Spike Lee Slams ‘Michael’ Critics After Watching Biopic Twice + Film Headed Toward $500 MILLION Box Office! | WATCH
*Spike Lee has officially weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” — and he is not holding back. The acclaimed director, who worked closely with Jackson during his lifetime, has strongly defended the film against criticism that it omits the singer’s child sexual abuse allegations. In recent interviews, including a candid […] The post Spike Lee Slams ‘Michael’ Critics After Watching Biopic Twice + Film Headed Toward $500 MILLION Box Office! | WATCH appeared first on EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More.
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*Spike Lee has officially weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” — and he is not holding back.
The acclaimed director, who worked closely with Jackson during his lifetime, has strongly defended the film against criticism that it omits the singer’s child sexual abuse allegations. In recent interviews, including a candid appearance on CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” Lee made his position clear.
“I’ve seen it twice. Love it,” Lee said emphatically.
His primary argument is simple and rooted in the film’s structure. The movie ends in 1988.
@trizlucent Spike Lee didn’t hold back… After watching Michael twice, he made one thing clear critics can say what they want… but the audience told the real story. are critics out of touch on this one? I need honest opinions #MichaelJackson #MichaelMovie #SpikeLee #jaafarjackson #mj ♬ original sound – trizlucent
The Timeline Defense
Lee pointed out that the first major public allegations against Jackson surfaced in 1993 — five full years after the film’s narrative concludes. The biopic focuses on Jackson’s rise from childhood through the iconic “Bad” era, culminating during the “Bad” tour.
“You’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film,” Lee told CNN. “The stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happen later.”
For Lee, critics are reviewing a movie that was never made rather than judging the one that exists on screen.
Fans Show Up While Critics Complain
Despite the backlash from some reviewers, Lee emphasized one undeniable fact. Audiences are flocking to theaters worldwide.
“But people showed up,” Lee said. “Worldwide, people showed their love.”
The numbers back him up completely.
Box Office Success
“Michael” opened April 24-26, 2026, to a staggering $97.2 million dollars domestic — a new record for a music biopic, surpassing “Straight Outta Compton.”
Worldwide opening weekend reached an estimated $217 to 218 million dollars.
As of early May 2026, just 10 to 11 days into release, the film has already crossed $424 million dollars globally (183 to 184 million dollars domestic, $240 million dollars international). It has surpassed “Elvis” ($288 million dollars) to become the second highest-grossing music biopic ever, trailing only “Bohemian Rhapsody” ($911 million dollars).
With a production budget of approximately $155 million dollars, the film is already profitable. Projections suggest it could push toward $500 million dollars or more globally.
Lee’s Personal Connection to the King of Pop
Lee’s defense carries extra weight given his history with Jackson. He directed the music video for “They Don’t Care About Us” and two acclaimed documentaries: “Bad 25” and “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.”
“I miss Mike,” Lee said. “I miss Prince. These are my brothers. I worked with both of them. Both beautiful, beautiful people.”
His emotional attachment to Jackson’s legacy is palpable — and it informs his frustration with critics who want the film to be something else.
Audience vs. Critic Divide
The controversy has created a stark split between critics and fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, audience scores hover around 96 percent, while critic reviews remain mixed to negative.
Supporters of Lee’s position argue that critics are ignoring the film’s artistic choices and scope. Detractors accuse Lee of downplaying serious allegations by focusing solely on the timeline.
But Lee’s hand gesture during the CNN interview — described by multiple outlets as dismissive — made his feelings about the criticism abundantly clear.
Why the Film Ends in 1988
The 1988 cutoff wasn’t purely creative. Legal settlements with one accuser (Jordan Chandler) included a clause prohibiting depiction in future projects, forcing the Jackson estate to rework the ending. This led to 22 days of reshoots and a delayed release.
Still, Lee maintains that the film works beautifully within its chosen boundaries.
The Final Word from Spike Lee
For fans of Jackson’s music and artistry, “Michael” delivers exactly what its title promises — a celebration of the man who became the King of Pop. For Lee, that is more than enough.
Whether critics agree or not, audiences have already voted with their wallets. And Spike Lee is standing firmly with the fans.
“You’re critiquing the film on something you want in,” Lee repeated. “But it doesn’t work in the timeline.”
“Michael” is now playing in theaters worldwide, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson.
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MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Antoine Fuqua on Casting Michael Jackson Biopic: ‘He (Jaafar Jackson) Brought the Room to Tears’ | WATCH
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