Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael' Receives 38% Critic Score, But Fans Give It 97%

Since the King of Pop's untimely death in 2009, it was only a matter of time until Michael Jackson got the biopic treatment. Now, nearly two decades and a Broadway show later, the highly anticipated film, Michael, has finally been released.

Initial reviews of the film were, like Jackson's 1988 album, bad. Prior to the wide theatrical release, Michael's critic score on Rotten Tomatoes sat at 24% with 46 reviews. Now, with over 150 more reviews, its critic score sits at 38%. Better but still not great.

But since the film hit theaters on April 24, more than 5,000 fans have written reviews of their own—and they're glowing. So glowing, in fact, that Michael has a 97% score among audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Here's what they had to say.

Fans Don't Care What Critics Say About 'Michael'

The critic reviews of Michael all slam the film for glossing over the superstar's many controversies and complexities, instead presenting a whitewashed portrayal of one of the most fascinating and misunderstood public figures in history. In similar vein to critical reviews of the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, reviews of Michael lament that it's nothing more than a dramatized concert film.

"In a cash grab intermittently relieved by magic, Jaafar Jackson vividly channels his uncle as a performer," wrote critic Peter Travers of The Travers Take, "but MJ the man in all his complications eludes him and the movie."

Sara Michelle Fetters of Movie Freak agreed, writing, "The whole thing is a hagiographic nightmare that only works as well as it does because the music is so undeniably brilliant. But there’s no there, there. None."

The fans, however, don't seem to mind in the slightest.

"I enjoyed the film despite its low rating from some ‘specialized’ critics," one audience member snarked on Rotten Tomatoes. "Not every critically praised movie stands the test of time—many fade quickly from memory. It’s better to watch and decide for yourself rather than follow the consensus. For me, it was genuinely entertaining, and hopefully, more films will focus on audiences instead of trying to impress critics."

For some MJ fans, it was everything they could've ever wanted.

"MUST SEE. Even if you didn’t grow up listening to his music you’re going to wish you would have," one audience reviewer wrote. "Phenomenal from beginning to end."

"I even had to remind myself at times that I wasn't actually at a live concert," wrote another. "It was that immersive."

While others wished the film dove deeper into the "Black or White" singer's life, they understood that it couldn't capture everything. "If they would've told the full story of his struggles from childhood to death," read one review, "this would've (should've) been a 4-6 hour movie."