Netflix has brought Michael Jackson’s legal file back into the spotlight after releasing the official trailer for a new three-part documentary series titled Michael Jackson: The Verdict.
The series examines the late pop star’s 2005 trial over child molestation allegations, which ended in his acquittal.
Details
• The documentary premieres globally on June 3, 2026.
• It covers the period from Jackson’s 2003 arrest through his 2005 acquittal.
• The series draws on courtroom-based testimony, including interviews with jurors, attorneys, witnesses, and journalists who attended the trial.
• Netflix says the series examines one of the most closely watched legal cases in celebrity history and explores Jackson’s complicated legacy between the allegations and the defense.
• The release comes amid renewed public interest in Michael Jackson following the commercial success of the Michael biopic.
• The film has surpassed $700 million worldwide, while focusing on Jackson’s early life and rise to fame without deeply addressing his legal troubles.
• Netflix’s documentary therefore opens the most sensitive chapter of Jackson’s story, after the theatrical biopic largely avoided it.
What’s next?
The documentary is expected to revive the long-running debate over Michael Jackson’s legacy: between his status as one of the world’s biggest music icons and the legal and ethical allegations that continued to follow his name despite his acquittal in court.
