Michael Jackson Movie: Thriller or Beat It?
What comes to mind when you hear the name “Michael Jackson?” Maybe King of Pop; Jackson Five; Moonwalking; Thriller; We Are the World? Or perhaps Neverland; child molestation allegations; hair on fire; plastic surgery; marrying Elvis’ daughter? The new Michael movie explores the global superstar’s many successes and a few of his failures. What drove him?
The singer, songwriter, and dancer was a pop culture fixture for many years. At age five, he joined The Jackson 5 singers, eventually becoming lead vocalist. The Guinness Book of World Records in 2021 named Michael’s Thriller the all-time best-selling album. Thriller, Billy Jean, and Beat It were the album’s featured singles.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from acute Propofol intoxication. It was ruled a homicide after his doctor, Conrad Murray, admitted to administering the drug and other sedatives leaving him unattended. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and served two years in prison.
It was a shocking end to a storied career. He won 13 Grammy Awards, performed at the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show, recorded a duet with Mick Jagger, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and acted as the Scarecrow in the 1997 movie The Wiz with Dianna Ross. Michael and Lionel Richie co-wrote We Are the World to raise millions of dollars for humanitarian aid in Africa.
Success, but sad struggles
Dazzle, excitement, sparkle, and success defined his career.
Sadly, serious struggles and puzzling inconsistencies defined significant parts of his personal life.
Both parents, Katherine and Joseph, had pursued music careers and had dreams of their children doing likewise. Joseph reportedly abused his sons as he pressured them to succeed: beating them with a belt buckle or electric cord, holding 5-hour rehearsals daily after school, hitting them with a tree branch when they made a wrong dance step.
Writing in The Guardian, cultural analyst Alexis Petridis summarized, “Once you knew what Michael Jackson’s childhood and early career had been like, the issue wasn’t so much why he was apparently turning so weird but why it hadn’t happened sooner.”
Neverland, young boys
Some weirdness examples: Neverland Ranch became Jackson’s home, amusement park, and residence for young boys with whom he shared his bed. “Why can’t you share your bed? That’s the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone,” Jackson told a British journalist in a television documentary.
In a 1991 music video, Jackson’s crotch grab generated so many complaints that he apologized and removed the scene from the video, yet other entertainers copied his move (which the film portrays him making at times).
A 13-year-old boy’s 1993 allegation of sexual childhood molestation by Jackson was settled out of court. Another 13-year-old boy’s allegations got Jackson charged with child molestation in a California court in 2003. After much media hoopla, the court found Jackson not guilty in 2005. Other accusers have recanted their stories, saying they were forced into making statements. Seventeen years after Jackson’s death, the trials continue with two accusers taking Jackson’s estate to court in this coming November 2026.
Faith and forgiveness
Faith played a prominent part in Michael’s life. Katherine Jackson was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and sought to instill that faith in her kids. Michael became quite involved but dissociated himself from that church in 1987. His statements about God and Jesus include: “All is possible if God is on our side.” “I will never stop helping and loving people the way Jesus said to.” “I simply believe in it (the Bible) and I get down on my knees every night and thank God and ask Him to lead the way.”
Whether Michael ever established a personal relationship with God through Jesus is disputed.
However, there is good evidence that he forgave his father for his abusive parenting. In a 2001 Oxford Union speech, he said, “I have begun to see that even my father’s harshness was a kind of love, an imperfect love, to be sure, but love nonetheless. He pushed me because he loved me. Because he wanted no man ever to look down at his offspring. And now with time, rather than bitterness, I feel blessing. …my initial fury has slowly given way to forgiveness.”
Jackson is portrayed by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, and the film explores his life in ways that will please his fans and disappoint his critics. Plenty of music and dancing, but no references to alleged child molestation which could be covered in a subsquent film.
Rated PG-13 (USA) “for some thematic material, language, and smoking.” Now in theaters.
Rusty Wright is an author and lecturer who has spoken on six continents. He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford universities, respectively. www.RustyWright.com
–Rusty Wright
