Lifetime has officially added another music biopic into the archives. On Monday (May 29), the cable network aired, Searching for Neverland, a two-hour film chronicling the last three years of Michael Jackson’s life (as told through the eyes of his two bodyguards).
Prior to its Memorial Day debut, Searching for Neverland, hit a music roadblock. Jackson’s estate called the film “unauthorized,” and refused to license its ownership of MJ’s music catalog, along with “images, video and film.”
Since Lifetime has dealt with similar restrictions before, they worked around the issue with help from Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.” In the end, Searching for Neverland, scored 2 million viewers, earning Lifetime it’s second-highest ratings for an original movie in 2017.
But the Twitter reactions may be more entertaining than the film itself. Social media picked the film apart, starting with the actor playing Jackson.
Navi — a professional MJ impersonator who was born in Trinidad and moved to the U.K. — couldn’t quite shake his British accent.
Why does Michael have an accent? #MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/1sBQhRz9mE
— ? Arnelle ? (@xo_Nelleee) May 30, 2017
In all honesty, Searching for Neverland, wasn’t the worst biopic that Lifetime has put out. That said, check below for more hilarious tweets on the film.
Still not as bad as Flex playing Michael lmfaooo 😂😂#MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/CXX9PnvsNl
— Galaxistar👅💦 (@SkittledStars) May 30, 2017
Michael Jackson in Heaven like: “Now y’all know damn well this movie trash” #MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/Wr5wuzn4aN
— Mr. Headen (@Mike_Money_) May 30, 2017
The only #MichaelJacksonMovie worth watching pic.twitter.com/KwuRVSiH6d
— Surayyah👸🏾 (@ms_champanepapi) May 30, 2017
#MichaelJacksonMovie Michael Jackson’s family walking in the attorneys office to sue lifetime… pic.twitter.com/qpW9vxMDz4
— Yazsmine Teondra 💕 (@YazsmineXo) May 30, 2017
Me when they finally show MJ #MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/CtUW1hm1ps
— 🔥Yubaba🔥 (@Jayonce_Inc) May 30, 2017
Lifetime will NEVER be forgiven for that Aaliyah Movie. Anything they make going forward starts at 0 & builds up. #MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/3c8OPUJFAZ
— Maxamillion (@RegalBasil) May 30, 2017
Prince in heaven like lifetime better not make a movie about me #MichaelJacksonMovie pic.twitter.com/IlG1s75QRA
— Black Lives Matter (@luckluciano59) May 30, 2017