews” accuses it of hagiography – i.e. veneration of saints. Regarding the allegations of abuse, the “Times of India” speaks of a targeted “whitewashing” strategy.
Story as weakness
However, the reviews are not just about the accusations against the musician, but also about the story told. Some media consider the narrative to be weak and superficial.
“PC Games” also addresses this point and describes the narrative as “pale”, “formulaic” and emotionally weak. “The Australian” criticized the film for offering little insight into Michael Jackson’s personality and his inner conflicts. In general, for many critics, the whole thing feels more like a playlist than a real story.
