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The new Michael Jackson biopic arrives in theaters this week and lands at a fraught moment for pop-culture conversation: it revisits a towering musical legacy while stopping short of fully settling the singer’s long-running controversies. If you prefer staying in, a handful of fresh streaming releases — led by Charlize Theron’s Netflix survival thriller and the second season of a basketball comedy starring Kate Hudson — offer a steadier, lighter palate.
Jaafar Jackson embodies an icon in the new biopic
Jaafar Jackson, a member of the Jackson family, takes on the central role in Michael, director Antoine Fuqua’s portrait of the singer’s early life and ascent to global superstardom. The film traces Jackson’s childhood under his father’s strict hand, his rise with the Jackson 5 and the solo breakthrough that reshaped pop music in the 1980s.
Examines Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror in new biopic
The Rip sued by Miami cops for defamation, gets theatrical release May 15
Critics say the movie is a showcase for Jaafar Jackson’s performance — a role that effectively asks him to channel both the performer’s stage magnetism and the vulnerabilities behind it. At the same time, many viewers will notice that the film largely focuses on Jackson’s creative milestones rather than delivering a full-scale reckoning with the sexual-abuse allegations that have shadowed his legacy.
The film also dramatizes high-profile moments from Jackson’s career, including the on-set Pepsi accident in 1984. Several companion pieces — from a ranked list of Jackson’s most influential songs to explainer and fact-check articles about his controversies, an examination of how the movie handles the Pepsi incident, and a parental guide for families considering the film — are circulating alongside reviews.
Charlize Theron tackles the outdoors — and a killer — in Apex
Charlize Theron stars in Apex, a tense survival thriller now streaming on Netflix. Theron plays a grieving rock climber who becomes the target of a sadistic hunter portrayed by Taron Egerton, setting up a cat-and-mouse chase across remote Australian terrain.
Theron performed many of her own stunts: she trained in rock climbing and kayaking and even completed a risky 30-foot free jump into shallow water during production. She has described the project as personally cathartic, saying it offered perspective about control and resilience after a difficult period.
Apex joins several notable streaming debuts this week, including a sports drama led by Timothée Chalamet and a Korean dark comedy that critics are watching closely.
Kate Hudson returns as a pro team boss in Running Point Season 2
Kate Hudson is back in the Netflix comedy Running Point, this time navigating the second season’s behind-the-scenes turmoil as president of a Lakers-inspired franchise, the Los Angeles Waves. Season 2 piles on boardroom politics, locker-room squabbles and a prickly new coach played by Ray Romano.
Hudson says the show’s writers aren’t afraid to wink at pop-culture moments; she slipped a playful nod to her earlier rom-com work into an episode that got laughs on set. Co-creator Mindy Kaling has also described the show’s origins as rooted in everyday petty grievances — including a moment she and Hudson say happened at an Oscars after-party when a man cut ahead of them in line, an irritation that helped inform the series’ tone.
- Pixar’s latest, Hoppers, has an exclusive deleted scene now available; the film will be on digital rental and purchase platforms starting April 28.
- Richard Gadd, creator of Baby Reindeer, returns with a new HBO drama titled Half Man, which takes a darker, different approach than his breakout series.
- DC’s next move leans into horror: an early look at Clayface positions the Batman antagonist as a body-horror figure.
- Meryl Streep has spoken about the upcoming sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, describing it as a film that frames fashion through ethical and cultural conflict.
- Netflix released a documentary series on Hulk Hogan that addresses steroid use, intimate scandals and connections to high-profile figures, prompting renewed debate about celebrity accountability.
Whether you’re headed to a theater or scrolling your streaming queue, this week’s releases underline two clear trends: studios continue to mine complicated cultural figures for dramatic storytelling, and increasingly ambitious action and comedy series are arriving directly on streaming platforms. How audiences respond will shape what studios prioritize next.
