In 2003, Michael Jackson — arguably the most famous and beloved figure in pop culture of all time — was charged with multiple counts of child molestation, setting off a media firestorm and courtroom proceedings that captivated millions. His acquittal on all counts only further stoked public interest in the larger-than-life celebrity at the center of the trial, interest that continues to persist long after Jackson’s death in 2009.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict, now streaming, revisits the case that became one of the most closely watched legal sagas of all time. Featuring key individuals who were inside the courtroom, including jurors, eyewitnesses, and accusers and defenders alike, the three-part docuseries dissects the case against Jackson from the perspectives of both the prosecution and the defense.
The series is directed by Nick Green and executive produced by Fiona Stourton, who say it felt like the right time to revisit the trial and its lingering questions. They approached it as a historical account, presenting the facts as they unfolded in court.
“It has been 20 years since the trial of Michael Jackson in which he was found not guilty. Yet, to this day, controversy still rages,” the filmmakers tell Tudum. “No cameras were allowed in court, and so the public’s view of the facts at the time were filtered by commentators and presented piecemeal. It was time to take a forensic look at the trial as a whole.
“Anyone interested in the Michael Jackson story should feel this documentary gives them a window into what was largely a closed event and a chance to feel closer to what happened.”
Here’s everything to know about Michael Jackson: The Verdict.
The 2005 trial of Michael Jackson was a spectacle few prior celebrity legal cases could match. International news crews descended on the Santa Barbara County, CA courthouse, fans lined up daily, and a lottery was set up for those hoping to get a seat inside. But since no cameras were permitted in the courtroom, the actual proceedings took place out of public view.
Across three episodes, Michael Jackson: The Verdict lays out the case beat by beat through firsthand accounts of the people who were actually there — jurors, attorneys from both sides, and witnesses whose testimony proved pivotal. Drawing on archival footage, trial notes, and contemporaneous media coverage, the series moves through the investigation, arrest, arguments, and turning points that led to Jackson’s acquittal. The result is a complete historical record of a trial the public never truly got to see.
The series features new interviews with participants involved in the trial, including jurors, as well as media figures who were inside the courtroom and observed the case firsthand.
“The aim was to take the audience inside the proceedings and only speak to eyewitnesses who played a part in those events,” the filmmakers say.
Legal
Jurors
Media
Jackson’s circle
Other key voices
Michael Jackson: The Verdict premiered on June 3. Stream it now.
Take a look at the trailer for the docuseries at the top of the page.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict is created by showrunner David Herman, who also executive produces alongside Fiona Stourton and James Goldston. Nick Green directs all three episodes, and the series is produced by Candle True Stories.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict is now streaming.
