Leaving Neverland

Leaving Neverland
American release poster
Directed byDan Reed
Produced byDan Reed
Starring
CinematographyDan Reed
Edited byJules Cornell
Music byChad Hobson
Production
company
Amos Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 25, 2019 (2019-01-25) (Sundance)
  • March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03) (United States)
  • March 6, 2019 (2019-03-06) (United Kingdom)
Running time
  • 236 minutes[1]
  • 189 minutes (UK version)[2][3]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Leaving Neverland is a 2019 made-for-television documentary film directed and produced by Dan Reed. The documentary focuses on two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege they were sexually abused as children by the American singer Michael Jackson.

Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019, Leaving Neverland was broadcast in two parts on HBO; a shortened version was broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in March 2019. The film received critical acclaim, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special,[4][5][6] but mixed reviews from viewers.[7][8]

Leaving Neverland triggered a media backlash against Jackson and a reassessment of his legacy. However, it boosted sales of his music. Some dismissed the film as one-sided and questioned its veracity; Jackson's estate condemned it as a "tabloid character assassination",[9] while Jackson's fans organized protests. A number of rebuttal documentaries seeking to refute the allegations were released.[10][11] In February 2019, the Jackson estate sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 Jackson concert contract by distributing the film.

  1. ^ "Leaving Neverland". Sundance Film Festival. Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  2. ^ "When is Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland airing on Channel 4?". Radio Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson and Me - Episode Guide". Channel 4. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference emmys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (July 16, 2019). "Beyoncé & docs on R. Kelly, Michael Jackson get Emmy nods". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  6. ^ McDermott, Maeve. "Michael Jackson estate slams 'Leaving Neverland' Emmys win as 'a complete farce'". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "UK critics react to Leaving Neverland after documentary aired by Channel 4". The Independent. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  8. ^ Johnson, Zoe (March 4, 2019). "'Leaving Neverland' Documentary Draws Mixed Reviews From Viewers". Vibe. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (January 26, 2019). "Michael Jackson estate rips controversial 'Leaving Neverland' doc: 'It has always been about money'". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  10. ^ Lewis, Rebecca (May 22, 2019). "Michael Jackson's bodyguard warns Leaving Neverland director over career future". Metro. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  11. ^ name="Lewis">Lewis, Anna (April 9, 2019). "Neverland Firsthand is a documentary response to Leaving Neverland". Cosmopolitan. New York City: Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.