‘Michael’ Dominates Letterboxd as Fans and Critics Remain Divided on the Jackson Biopic

The King of Pop has reclaimed his throne, at least among moviegoers. Letterboxd recently released its weekly chart, and Antoine Fuqua’s ‘Michael’ sits comfortably at number one, attracting more activity on the platform than any other film currently in theaters. This trend highlights a growing divide between critics’ opinions and what audiences desire from the film.

The biopic opened to a record-breaking $97 million domestically and $217 million globally in its first weekend, marking the best debut ever for a biographical or musical film. These figures surpassed the previous record held by ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ which debuted at $60 million, and left ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’s’ $51 million opening far behind.

For Lionsgate, this represented a triumphant return to blockbuster status, and the momentum has continued since. By the end of its second week, ‘Michael’ had crossed the $300 million mark worldwide, overtaking ‘Elvis’ to become the second-highest-grossing musical biopic ever, trailing only ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’

Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, was cast in the title role after a two-year search, with Katherine Jackson quoted as saying he “embodies” her son. This performance has been the one aspect that critics and fans largely agree upon.

Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus notes that Jaafar’s smooth moves bring the King of Pop to life, even as the film is likened to a greatest hits album that lacks depth. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, and Nia Long portrays Katherine, rounding out a cast that carries much of the film’s emotional weight.

Critics have criticized the film for its sanitized approach, particularly its choice to omit any reference to the child sexual abuse allegations that followed Jackson later in his career. This decision had practical implications, as producers discovered a clause in a 1993 settlement that legally barred the depiction of that accuser in film or television, necessitating a significant overhaul of the third act. The final cut concludes with Jackson launching the Bad World Tour in 1988, ending with a card that reads “His story continues,” leaving the possibility of a sequel open.

On Rotten Tomatoes, only 37 percent of critics’ reviews are positive, and Metacritic rated it at 39 out of 100, indicating generally unfavorable notices. However, audiences have a different perspective. CinemaScore awarded the film an A minus, while PostTrak recorded a 90 percent positive score, with 84 percent of viewers stating they would definitely recommend it. This gap between professional critics and paying audiences is precisely what is driving ‘Michael’ to the top of charts like Letterboxd, where fan enthusiasm translates directly into visibility.

The film has a production budget of nearly $200 million, shared between Lionsgate, Universal, and the Jackson estate, making it one of the most expensive biopics ever produced. With global totals continuing to rise and discussions of a sequel becoming more serious, the cultural impact of ‘Michael’ is only expanding. Whether the critical reception will align with audience sentiment remains to be seen, but for now, the Letterboxd chart clearly reflects the public’s stance.