Michael Jackson biopic premieres in April. Relive the controversial career of the King of Pop.
Table of Contents
Michael Jackson He was one of the greatest artists in the history of music. He won fans all over the world with both his... Jackson 5 His career was marked by numerous hits, both in his solo work and in his music, which remains popular to this day. However, over the years, his life has also been surrounded by controversies and changes that have captured the public's attention. In this text, you can find the complete story of the King of Pop, from his childhood to the legacy he left after his death, as well as details about the biopic. Michael, which arrives in Brazilian cinemas in April 23. Check out:
Childhood and family
Michael Jackson was born in August 29th, 1958In the city of Gary, in the state of Indiana ( United StatesHe grew up in a large family, being the eighth of ten children. Son of Joseph Jackson e Katherine JacksonHe was exposed to music from a very young age, as both his parents had connections to the arts and encouraged their children to pursue that path.
It wasn't long before the singer began performing as a child, around the age of 5. Alongside his siblings, he started training and performing frequently, taking his first steps in his career. His childhood... Michael It was marked by a rigid routine. Under her father's supervision, rehearsals were intense and frequent, which ultimately made this period challenging.
The beginning with the Jackson 5
Even in childhood, Michael Jackson He joined the musical group formed by his brothers, which would later become known as The Jackson 5Initially raised by the father, Joseph JacksonThe group included the older siblings and soon gained the presence of... Michael, who quickly stood out as the lead vocalist, drawing attention for his voice and stage presence even at a very young age.
In their early years, the group performed at local shows and events, gradually gaining recognition and developing a loyal audience. The brothers' talent eventually caught the attention of important names in the music industry, leading the group to sign a contract with... Motown at the end of the 1960s.
From there, the The Jackson 5 It quickly became a phenomenon, scoring hits such as "I want you back","SPC"and "I'll Be ThereThe group won over the audience and took Michael Jackson to stardom in childhood, marking the beginning of a career that would soon extend far beyond the family group.
First steps in a solo career
Even with the enormous success alongside The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson He began taking his first steps as a solo artist at a young age. At 13, he released his debut album, Got to Be There (1971), which has already achieved prominence in the music charts with the title track.
The following year, the singer achieved his first major solo success with “Ben", the song that gives its name to his second album, released in 1972. The song, which was part of the soundtrack of a film of the same name, reached the top of the charts and marked an important moment in the beginning of his career outside the group.
Throughout these years, Michael began to explore new possibilities within music, showing versatility and beginning to build his own identity as an artist. One of the important moments of this phase was his participation in the film The Wiz (The Wiz, 1978), where he performed alongside Diana RossIt was during this project that he met the producer. Quincy Jones, with whom he began a partnership that would make all the difference from then on.
This new phase gained even more momentum with the launch of Off the Wall, an album that marked a change in the sound of Michael Jackson and helped him solidify his transition from teen idol to a fully-fledged pop artist. With hits like “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough","rock with you","She's Out of My Life"And the title track, the album showcased the artist's versatility."
The Thriller phenomenon
In 1982, Michael Jackson He reached the peak of his career with the release of Thriller, an album that would become the best-selling album of all time, with 67 million copies sold worldwide and 34 million in the United States alone. The album spent 80 weeks on the music charts, 37 of them at number one, and spawned seven major hits, such as “Thriller","Billie Jean","Beat It","Human Nature","Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” and “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)".
And there's no way to talk about the album. Thriller without mentioning their music videos. The video for the title track, directed by John LandisThe video, which was 14 minutes long, functioned as a horror short film, featuring Michael dancing alongside zombies. This clip would become a historical landmark, being the first to be included in the... National Film Registry in 2009.
At the same time, Michael gave a presentation on the special of Motown, in 1983, when interpreting “Billie Jeanand debut the iconic moonwalk, a movement that became his trademark.
