The arena falls silent before the first brat shakes the crowd. A single spotlight flashes across the stage as the unmistakable figure in a fedora and a sparkling glove appears, instantly transporting audiences back to the height of pop history about the backstory of the legendary Michael Jackson.

Unlike many music documentaries that focus only on fame and success, ‘Michael‘ takes a deeper look into Jackson’s personal journey. The film, which opened April 26, follows his rise from a young performer in the Jackson 5 to becoming the “King of Pop.” Joseph “Joe” Jackson, father of Michael, was intensely determined for his children to become global superstars while also showing the pressure and sacrifices that came with living in the spotlight. Through emotional scenes and recreations of iconic performances, the movie aims to reveal the person behind the fame.

Many fans believe the way Joe Jackson treated his children was not as they expected, and even hate him to this day for his actions towards his children.

“I didn’t like how he treated and parented them at all,” freshman Sherlin Padilla Madrid said. “I felt as if he was just making them all be together so they could have money. He was also controlling of them when Michael was little.”

Much of the attention surrounding the film that grossed $584,597,682 worldwide on opening weekend centered around the cast, especially Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, who plays the lead role. From early previews and photos, audiences have praised how closely Jaafar resembles his uncle’s voice, expressions and dance movements. The attention to detail in the movie from the costumes, choreography and performances has been widely praised online.

“I feel like Jaafar Jackson was the perfect fit to play Michael Jackson because he is related to him and already understood and worked hard about his personality and style,” Madrid said. “He also looks a lot like Michael Jackson, which makes the role feel more realistic and believable. I think his connection to the Jackson family will help him portray Michael in a respectful and authentic way.”

Jackson family members, including some of Michael’s brothers, have also shared support for the project, even describing Jaafar’s performance as “unbelievable,” stating that he felt like he was watching his brother Michael rather than his nephew. Even some fans got very emotional on how he got “brought back to life.”

“I felt so emotional because of how he resembled Michael’s personality,” freshman Julissa Esparza said. “I hadn’t seen him in so long and seeing someone like him identical made me feel so many emotions that I couldn’t even explain because of how I honestly felt inside the theater. It felt like I was in an actual Michael Jackson concert.”

The film recreated some of Michael’s most memorable moments, including performances inspired by songs such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror.” However, beyond the choreography and all the dances, it focuses on Michaels emotional struggles and the challenges of growing up under worldwide attention.

For older fans, the movie brings back memories of an artist who shaped pop culture for decades. For younger audiences, it introduces the impact Michael had on music, fashion and performance. The anticipation surrounding the film shows that even years later, Michael Jackson’s influence continues to reach new generations even after his death.

“A lot of people in my generation didn’t get to actually watch Michael Jackson perform live, so this movie gives us a chance to understand why he was such a huge influence around the world,” sophomore Vianney Escudero said. “Even now, people still recognize his music, dances and style almost instantly. I think the movie will help younger audiences see how much he changed music during the time that he was alive and why so many people still admire him a lot to this day.”

It’s a five-star, must-see movie.