Despite negative reviews from critics and questions about what is not addressed in the movie, “Michael” moonwalked its way to a record-setting opening weekend thanks to the legions of Michael Jackson fans.
The new movie about the life of the late music icon raked in $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide over the weekend, according to Comscore. Starring Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, as the singer, the movie registered the biggest opening ever for a biopic, musical or otherwise.
Tracing Jackson’s upbringing and rise to fame from his time in The Jackson 5 to his superstardom in the 1980s, the movie has had fans dancing in the aisles but also has spawned multiple controversies.
The film’s release also comes at a time when the Jackson estate faces a new legal battle from a family who filed a lawsuit alleging Jackson sexually assaulted four siblings when they were children.
Here’s what to know about the controversies surrounding the film.
‘Michael’ Does Not Address Child Sex Abuse Allegations Against Jackson
Critics of the film have pointed out that “Michael” includes no reference to the child sex abuse allegations that Jackson faced beginning in 1993, which the late pop star and his estate have always denied.
The film originally included scenes of investigators arriving at Neverland Ranch in 1993 to search for evidence after allegations of child sexual abuse were made against Jackson, sources with knowledge of the production told Variety in a report published April 7.
A spokesperson for LionsGate, the movie studio behind “Michael,” confirmed to NBC News that scenes addressing the accusations were cut from the movie due to legal concerns.
“Michael” was originally supposed to land in theaters in April 2025 but was ultimately postponed a year because the cast and crew had to reassemble to film a new third act of the film, according to Variety.
Actors Colman Domingo and Nia Long, who portray Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson in the film, were asked by Craig Melvin on TODAY April 22 about the criticism that the movie whitewashes negative aspects of Jackson’s life by leaving them out to burnish his image.
“The film takes place from the ‘60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations,” Domingo said. “So basically we center it on the makings of Michael, so it’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is.”
Four Siblings Allege Sexual Abuse Against Jackson in New Lawsuit
As “Michael” was being widely released in theaters, four adult members of the Cascio family spoke out in The New York Times on April 24 about a lawsuit they filed in February alleging that Jackson sexually abused all of them when they were children.
A fifth sibling told the newspaper that he was abused as well but his lawyers say he cannot join the lawsuit due to legal reasons.
Three of the five children had previously said in a 2010 interview with Oprah Winfrey that Jackson, a family friend, had “never” sexually abused them. They told The New York Times in the April 24 story that their previous statement was a lie and that Jackson allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted them.
Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole and Aldo Cascio allege they were “drugged, raped and sexually assaulted” in various locations and countries over the course of more than a decade, beginning when some of them were as young as seven or eight, according to the lawsuit.
The siblings say they were “deprogrammed” by watching the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” and realized “Jackson’s abuse was wrong and had severely damaged them,” the lawsuit says.
The Cascio siblings told The New York Times that they previously told Jackson’s estate they were abused by the late singer.
In separate statements to NBC News, the Jackson estate and the Cascio family both acknowledged a compensation agreement made after the release of “Leaving Neverland” in 2019.
“The Estate prepared a purported life rights agreement that provided for 5 years of compensation. The Cascios were never given a copy of the agreement and were deprived of any opportunity to have a lawyer advise them,” the Cascios’ lawyers said. When an estate lawyer reached out to provide the Cascios “more money for their silence” in 2024 when payments were about to expire, they sought counsel and “learned how they had been duped,” the Cascios’ lawyers also said.
Jackson’s estate said it “reluctantly paid the Cascios $2.8 million each over five years to protect Michael’s family as well as future projects important to Michael’s legacy and fans” and that the lawsuit is a “a desperate money grab” by the Cascio family.
“The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct,” the statement said. “This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.”
The statement also pointed to the previous comments the Cascios made in the interview with Winfrey saying Jackson never abused them.
Janet Jackson and Other Siblings Are Missing from the Movie
While “Michael” depicts the singer’s upbringing, several of his siblings are not included, notably Janet Jackson, his sister who became a music icon in her own right.
The original Jackson 5 members, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson, as well as La Toya Jackson, are all seen as young children and adults.
However, sisters Janet and Rebbie Jackson are not seen on screen and neither is Jackson’s brother Randy.
La Toya Jackson told Variety at the film’s Los Angeles premiere April 20 that Janet Jackson “was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.”
Reps for Randy, Rebbie and Janet Jackson did not respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment.
Jaafar Jackson, whose father is Michael’s sibling Jermaine Jackson, said on TODAY April 2 that the family enjoyed his portrayal of his famous uncle.
“The support I’ve had from my family, my father, everyone it’s been so heartwarming,” he said. “And to hear the reaction after seeing the film, especially my grandmother. She said how excellent I did and how much I embody Michael. It’s definitely the highest compliment that I can get, and it means the most to me.”
Kat Graham’s Scenes as Diana Ross Were Cut from the Film
A day before “Michael” hit theaters, actor Kat Graham confirmed that all of her scenes portraying music legend Diana Ross were cut from the movie.
“Ahead of the April 24 release of the Michael Jackson film, I want to share that certain legal considerations affected a few scenes, including the ones I filmed with an incredible cast,” Graham wrote on her Instagram Story on April 23.
“Unfortunately, those moments are no longer part of the final cut, though the team worked hard to preserve as much of the story as possible.”
Michael Jackson and Ross were friends who shared the stage together multiple times, including during the 1981 “Diana” television special and at the 1984 American Music Awards. They also both starred in “The Wiz” in 1978.
Michael Jackson’s Daughter Has Criticized the Film
A notable critic of “Michael” has been Paris Jackson, 28, who is Jackson’s daughter with Debbie Rowe.
Jackson posted a video on her Instagram Story in which she said the film is filled with inaccuracies. She did not specify what she believes was inaccurate.
“I just prefer honesty over sales and monetary gain,” she said.
She also responded to a comment by Domingo to People in September 2025 in which Domingo said Paris and her brother, Prince Jackson, 29, are “very much in support of our film.”
“Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in,” Jackson wrote on her Instagram story, according to Variety.
She added that “the film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy. It’s not real, but it’s sold to you as real.”
Domingo told WSJ magazine in a March 10 story that he direct-messaged Paris and she put a heart on his message. “I hope that she eventually loves the tribute that we made about her father,” he told the magazine.
There Is the Chance of a Sequel to ‘Michael’
A title card at the end of “Michael” features a message in gold lettering that reads, “His Story Continues,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lionsgate hasn’t officially confirmed a sequel to “Michael,” but it’s a likely possibility given the success of the film.
Domingo brought it up on TODAY on April 22 as far as there being a film that does depict the allegations against Jackson.
“There’s a possibility of there being a Part Two that may deal with some things that happened afterward,” Domingo said.
Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson also addressed the prospect of a sequel at the movie’s premiere.
“We absolutely have more story to tell,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “We have prepared for that moment. And if the audience reinforces that they’re ready for more, we’re prepared to give it to them sooner rather than later.”
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