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Miniseries – Leaving Neverland

Play trailer 1:39 Poster for Miniseries – Leaving Neverland Mar 2019 Documentary Special Interest Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 96 Reviews 26% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Two men describe the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of Michael Jackson; a series of interviews craft a portrait of deception, sustained exploitation and complicated feelings.
Leaving Neverland — Miniseries

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Crucial and careful, Leaving Neverland gives empathetic breadth and depth to the complicated afterlife of child sexual abuse as experienced by adult survivors.

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Critics Reviews

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Hugo Rifkind The Times (UK) 03/13/2019
Once Leaving Neverland hits its stride, though, what it captures so well is the emotional entanglement and exploitation on which Jackson, allegedly, relied. Go to Full Review
Angie Han Mashable 03/11/2019
Leaving Neverland's strength lies in its patience, and its willingness to engage with the complexity of these men's stories. Go to Full Review
Roxana Hadadi Pajiba 03/08/2019
Leaving Neverland lays out the links between abuse and seduction, forcing us to again consider why we worship celebrity. Go to Full Review
Brendan Cassidy InSession Film 07/09/2024
Leaving Neverland is a calling to all of those speaking out about their abusive pasts. But it extends even further than that, as it is also an invitation for us as fans of Michael Jackson and his music. Go to Full Review
Victoria Brownworth Philadelphia Gay News 05/26/2020
Leaving Neverland warns us - as did: Surviving R Kelly - that we can never again let adoration for any star blind us to the suffering of their most vulnerable victims. Go to Full Review
Kirk Baird Toledo Blade 12/20/2019
Far more subtly, the documentary calls attention to our celeb-obsessed culture, one that is quick to embrace celebrities as heroes but slow to let them go. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ando D @RT22189136 17h The men relating their experiences at the hands of Jackson would have to be the best actors ever to be maliciously making up stories. To reject their tragic histories as fabrications for profit would require unparalleled levels of cognitive dissonance and/or motivated reasoning, which apparently 74% of viewers share. See more Can G @RT32788692 1d Trying to make a quick buck and 15 minute of fame by taking advantage of MJ’s naivety. This miniseries deserves every single bit of hate it gets. See more ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ Δ @RT19582623 1d Leaving Neverland feels less like an objective documentary and more like a one-sided emotional narrative. It focuses heavily on personal testimony while giving little room to opposing perspectives or critical examination. Another major problem is the many inaccuracies and inconsistencies that have been pointed out in timelines and details. For a documentary dealing with such serious allegations, factual precision is essential. Although professionally produced, it often feels more like a persuasive piece than a balanced search for truth. See more R T @RT29379522 1d I don't have to watch to know it's rubbish. People will do anything to make a buck off of Michael because he got somewhere in life. I know the truth and Michael is INNOCENT. He got on the wrong side of tommy matola. In my opinion the only person who should get backlash is TOMMY MATOLA. See more Kevin K @Jdoe174 1d A difficult but necessary watch. I was such a fan, but the man and estate gaslit the world. See more Boudicea R @BoudiceaR 6d This was heartbreakingly well done and gives a very clear view of an awful truth and if you think anyone would choose to come out and talk about then lucky you you’ve never experienced physical or sexual abuse. The director did an excellent job of just letter this gentleman talk about what happened and how large the scope of this was. This is the high cost of art some artist do awful things. Only a fool would think anyone would want to talk about this & get harassed by sociopaths on the internet. No one wanted to believe what Bill Cosby did, Jimmy Savile, Woody Allen, and even w/photographic evidence those saying they never went to Jeffery’s Island. No one wants to know the cost that was paid for all that great music but paid it was and it’s sad how casually cruel folks are towards kids, women, and victims. Unfortunately we were all culpable See more Read all reviews
Leaving Neverland — Miniseries

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 3, 2019 Part 1 An exploration of the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age 10, and Wade Robson, at age 7, who were both befriended by Michael Jackson. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 4, 2019 Part 2 An exploration of the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age 10, and Wade Robson, at age 7, who were both befriended by Michael Jackson. Details
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Season Info

Director
Dan Reed
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Documentary, Special Interest
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 3, 2019