Michael movie true story: How accurate is the Michael Jackson biopic?

The Michael Jackson biopic has hit cinemas in the UK, portraying the life and legacy of the late musician.

Ahead of its release, the movie divided opinion among critics and fans, with many welcoming the story of one of the most legendary musicians in history and others acknowledging the string of accusations made against him.

The movie charts the singer's rise to fame from the discovery of his talent to his "relentless pursuit" to becoming the world's biggest entertainer.

Penned by John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall) and produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody), the movie covers 20 years of his four decade-long career, but just how much of it is true to what happened in his life?

Below, we dive into the true story explored in Michael and dig deeper into some of the main points in his career and life.

Michael movie true story: How accurate is it?

The Michael Jackson biopic first places viewers in Gary, Indiania in the '60s, where the Jackson 5 was first formed. Comprised of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, the boys would practise in their living room.

Throughout the '60s, the Jackson 5 toured throughout the Midwest, often as opening acts for artists like Gladys Knight and Etta James. They would also perform in clubs and cocktail lounges. It was in 1969 that the band signed a contract with Motown Records and went on to achieve national acclaim.

It was Suzanne de Passe (played by Laura Harrier) who played a pivotal role in convincing Motown founder Berry Gordy to sign the group, and it was also her who took the charge on developing their image.

Their single, I Want You Back, became the band's first single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, with other tracks including ABC, The Love You Save and I'll Be There also reaching number one.

The Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975 and signed with Epic Records, with their younger brother Randy joining the band, while Jermaine remained with Motown to pursue a solo career. But Jermaine wasn't the only Jackson sibling keen to pursue a solo career, and Michael wanted to do the same.

In 1979, Jackson released Off the Wall, which featured tracks like Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough and Rock with You. Jackson was still part of the newly named The Jacksons while recording Off the Wall, as his father Joseph approved of the project so long as it didn't interfere with group business.

The album was hugely popular, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide, and saw Jackson scoop the Grammy Award for best male R&B vocal performance.

In 1982, Jackson was flung into even more extraordinary fame following the release of Thriller, which went on to become the best selling album of all time. The album included hits like Billie Jean and Beat It.

It was his performance of Billie Jean at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever that set the world slight, when he debuted the moonwalk, which soon became his signature dance move.

His success transformed Jackson into the King of Pop, receiving 12 nominations at the 26th annual Grammy Awards – the most in a single night at the time – and won eight awards.

Following the success of his career, Joe Jackson wanted the brothers to reunite and the all partnered with PespiCo in a promotional deal, using Billie Jean with revised lyrics as its jingle.

However in January 1984, while filming a Pepsi commercial, Jackson's hair set on fire, causing second-degree burns to his scalp. He was paid a $1.5 million settlement for the incident, which he donated to the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

From July to December 1984, all six Jackson brothers embarked on a concert tour titled the Victory Tour. The group performed 55 concerts, with 53 of the locations being large stadiums and set a new record for the highest-grossing tour.

It was this tour that marked the last time Michael Jackson would perform alongside his brothers before embarking on his 1987 Bad tour.

Did Joe Jackson hit Michael Jackson when he was younger?

The movie shows Joe Jackson hitting Michael with a belt repeatedly, after he expressed he was tired after one of their shows, with neither Katherine Jackson or Michael's brothers stepping in to stop it from happening.

During a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael recalled that he lived in fear of his father, and that the family patriarch had physically and emotionally abused him.

"Would he ... did he ever beat you?" asked Oprah, to which Michael responded "Yes".

He explained: "He saw me, he wanted me ... I guess I don't know if I was his golden child or whatever it was, some may call it a strict disciplinarian or whatever, but he was very strict, very hard, very stern. Just a look would scare you, you know... Like there's been times when he'd come to see me, I'd get sick, I'd start to regurgitate."

However, Joe Jackson refuted those claims, noting that while Michael was "spanked" as a child, he never "beat" him.

He previously told Louis Theroux in Louis, Martin and Michael: "I never beat him. I whipped him with a switch and a belt. I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

Theroux had asked Joe further about the regurgitate comment made by his son, to which Joe said: "He regurgitates all the way to the bank. That’s right."

Theroux then asked: "I’m not quite sure what you mean when you say that. Do you mean you don’t really believe he does, or you don’t really care?"

Joe responded: "Do I really care? I really don’t."

Did John Branca really send a fax firing Joe Jackson?

John Branca was hired by Michael Jackson as his entertainment lawyer in 1980, following the release of Off the Wall.

It was through this hiring that he replaced Joe Jackson as Michael's manager, allowing him more control over his career.

It is depicted in the movie that Michael asked Branca to fire his father and Branca did so via a fax message.

However, there is no evidence to suggest this was exactly how Joe was dismissed as Michael's manager.

Did Michael Jackson get a nose job to resemble Peter Pan?

While the movie depicts Michael wanting to get a nose job to mirror a similar look Peter Pan had in a childhood book he was reading, his biographer Randy Taraborrelli claimed Jackson had plastic surgery on his nose for the first time due to an injury.

"He had the first nose job as a result of falling on stage and breaking his nose when he was about 19," Taraborrelli told NBC News. "And so it wasn’t for, you know, a vanity purpose. It was a medical procedure."

In his 1988 autobiography, Jackson said he only had two rhinoplasties and denies reports that stated he had extensive surgery on his nose.

Did Michael Jackson unite two gangs for Beat It music video?

Yes, the Beat It music video features 80 genuine members of rival Los Angeles street gangs Crips and Bloods.

Bob Giraldi, who directed the music video, previously shared that it was Michael who managed to cast the gang members.

He said: "He went out and he got 'em through, I guess, the LAPD's gang squad, and he convinced them that, with enough police presence, this would be a smart and charitable thing to do; get them there to like each other and hang with each other for two days doing the video.

"I didn't like the idea because it was hard enough to direct actors and dancers, let alone hoods."

Did Michael Jackson announce on stage that the Victory tour was the Jackson 5's last show?

Yes, Michael Jackson announced on stage that the Victory Tour would be the last time he and his brothers would perform together.

"This is our last and final tour," he said on stage. "And I think this is our farewell tour."

Michael is released in UK cinemas on Wednesday 22 April.

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