Netflix’s Perfect Follow-Up To This Year’s $900M Blockbuster Is Officially a Hit With Almost 50M Hours Viewed

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Everyone knows the movie Michael is a huge success, earning over $900 million worldwide. Now, Netflix is building on that success with a new documentary series that explores the more challenging aspects of the story not shown in the film. Viewers have already watched over 50 million hours of the series, suggesting Netflix made a smart move.

We could only be talking about the first season of Michael Jackson: The Verdict, a series that explores the charges of child sexual abuse against the superstar and the trial that followed through the eyes of the key players who were in the courtroom during the proceedings. And while it’s racked up those 50 million hours viewed, as well as the #1 spot on the platform’s Top 10 Most Watched list, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the streamer in the wake of its release—fans of the musician are deeply upset over the way the case, and Jackson himself, were portrayed.

Is The Verdict Really a “Perfect” Follow-Up?

While the series has gotten an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s also set a record for the review site—it’s earned only a 6% from audiences, making it the lowest-rated documentary from Netflix. Fans’ biggest issue with the series? That it neglects the facts in favor of sensationalism, leaning heavily into the single perspective that Michael Jackson was guilty despite his acquittal on all charges. “This documentary doesn’t just lack credibility; it’s a shamelessly manipulative farce that insults the audience’s intelligence with its feeble attempt at neutrality. Worse still, the editing is a masterclass in deception, cherry-picking and distorting facts to push a malicious narrative. It’s not a documentary; it’s propaganda disguised as balanced reporting,” said one viewer. Another added, “The Verdict offers nothing more than a repackaging of the same allegations and evidence already examined during Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial, where he was vindicated on all 14 counts by a conservative jury in a county known for its high conviction rates.

Even though many fans disagree with the claims made in the docuseries The Verdict, critics generally praise it for offering a fresh perspective on a long-standing case. Critic Sam Adams highlights that the series carefully and clearly explains the complexities of Jackson’s trial, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in learning more about what Michael Jackson didn’t reveal.

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2026-06-14 00:43