Peak of fame
After the success of Thriller, Michael Jackson He reached the peak of his fame and established himself as a global icon. In 1983, he signed a contract with... Pepsilaunching the campaign New GenerationHowever, during filming he suffered a pyrotechnics accident that burned his hair.
In 1985, the star co-wrote “We Are the World” on Lionel RichieThe single brought together the biggest names in music at the time and raised approximately US$75 million to combat poverty in Africa.
Five years later, he released pool (1987), maintaining its dominance on the charts and becoming the first album to have five number 1 singles, including “I Just Can't Stop Loving You","pool","The Way You Make Me Feel","Man in the Mirror"and "Dirty DianaThe music video for “pool", directed by Martin Scorsese, presented a narrative about teenagers and gang violence and featured the participation of Wesley Snipes.
In 1988, Michael bought the Neverland Ranch, a property that combined a residence and a private amusement park, with a zoo, miniature train, Ferris wheel, and movie theater.
Controversies and changes in image
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Michael Jackson He began to attract attention not only for his music, but also for changes in his appearance and unusual habits. Rumors circulated about him bleaching his skin and using an oxygen chamber to prolong his life, and he became known for constantly wearing surgical masks in public. Later, Michael explained in a rare interview with... Oprah Winfrey She explained that the change in skin tone was due to vitiligo and took the opportunity to talk about the abuse she had suffered in childhood.
Furthermore, the singer underwent visible transformations in his face, especially his nose, as a result of plastic surgery. Simultaneously, the first public accusations of child sexual abuse emerged, profoundly affecting his image and placing his personal life under the media spotlight.
Continued success
Even with all that, Michael Jackson He continued to consolidate his success as a global artist. In 1991, he released the album Dangerous, his first project without the production of Quincy Jones in 16 years. With a bold mix of genres, including R&B, funk, gospel, hip hop, rock and even elements of classic musicThe album once again demonstrated Michael's ability to innovate and reinvent himself. Among the highlights is the single "Black or White" It became a phenomenon, both for its melody and its innovative music video, directed by... John Landis and with the participation of the young actor Macaulay Culkin.
In addition to chart success, Michael Jackson It maintained its prominent presence at major events, such as the Super Bowl XXVII, carried out in Rose BowlOn Pasadena, California, in day January 31, de 1993At the time, his halftime show attracted so much attention that it drew a larger audience than the game itself, marking a turning point in the event's history and transforming the halftime show into a major media spectacle, paving the way for it to become one of the most valued and anticipated moments of the broadcast in subsequent years.
Career decline and legal problems
Over the years, the star faced several challenges in his career. In 1995, he released the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, which brought two distinct proposals: an album with her greatest hits and another with unreleased songs. The new tracks were more personal and reflected her troubled relationship with the media, as well as addressing the abuse allegations that were beginning to surround her life.
Among the highlights were “You Are Not Aloneand the duet with Janet Jackson,Scream”, which had a music video that became a landmark due to its high cost and innovative effects for the time. The video for “They Don't Care About UsIt also gained prominence when it was recorded in Brazil in February 1996. Morro Dona Marta, at Rio de Janeiro, and in PelourinhoOn Salvador, with the participation of the group Olodum and local residents, showcasing Brazilian culture to the world. At the same time, the song generated controversy for containing a term considered anti-Semitic.
In 2001, Michael released his latest studio album, Invincible, which cost $30 million to produce. And although it debuted at the top of the charts, the album received mixed reviews and addressed themes such as isolation, social issues, and his constant struggle with the press. Legal problems with the Sony Issues regarding the rights to their music also marked this phase, further increasing the pressure on the artist.
Regarding his personal life, some of the King of Pop's actions generated negative public attention, such as his frequent use of a surgical mask in public, incidents of confusion at award ceremonies, and the famous moment when he hung his son up "Blanket"on the balcony in Berlin in 2002."
However, the peak of the legal difficulties came in 2003, when Michael He was formally charged with child sexual abuse involving a 13-year-old boy. He faced ten charges, including lewd conduct, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, false imprisonment, and extortion. The 2005 trial attracted worldwide attention, but after more than 130 testimonies and intense legal debates, Michael Jackson He was acquitted of all charges.
