u/dirtydilpickle

Doors are a prominent visual theme in the movie, there are many scenes with Joseph standing in doorways, signifying Joseph stunting Michael’s creativity ability.

KEY SCENES WITH DOORS

After coming home from the first performance Joe beats Michael after closing the door of the house. Michael shuts himself off in the bathroom as Katherine just looks at the door with no response from Michael.

2. Joseph stands in the doorway at the
   Motown recording studio, as Michael is
   talking to Barry Gordy.

3. Michael rushes out of the house through the door of the Jackson’s mansion.

4. After his first rhinoplasty, Michael gets approached by Joe while standing in the doorway.

5. While doing the first recordings for the Thriller album, Michael turns the sign around before entering the door of his private studio.

6. After the Billie Jean performance, Michael at night walks through the door of his room with Joe further back in the corner, as Joe gets more intimidating, Michael grasps the door handle harder, signifying closing the door on his own father. The more free Michael becomes, the closer he gets into entering the room past the doorway.

7. After the Pepsi incident, the doctor is between the door of the rest of the hospital, signifying a barrier between Joseph and Michael, as Joseph can’t control Michael because of the burns.

8. In Human Nature, Michael is miming like he is stuck in a cage behind a glass door while a spotlight shines on him. (The first shot of young Michael is behind a window watching kids play)

9. After quitting the Jacksons live on stage, Michael runs into Joseph after the performance. Instead of being in a doorway, Joseph is standing in front of what looks like an infinite tunnel, Michael walks past him, this could symbolize Michael’s perceived limitless creativity after passing through Joe’s controlling behaviors.