Netflix’s new Michael Jackson documentary has quickly become one of the platform’s biggest non-fiction hits of the year.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict, a three-part series examining the pop star’s highly publicised 2005 child molestation trial, racked up more than 17 million views in its first week on the streamer, per Variety.
The documentary debuted near the top of the platform’s global English-language TV rankings, underscoring the enduring public fascination with one of music’s most controversial figures.
Directed by Nick Green, the series revisits the trial that saw Jackson face multiple child molestation charges before ultimately being acquitted on all counts.
Through interviews with prosecutors, defence attorneys, journalists, jurors, and former members of Jackson’s inner circle, the documentary attempts to re-examine the case from multiple perspectives.
The documentary follows the success of the recent biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as his famous uncle. The film has become one of 2026’s biggest box office successes, grossing hundreds of millions worldwide and sparking fresh debate around how Jackson’s life and career continue to be portrayed on screen.
While The Verdict doesn’t uncover definitive new evidence, the documentary has generated significant conversation by bringing together figures from both sides of the case and revisiting allegations that continue to divide public opinion decades later.
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Critics have been split on the series, with some praising its access and breadth of interviews, while others argue it largely revisits ground that has already been extensively covered.
