Honestly, if you ask most people what movie was michael jackson in, they’ll probably pause for a second, blink, and then scream "The Wiz!"
But that is barely scratching the surface of the King of Pop’s weird, wonderful, and sometimes totally baffling relationship with the silver screen. Michael Jackson didn't just want to be the biggest rock star on the planet; he deeply craved being a movie star. He wanted to be the next Charlie Chaplin or Walt Disney.
He didn't quite get there in the traditional sense. But the filmography he left behind is a fever dream of high-budget 3D experiments, uncredited cameos, and a full-on anthology film where he turns into a giant silver robot. It’s a lot to process.
The Big Screen Debut: The Wiz (1978)
Before the red leather jacket and the single sequined glove, there was a lanky 19-year-old Michael stuffed into a costume made of trash and old newspapers.
In The Wiz, a soulful reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, Michael played the Scarecrow. He was acting alongside his real-life mentor and "mother figure," Diana Ross, who played Dorothy.
It wasn't just a role for him. It changed everything. While filming in New York City, Michael met the legendary Quincy Jones, who was handling the movie's score. They hit it off, started talking music, and that's how we eventually got Off the Wall and Thriller.
Most critics at the time thought the movie was a bit of a mess—mostly because Diana Ross was 33 playing a character meant to be a young girl—but everyone agreed Michael was the standout. He moved like liquid. Even under all that heavy prosthetic makeup, his vulnerability came through.
The Cult Classic: Moonwalker (1988)
By the late '80s, Michael was so famous he didn't need a traditional script. He just made Moonwalker.
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If you try to explain the plot of Moonwalker to someone who hasn't seen it, you sound like you’re losing your mind. It’s an anthology film. It starts with a montage of his career, moves into a claymation segment where he’s chased by fans, and then pivots into the "Smooth Criminal" short film.
In the main story, Michael plays a version of himself who has magical powers and protects three kids from an evil drug lord named Mr. Big (played by Joe Pesci, of all people). At one point, he literally transforms into a sports car, then a robot, and then a spaceship.
It’s bizarre. It’s indulgent. It’s peak 1980s Michael Jackson. You can’t find it on most streaming services today because of licensing nightmares, but for a generation of kids who owned the VHS, this was the definitive answer to what movie was michael jackson in.
Captain EO: The Disney Revolution
We have to talk about Captain EO.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas. You read that right. The guys who did The Godfather and Star Wars teamed up to make a 17-minute 3D movie for Disney theme parks.
Michael played the titular Captain EO, a space pilot leading a ragtag crew (including a weird elephant-creature named Hooter) to deliver a "gift" to a wicked Queen played by Anjelica Huston.
The gift was, predictably, a song.
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For years, it was the most expensive film ever made on a per-minute basis, costing somewhere around $17 million to $30 million. It wasn't a movie you’d see at the local AMC; you had to go to Epcot or Disneyland to see Michael use "the power of dance" to turn a dystopian wasteland into a colorful paradise.
Those "Wait, Was That Him?" Cameos
Michael loved a good cameo, often appearing in places where he felt he could play with his own public image.
- Men in Black II (2002): This is probably his most famous blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. He plays "Agent M." He’s basically begging Rip Torn’s character (Zed) for a position in the MIB, claiming he can be the "alien monitoring" expert. It was a self-aware nod to the tabloid rumors that he was, well, from another planet.
- Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls (2004): This one is... rough. It’s a low-budget parody movie. Michael appears as "Agent MJ" in a hologram-like role. It’s widely considered one of the weirdest choices of his career, but it remains a verified entry in his filmography.
- The Simpsons (1991): Okay, he wasn't "on screen" in the flesh, but this is a massive piece of his film legacy. In the episode "Stark Raving Dad," he voiced Leon Kompowsky, a man who believes he is Michael Jackson. For legal reasons, he was credited as "John Jay Smith." He did the speaking voice, but a sound-alike did the singing.
The Masterpiece That Wasn't: Ghosts (1996)
People often forget Ghosts.
It’s a 39-minute short film co-written by Stephen King. Yes, that Stephen King. Michael plays five different roles, including "The Maestro" and the "Mayor of Normal Valley."
The makeup work by Stan Winston was so good that most people didn't even realize the grumpy, overweight Mayor was actually Michael. It was a direct response to the way the media treated him—depicting him as a "freak" who lived in a haunted house. It’s actually some of the best acting he ever did.
What Really Happened With the "Peter Pan" Movie?
Michael spent decades trying to get a Peter Pan movie made. He was obsessed with the boy who wouldn't grow up.
Steven Spielberg actually considered him for the lead in what eventually became Hook. However, Michael didn't want to play a Peter who had grown up and forgotten his past; he wanted to be the eternal child. The role eventually went to Robin Williams, and Michael reportedly felt "betrayed" by the change in direction.
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He also tried to buy Marvel Comics in the late '90s because he desperately wanted to play Spider-Man. Imagine that timeline for a second.
The Biopic Era: Michael (2025)
As of right now, the conversation about Michael Jackson and movies has shifted to the upcoming biopic, Michael.
It stars his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, and is directed by Antoine Fuqua. While Michael isn't "in" it in the physical sense, the film is using his real vocals and painstakingly recreating his life. It’s set to be one of the biggest theatrical releases in recent memory, likely reigniting interest in his actual filmography.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to watch Michael Jackson's movie work today, you have to be a bit of a detective.
- Search for "Ghosts" on YouTube. Since it was never given a wide digital release, fan-uploaded 4K restorations are your best bet to see his prosthetic work.
- Rent The Wiz. It’s available on most VOD platforms (Amazon, Apple) and is the only time you’ll see him in a traditional, narrative-driven acting role in a feature film.
- Find the Moonwalker Blu-ray. It was released internationally and is region-free, so you can import it if you can’t find it on US streaming services.
Michael's film career was a "what if" story. He had the screen presence, but he was so big as a musician that the industry rarely knew what to do with him. He ended up creating his own cinematic world—part sci-fi, part fairytale, and entirely unique.
Next Step: You should check out the "Smooth Criminal" segment of Moonwalker specifically. It’s widely considered the bridge between a music video and a cinematic short film, featuring the famous "anti-gravity lean" which was actually a patented stage illusion involving special shoes and floor pegs.