Last years and death
In his final years, the King of Pop faced serious health problems, primarily difficulty sleeping, and began using sedatives, including... propofol, administered by your personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.
Em June 25th, 2009He passed away at his home in Los Angeles, to the 50 yearsafter suffering a cardiac arrest. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and the official report indicated acute propofol poisoning, considered a homicide due to the negligence of her doctor. Dr. Murray He was subsequently convicted of manslaughter and received the maximum sentence of four years in prison.
After the singer's death, the Jackson family sued the company. AEG LiveThe company responsible for the planned 2009 comeback tour claimed they failed to adequately protect Michael. In 2013, the court ruled that the company was not liable.
The artist's farewell included a public memorial held in 7 July 2009, at Staples Center, watched by approximately 1 billion viewers, and the private funeral took place in September 3, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, with family and around 200 guests.
Legacy and cultural impact
Even after Michael Jackson's death, his influence on music and pop culture continued to grow. Considered the "King of Pop"he collected 38 Grammy nominations and 13 wins, including Album of the Year by Thriller, Record of the Year for “Beat It” e Song of the Year for “We Are the World”He also received Grammy Legend Award, was included in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award da Recording Academy, establishing himself as one of the most awarded artists in history.
In addition to the prizes, Michael He transformed the way pop music was produced and consumed. He revolutionized music videos with iconic works such as Thriller, who joined the National Film Registry, and introduced the world to moonwalk, which became one of the most iconic dance moves in history.
After his death, he received two posthumous albums. Michael (2010) and Xscape (2014), and the show Cirque du Soleil, which celebrates his music and artistic career. His music rights and investments, such as in the Sony/ATV catalog, have also ensured that his influence remains financially and culturally relevant.
In this year, Michael gets a biopic that premieres in Brazilian cinemas in April 23Bringing its story to new generations of fans. Check out everything we know about the film below:
The movie “Michael”
Plot
A biopic follows the trajectory of Michael Jackson since the times when he still stood out as a leader of Jackson 5 ...to the early stages of his solo career. The film seeks to portray not only the artist on stage, but also the man behind the phenomenon, exploring his personal life and the challenges along the way. At the same time, it revisits some of the most remarkable performances from the beginning of his individual journey, showing how his talent and creative ambition led him to become one of the biggest names in world entertainment.
Cast
The cast is led by Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, who makes his film debut playing the artist himself.
Next, you can watch a video of Jaafar Jackson ...and the entire transformation process to portray the King of Pop. Watch:
The film also features well-known Hollywood names, such as colman domingo e Nia long, who play the singer's parents, in addition to Miles Teller in the role of the protagonist's agent. Other names, such as Laura Harrier, Kat Graham e Derek Luke complete the cast.
Direction and production
In the driver's seat, there is Antoine Fuqua, known for films such as Training Day and the franchise The protectorThe script is by John Logan, nominated three times to Oscar and responsible for films such as Gladiator e The AviatorThe film features important names in the industry in its production, such as Graham king, known for The Departed e Bohemian Rhapsody, And John Branca e John McClain, who have already been involved in other projects related to Michael's career.
Which songs will be in the movie?
The biopic Michael It features songs from different phases of his career. Michael JacksonFrom the period in Jackson 5, are confirmed I'll Be There, Never Can Say Goodbye e Who's Loving YouAlready in the phase of The Jacksons, appear Medley: I Want You Back, SPC, The Love You Save (Live) e Ben (Live).
Na solo careerThe film includes hits such as Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, Wanna Be Startin 'Somethin', Human Nature, Working Day and Night e pool.
Trailers
Release date
The film Michael premieres in Brazilian cinemas in April 23th 2026For now, tickets are not yet available for pre-sale, but you can follow all the news and information about the sessions on the website. ticket.com.
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Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 25 / 03 / 2026.
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