The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic may be moonwalking its way to box office gold, but behind the scenes, the King of Pop’s children are reportedly anything but in sync. Sources tell RadarOnline that “Michael” — which hit theaters April 24, 2026 — has sparked fresh infighting between Paris Jackson and Prince Jackson, even as the film shatters box office records while getting shredded by critics.
It’s a classic Hollywood paradox: a movie can be a critical punching bag and commercial juggernaut all at once. According to one insider, that’s exactly what’s playing out in the Jackson family.
“What a crazy result for the Michael movie, where it’s been totally roasted by the critics, but has still emerged as a gigantic box-office success – all with Prince and Paris fighting in the background,” the source said.
Prince Rises, Paris Pushes Back
Prince, 29, was reportedly a driving force behind the film, working alongside Michael Jackson Estate executors John Branca and John McClain. Thanks to phenomenal ticket sales — $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide in its opening, the biggest debut ever for a biopic — Prince has gained what insiders call “real momentum and credibility” in Hollywood.
Paris, 28, has been openly skeptical of the project from day one. The folk singer has suggested the movie sugarcoats the truth about her dad, who was also father to Bigi Jackson, 24. In an Instagram story posted in August 2025, Paris explained her early concerns.
“I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest / didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life,” she wrote.
In a follow-up video, Paris predicted plenty of fans would still love the biopic because it “panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in a fantasy.” Judging by enthusiastic theater reactions nationwide, she wasn’t wrong.
Still, sources insist Paris wishes the best for the cast — which includes her cousin Jaafar Jackson in the title role, alongside Miles Teller, Colman Domingo and Mike Myers.
Janet vs. Jermaine at the Family Screening
Paris and Prince aren’t the only Jacksons trading sharp words. The siblings reportedly clashed during a phone call ahead of a family screening in Los Angeles before the wide release. Janet Jackson was reportedly very critical of the movie, while Jermaine Jackson loudly applauded the work — which makes sense, considering his son Jaafar stars as Michael.
Even matriarch Katherine Jackson was reportedly on board, leaving Janet as the only family member with sour feelings after the preview. One source bluntly claimed, “Janet’s always been insanely jealous of Michael, and her career is in the toilet.” Janet’s boyfriend, by contrast, reportedly cheered and declared, “Now that’s a movie.”
Notably, Janet did not have a hand in the production. She was offered an opportunity to be featured in the film and participate behind the scenes, but declined — leaving her entirely out of the script despite her well-documented closeness to her late brother.
A Three-Time Delay and a 3½-Hour Story
The premiere has been a moving target. Originally set for April 2025, then October 2025, “Michael” finally landed on April 24, 2026. Producers wanted the biopic to be as detailed as possible, covering many aspects of the legend’s life and career, which ballooned the runtime to 3½ hours and ultimately forced the project to be split into two movies. A planned sequel will cover the second half of Michael’s life.
The delays weren’t just about length. The film does not address the child sex abuse allegations Jackson faced beginning in 1993, which he and his estate have always denied. A spokesperson for LionsGate confirmed that scenes addressing those accusations were removed due to legal concerns, reportedly tied in part to an agreement involving Jordan Chandler — who received a $20 million settlement decades ago — that stopped him from being featured in the film. The cast and crew had to reassemble to film a new third act.
Colman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson alongside Nia Long as Katherine, addressed the criticism on April 22 during a television appearance.
“The film takes place from the ’60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations,” Domingo said. “So basically we center it on the makings of Michael, so it’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is.”
The film’s release also followed a February 2026 lawsuit filed by members of the Cascio family alleging abuse — adding another layer of complication to an already loaded rollout.
Will the Siblings Reunite for the Sequel?
With a sequel already in development and plenty of leftover footage from the first film waiting to be used, all eyes are on whether the Jackson kids can find common ground. As one insider put it, fans “would love to see her and Prince set aside their differences and collaborate on the second movie, but that seems like a pipe dream right now.”
For now, the music plays on — and so does the family drama.