Hollywood Just Made A Huge Decision About Jaafar Jackson – dw

Award season is still months away. The Oscars feel like a distant dream, but Hollywood just made a huge decision about Jaafar Jackson. He has landed a best actor nomination at the prestigious Critics Choice Awards under a category branded The Garland King. This isn’t just another nomination. It’s a signal that the industry is taking him seriously and it’s building momentum for something much bigger.

The young actor’s award season campaign is gaining steam and Hollywood is starting to pay attention. But this isn’t the first time Jaafar has been recognized. is Jaafar Jackson. I know Jaafar was so excited to win this award and will make sure it gets to him. Thank you everyone. This isn’t Jaafar’s first nomination and it won’t be his last.

He was previously nominated for best actor at the 2026 Astra Midseason Movie Awards from the Hollywood Creative Alliance. He was in good company competing against Chiwetel Ejiofor for Back Rooms, Leo Woodall for Tuna and Ralph Fiennes for 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple. The Hollywood Creative Alliance recognized his work even before the traditional fall campaign season began.

The young actor is collecting nominations before award season officially starts. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Jaafar Jackson has got his first major nominee of many for his role as Michael Jackson in Michael. The Astra Awards from the Hollywood Creative Alliance have announced their midseason movie awards and the nominees for best actor are insane.

We have Hollywood Creative Alliance announces winners of the 2026 Astra Midseason Movie Awards. That was today. The nominations are backed by something even more important, critical praise. Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote that Jaafar nails the look, the voice, the electrostatic moves and more than that, the mixture of delicacy and steel that made Michael who he was.

Katie Walsh of Tribune News Service called his performance eerily, almost mathematically correct. The critics are calling it electric, dazzling, and Oscar-worthy. And the public is just as passionate. I was not ready to believe this kid could pull it off. I mean, like, I love Michael Jackson. I grew up on him. Motown 25, Thriller, all of it.

So, when they said his nephew was going to play him in this movie, I was like, man, no damn way. Then, I heard him sing, and I heard him talk, and bro, the genetics did not play around. That’s the same voice, the same softness. You cannot tell me this isn’t God-given. Jaafar ain’t just playing his uncle. He is his uncle.

To all the critics who rated that film and gave it a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, all I can say to you is come around the corner, bro. We need to talk. Fans have been vocal about their support. After the BET Awards, one fan wrote, “Now I’m just waiting for them to get the Oscar.” Another commented, “Can’t wait to see these two again in the Michael biopic sequel film.

” Even Bollywood director Farah Khan has called for Jaafar to get an Oscar nomination. The grassroots support is undeniable. And with the Critics’ Choice Awards nomination, the industry is starting to listen. The momentum is building in a way that is impossible to ignore. But what does this mean for the Academy Awards? We’re so grateful for the love you all showed to our movie.

You guys had the theaters packed. We’re truly so humbled. Your support means the world to the Jackson family. WELCOME. AWARDS BODIES DON’T JUST LOOK AT PERFORMANCES, they look at impact. And Michael has had impact in spades. The film has crossed $1 billion at the global box office, becoming the first biopic in history to hit that milestone.

It’s now the highest-grossing musical biopic ever, surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s also Lionsgate’s first billion-dollar film. The combination of critical praise and commercial success is exactly what the Academy looks for. Jaafar Jackson’s Oscar campaign is being built one nomination at a time, and the cultural impact goes beyond the box office.

Jaafar Jackson just did something that we will never see happen ever again. He just became the first and only actor to have their literal first movie role ever, which they happen to star in, make a billion dollars. Let that sink in. Guess when Michael said, “I’ll see you in July.” he really meant it.

To no one’s surprise, the Michael movie has officially grossed $1 billion at the global box office, making it the second movie of 2026 to hit this mark. The film has sparked a massive music resurgence. Michael Jackson’s Spotify monthly listener count surged from around 68 million before the film’s release to nearly 105 million.

That’s a 54% increase. Billie Jean alone gained over 17 million streams. He became the most played artist in the UK on YouTube, with double the plays of his nearest rival, Drake. The film didn’t just break box office records, it revived the music of the King of Pop for a new generation. And Jaafar is at the center of that cultural moment.

The impact is undeniable. Guys know after the Michael Jackson movie I found out that the Jackson 5 is Michael Jackson? I never knew that. He has 96 million monthly listeners? He’s big, bro. The Academy Awards don’t announce nominations until next year, but Jaafar Jackson is already building a case.

He’s been nominated for the Astra Mid-Season Movie Awards, the National Film Awards UK, and now the Creator’s Choice Awards. His film has crossed $1 billion at the global box office. His uncle’s music is surging on streaming platforms, and he’s been praised by critics and fans alike. The combination of critical praise, commercial success, and awards momentum is exactly what the Academy looks for.

And Hollywood is starting to take notice. When preparing for a role, I just like to start off by being as present as I possibly can and surround myself with just complete silence. And I love that feeling of being able to go in any direction and do something unexpected. Music was a big part of my childhood.

I was surrounded by a lot of music, a lot of great artists, a lot of classic albums being played at my house. I grew up loving films, but I never dreamed of being an actor. There are definitely some parallels with acting and in sport. And those days where you’re just grinding and doing repetition every day for hours and hours.

And then finally get to that moment where you can just let go. The Creator’s Choice Awards nomination is more than just a nod. It’s a signal. Hollywood is deciding that Jaafar Jackson is a serious contender. The young actor is no longer just Michael Jackson’s nephew. He’s an award-nominated actor in his own right with nominations from the Hollywood Creative Alliance, the National Film Awards UK, and now the Creators Choice Awards.

Jaafar’s career has been launched in the biggest possible way. Hollywood has made its decision and it’s saying yes to Jaafar Jackson. The King of Pop’s legacy is in good hands. TO PRESENT OUR FIRST AWARD IS THE BEAUTIFULLY TALENTED MISS NIA LONG AND THE INCREDIBLE ACTOR WHO EMBODIES THE KING OF POP, MR. JAAFAR JACKSON. JAAFAR JACKSON HAS GONE FROM A SHY kid who loved golf to a nominee at some of the most prestigious awards in Hollywood.

He’s been nominated for the Astra Midseason Movie Awards, the National Film Awards UK, and now the Creators Choice Awards. His film is a billion-dollar phenomenon. His performance has been called electric, dazzling, and Oscar-worthy. And the momentum is only building. Award season hasn’t even started, but Jaafar is already winning.

If this story moved you, subscribe now. More videos coming up. is Jaafar Jackson. I know Jaafar was so excited to win this award and we’ll make sure it gets to him. Thank you, everyone. I know Jaafar was so excited to win