Leaving Neverland
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 3, 2019
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 295 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 156 out of 295
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 295
  3. Negative: 128 out of 295

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User Reviews

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  1. SoBirdieFlyAway
    Mar 5, 2019
    6
    I'd say that this documentary was less about trying to tarnish Michaels name or "bring to light" his pedophilic behavior, and more to do with bringing to light what child exploitation, child grooming, and child molestation is and can look like. It helps people understand what to look for in order to stop anything before it even begins.

    However, despite what the main desire for this    I'd say that this documentary was less about trying to tarnish Michaels name or "bring to light" his pedophilic behavior, and more to do with bringing to light what child exploitation, child grooming, and child molestation is and can look like. It helps people understand what to look for in order to stop anything before it even begins.

    However, despite what the main desire for this documentary is, we can't ignore the elephant in the room: Michael himself. This documentary doesn't show anything that may conflict with the two boys experience or have anything that would be in Michaels defense which begs the question on whether or not they're trying to push an agenda. This documentary was very much more for the boys to share their alleged experience rather than for people to investigate it.

    I've got to say, though, that it's an extremely uncomfortable watch. The boys go into deep detail about their experiences and their pain that they feel is believable - there was no idea that they might be "actors" or faking it, even if they are.

    Whether or not you believe Michael is innocent or guilty of the allegations, I'd say you should give this documentary a watch. It's informative on many things, and it is an enjoyable watch in the sense that it makes you question if he's guilty or not, but it does have major flaws that drag the quality of it, and the stories being told, down.    … Expand
  2. UncleWillard
    Mar 12, 2019
    6
    The 6 is for the quality of the show, but I gotta ask, why? Why now? The man is dead and he was acquitted once and settled with the family(s). And one of these kids lied on the stand when he had the chance to expose him. I get it, he was much beloved by some (I always preferred the Jackson 5 over his solo stuff), and this was a young kid who was taken advantage of (I don't know if IThe 6 is for the quality of the show, but I gotta ask, why? Why now? The man is dead and he was acquitted once and settled with the family(s). And one of these kids lied on the stand when he had the chance to expose him. I get it, he was much beloved by some (I always preferred the Jackson 5 over his solo stuff), and this was a young kid who was taken advantage of (I don't know if I believe or not, but something happened to these kids), but no excuses for this kind of behavior. Having said that, it's a little late to bring this up now, isn't it? Unnecessary documentary if there ever was one.… Expand
  3. finnmccool1985
    Mar 3, 2019
    5
    Our current culture has been usurped by Neoconservatism- on the left, ironically, as much as the right. The obsession w sex with what amounts to literally fourteen percent of the population- the far left and far right, respectfully (check The Hidden Tribes Study), is clearly a resurgence of anti-scientific, anti-evolutionary, puritanism- hyperbolizing sexual offense at large, and chalkingOur current culture has been usurped by Neoconservatism- on the left, ironically, as much as the right. The obsession w sex with what amounts to literally fourteen percent of the population- the far left and far right, respectfully (check The Hidden Tribes Study), is clearly a resurgence of anti-scientific, anti-evolutionary, puritanism- hyperbolizing sexual offense at large, and chalking all sexual behavior up to a problem with volition. This has resulted in a ton of false accusations, hoax hate crimes, manufactured outrage, death threats- an unsustainable position as a culture. Along w it has come news articles & documentaries obsessed w rape, sexual misconduct, racism, which treat allegations as truth, and are an attempt to subvert the legal system and turn it into an intuitive/emotional, theocratic system. So overall- this is all more manufactured outrage unless there is concrete proof. It is no one's responsibility to 'just believe' anyone- regardless of what is being discussed. Never in human history has dismissing evidence, critical thinking, and disciplined observation served any culture well. And it's not going to change just because documentaries about racism and rape make headlines, and capture ad revenue. We have libel, slander, and equal protection laws in the west- we cannot put people's lives and careers in danger over rumors and allegations- esp in an age where social media allows using such defamation as a way to boost your career.… Expand
  4. wesseldj
    Mar 12, 2019
    4
    While I think Michael Jackson cannot entirely wash his hands in innocence, but the men allegedly let Michael abused them until they were about 16. Thats an age were you can distinguish right and wrong, and letting a grown up man sexually abuse you and refuse to say something about it back then, not even to their parents, doesn't create sympathy with me. Especially when Michael didn't evenWhile I think Michael Jackson cannot entirely wash his hands in innocence, but the men allegedly let Michael abused them until they were about 16. Thats an age were you can distinguish right and wrong, and letting a grown up man sexually abuse you and refuse to say something about it back then, not even to their parents, doesn't create sympathy with me. Especially when Michael didn't even threaten them or something like that. I truly believe Michael needed help, he was psychological not very sound in many aspects, while that insane part also made him an entertainment genius, but people should have gotten him professional help, instead of demonizing him. I also believe that Michael truly loved these children, he was a big child himself and was not set out to abuse them, or he didn't thought he was abusing them, because he truly thought he was loving them. But I guess most pedophiles believe that and that doesn't make it right. But whats more disturbing is that the parents of these children were perfectly sane people, and they should have picked up the signals that abuse was going on. Doesn't matter what celebrity it is, if there is any notion about abuse, then you either call the authorities or bring your child to safety and away from the abuse, but they didn't. This documentary is therefore not about Michael Jacksons sexual abuse, but it is more the negligence of the parents and authorities and the legal system in the United States. Having said all that, during the entire documentary there is absolutely no video footage or sound recordings that can proof Michaels sex abuse, not even from private investigators or some sort. With years of abuse, but leaving absolutely no proof, that is peculiar to say the least. How much I understand that the victims want to speak out, but this documentary has been made a little too late, and in that regard has failed its purpose. Sadly it only adds and makes the Michael Jacksons sex abuse story to become ever more an unresolved Myth......… Expand

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best TV Season of 2019
7
#7 Most Discussed TV Season of 2019
39
#39 Most Shared TV Season of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. The Times
    Reviewed by: Carol Midgley
    Jan 7, 2020
    80
    Reed did not over-egg the material. ... This is a strange, dark and complex story, but I believed them [Wade Robson and James Safechuck].
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  2. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Ed Cumming
    Jan 3, 2020
    80
    For all its gripping testimony, Leaving Neverland is not a great documentary. It is too long, for one. ... None of this diminishes the power of the interviews, which show how much damage Jackson did and continues to do, 10 years after his death.
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  3. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Tim Robey
    Jan 3, 2020
    80
    The film has to pick its way through some troubling thickets of motive, and frames earlier denials as proof of the psychological damage he wrought. Setting about this side of things with necessary tact, Reed bolsters the case using only the building blocks of what these two families have to say. No authorities weigh in, no lawyers. The purity is that it begins and ends with survivor testimony, chillingly credible in its details, from Safechuck and Robson.
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