Netflix’s Michael Jackson: The Verdict documentary confirms release date with first-look trailer at courtroom dissection

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Netflix has released a first trailer for its upcoming documentary series focusing on Michael Jackson‘s legal battle and trial, and announced when it will be available to watch.

A new three-part documentary called Michael Jackson: The Verdict will premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

As a critic, I found this documentary fascinating because it reconstructs the 2005 Michael Jackson trial – People v. Jackson – entirely through the eyes of those who were actually in the courtroom. It’s less about a retelling of events and more about experiencing them as they unfolded, as seen by the key people involved.

Michael Jackson faced accusations of molesting a 13-year-old boy, Gavin Arvizo, at his Neverland Ranch. He maintained his innocence, and the court ultimately found him not guilty on all charges.

The trailer opens with the sound of sirens and actual footage of police searching Michael Jackson’s property, intercut with news reports from that period.

Someone in the courtroom exclaimed that the defendant was the world’s most famous person, accused of a terrible crime.

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The trailer then shows what happened afterward, including scenes from the fallout of the trial and brief interviews with people connected to the case – like his legal team and one of the jurors.

The video ends with a direct plea from Jackson himself. In a brief clip, he looks straight into the camera and asks viewers to remain open-minded and allow the legal process to unfold – basically, he’s asking for a fair trial. It’s a really impactful moment, closing out the whole piece.

This isn’t the first documentary covering Michael Jackson’s trial. Earlier this year, Channel 4 released its own film about the case, titled Michael Jackson: The Trial.

Interest in the court case has resurfaced following the successful release of the Michael biopic, even though critics didn’t give it positive reviews.

The film earned $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide during its opening weekend, making it the highest-grossing debut ever for a musical biopic – surpassing the previous record held by Bohemian Rhapsody.

As a huge Michael Jackson fan, I’m really excited about this new movie. It’s going to cover his entire life, from his beginnings with the Jackson 5 all the way up to the iconic Bad tour in 1987. What’s even cooler is that his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, is playing him – it’s a family affair and he looks remarkably like Michael!

The movie ends rather suddenly in 1988, leaving out twenty years of Michael Jackson’s life and career, including his struggles with the law. It’s unknown if a sequel will be made to cover that later period.

Michael Jackson: The Verdict will be released on Wednesday 3 June 2026 on Netflix.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-22 14:04