Michael Jackson's 68th Birthday Celebrations: A Look at the Blockbuster Biopic 'Michael' and Commemorative Events
Michael Jackson's 68th birthday is being celebrated this year with the release of a blockbuster Hollywood biopic titled "Michael," directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson. The film has become the first music biopic to surpass $1 billion worldwide. However, the movie's focus on Jackson's life ends in 1988, before the first sexual-abuse allegations against him emerged.
Spike Lee's annual Michael Jackson block party is set to return to Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park on Aug. 29, featuring DJ Spinna. Fans can also enjoy Jackson's earliest music with the release of "The Definitive Collection" on vinyl, which includes 14 Motown-era songs from the Jackson 5 and Jackson's solo career.
In Las Vegas, the Cirque du Soleil production "Michael Jackson ONE" will have two performances on Aug. 29 at Mandalay Bay, showcasing Jackson's music and legacy through a 90-minute show. The birthday celebrations this year highlight Jackson's rise in pop culture, but the movie "Michael" provides an incomplete biography by ending in 1988.
The film faced challenges with earlier versions including the 1993 allegations involving Jordan Chandler, which had to be cut due to legal rights issues. Jackson, who denied allegations of sexual abuse during his lifetime, was acquitted of separate criminal charges in 2005. His daughter Paris Jackson criticized the portrayal of her father in the biopic as "sugar-coated."
As fans commemorate Michael Jackson's birthday this year, they have the opportunity to revisit his music and legacy through various events and releases, shedding light on different aspects of his life and career.