JANET JACKSON.
Lifetime | A&E | Release Date: January 28, 2022
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
7
Negative:
1

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The TelegraphNeil McCormickJan 31, 2022
Season 1 Review: Janet’s talent and career are certainly deserving of close examination and celebration, but they prove almost impossible to disentangle from the fact that while she was one of the biggest stars of her pop era, her sibling was arguably the biggest and most controversial star in pop history. Read full review
60
The Daily BeastKyndall CunninghamJan 28, 2022
Season 1 Review: While the portrait painted of Janet thus far feels deeply familiar and previously established, it’s nevertheless a rare treat for her most dedicated fans. Whether they discover anything new about the secretive superstar is another story. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeJan 28, 2022
Season 1 Review: The four-hour documentary special (of which critics received the first two episodes) is a work of uneven personal storytelling, an attempt by the legendary star to wrest control of her narrative from the grips of public discourse. Read full review
50
The New York TimesJon CaramanicaJan 31, 2022
Season 1 Review: “Janet Jackson” is a sanctioned documentary with the feel of a YouTube news clip aggregation. Jackson is interviewed extensively, but largely provides play-by-play, rarely color commentary. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleJan 28, 2022
Season 1 Review: Throughout, Janet Jackson doesn’t tell you everything, but she tells you just enough that you can make inferences, even ones she doesn’t intend. Read full review
50
VarietyDaniel D'AddarioJan 27, 2022
Season 1 Review: For now, Jackson remains fascinating but enigmatic — a star about whom we’ll perpetually want to know more. And viewers will have known that before investing the time in a doc that can’t quite figure out its namesake. Read full review
45
CNNBrian LowryJan 28, 2022
Season 1 Review: Janet Jackson gave a documentary crew access for five years, but with Jackson and brother Randy Jackson serving as executive producers the resulting project, "Janet Jackson," feels too conspicuously like a licensed product. Addressing some uncomfortable parts of her biography but sidestepping others, it's pretty obvious who's in control here. Read full review
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