MICHAEL — A Guide to the Film

Michael sang with his breath, his accents, his silences. Listen in order, and you'll hear the voice become something more than a voice with every era.

What to listen to · in order

Four eras, one path

1969· Motown

The Jackson 5

Childhood and breakthrough. The voice of a 10-year-old that stunned grown adults. Pure Motown-pop formula — the foundation of it all.

01Who's Lovin' YouAt ten, he sang the blues about lost love so convincingly that adults refused to believe his age▶ play 02I Want You BackThe J5's debut single and a #1 — the Motown-pop gold standard that's still copied today▶ play 03ABCKnocked The Beatles off the top of the chart — pure kid-powered drive▶ play 04The Love You SaveA third #1 in a row — the record that sealed the J5 as a phenomenon▶ play 05I'll Be ThereA fourth #1 — the first ballad, proof he was more than a dancer▶ play 06Never Can Say GoodbyeYou can hear the voice maturing in real time — a bridge to going solo▶ play 07BenHis first solo #1 and an Oscar nomination — at fourteen▶ play

1979· going solo

Off the Wall

With producer Quincy Jones, Michael first sounded like the master of his own sound. Pure disco-funk, the pull of the dance floor.

08Workin' Day and NightHere his breaths and gasps turn into percussion — the trademark comes through clearest of all▶ play 09Don't Stop 'Til You Get EnoughThe first solo masterpiece he produced himself — and his first Grammy▶ play 10Rock With You optionalThe benchmark of soft disco — the very last #1 of the disco era▶ play

1982· global peak

Thriller

The best-selling album in history. Pop, funk, rock, and R&B in perfect balance. The moonwalk on Motown 25 — the film's key scene.

11Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'The "ma-ma-se" finale became one of the most recognizable hooks in pop music▶ play 12Human NatureThe album's tenderest track — later sampled in hip-hop hundreds of times▶ play 13Billie JeanThe moonwalk's debut on Motown 25 — a moment that became legend▶ play 14Beat ItEddie Van Halen's solo — cracking the racial divide on MTV▶ play 15ThrillerA 14-minute video that turned the music video into cinema▶ play

1985· charity

We Are the World

Between Thriller and Bad — the moment Michael became not just a star, but the voice of an era.

16We Are the World optionalCo-written with Lionel Richie; it gathered 45 stars in one studio and tens of millions of dollars for Africa▶ play

1987· at the height of his power

Bad

Michael the producer, the perfectionist, the master of the stage. The sound is tighter and harder. The film ends as the Bad World Tour begins.

17BadA Scorsese short film and five #1 singles from a single album — a record▶ play 18The Way You Make Me Feel optionalSwing and his signature yelps — a master class in groove▶ play 19Smooth Criminal optionalThe anti-gravity 45° lean — Michael patented it▶ play 20Man in the Mirror optionalA gospel climax — his favorite song to perform live▶ play

1966–95· in the film

Also heard in the film

⚠ spoilers: which song, which sceneshow ▾

Not on the soundtrack album, but heard in the film itself — a cappella, in the background, or over the closing credits.

Big Boy introThe film's first song — a J5 rehearsal in 1966, the moment of parting with childhood▶ play You've Changed a cappellaA jazz standard — Michael sings it live in a club (1967), not an MJ studio original▶ play Rockin' Robin backgroundHis 1972 solo hit — plays when Michael gets his chimp, Bubbles▶ play Enjoy Yourself backgroundThe Jacksons, 1976 — the scene where Michael and Bill go toy shopping▶ play Blame It On The Boogie backgroundThe Jacksons, 1978 — Michael and Bubbles play Twister▶ play I Can't Help It backgroundOff the Wall, 1979 — right before recording "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" with Quincy▶ play This Place Hotel creditsThe Jacksons, 1980 — over the closing credits (live, 1981 tour)▶ play Childhood background1995 — plays as Michael reads "Peter Pan" to Bubbles▶ play Doggin' Around backgroundA Jackie Wilson song (1960) — in the background through the film; sources disagree on whose recording it is▶ play

1991+· deep cuts

Beyond the film

Didn't make the biopic, but essential listening — late-era Michael.

21Black or White optionalDangerous · the face-morphing video the whole world watched at once▶ play 22Remember the Time optionalDangerous · Teddy Riley's new jack swing — the sound of a new decade▶ play 23They Don't Care About Us optionalHIStory · the hardest protest rhythm of his career▶ play 24Earth Song optionalHIStory · a sweeping eco-ballad, #1 in Britain at Christmas▶ play

P.S.· for dessert

Smile

♪SmileA cover of Charlie Chaplin's composition (Modern Times, 1936) — Michael's favorite song▶ play

What to watch

Poster for the short film 'Thriller' (1983)

1983 · short film

Thriller

A 14-minute zombie-horror musical by John Landis, with makeup by Rick Baker and narration by Vincent Price. The first music video in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Cover art for the 'Bad' album and tour (1987)

1987 · directed by Scorsese

Bad

An 18-minute Martin Scorsese short set in the New York subway. A black-and-white opening shifts into color; a young Wesley Snipes co-stars.

Poster for the film 'Moonwalker' (1988)

1988 · the definitive film

Moonwalker

An anthology musical from the Bad era — the definitive "video as mini-movie" format. At its center: Smooth Criminal, with Joe Pesci and the legendary 45° lean Michael patented. This is where to start.

Poster for the short film 'Remember the Time' (1992)

1992 · Ancient Egypt optional

Remember the Time

A short film by John Singleton. Eddie Murphy plays the pharaoh, Iman the queen, with Magic Johnson on screen. Michael crumbles into sand in the finale.

Poster for the short film 'Ghosts' (1996)

1996 · an ace up the sleeve optional

Ghosts

A nearly 40-minute musical film, written by Michael with Stephen King and directed by makeup artist Stan Winston. A "Moonwalker, extended" that few people have seen.

Poster for the feature film 'Michael' (2025)

You've finally made it

Antoine Fuqua's feature film traces the path from the Jackson 5 to the Bad World Tour. Everything you just walked through on the timeline comes alive on screen — and every reference lands where it should.