The documentary was scored by Chad Hobson . Hobson said his approach was to " imagine a walk through a beautiful and magical forest ... But as you travel deeper into the forest it becomes darker , more distorted , the limbs of the trees becoming more twisted and sinister . " '' Leaving Neverland '' premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 25 , 2019 . For television , it was split into two parts broadcast on March 3 and 4 on HBO in the US and March 6 and 7 on Channel 4 in the UK . The Channel 4 version was edited from four hours to three to create space for commercials . It broke Channel 4 streaming records and became the most downloaded Channel 4 show ever , and took a 45 % share of young television audiences . 2.1 million watched '' Part 1 '' on Channel 4 , and 1.9 million watched '' Part 2 '' . In the US , '' Part 1 '' drew a 0.4 rating and 1.285 million viewers , the third-largest audience for an HBO documentary this decade behind '' Going Clear : Scientology and the Prison of Belief '' and '' Bright Lights : Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds '' . '' Part 2 '' drew a 0.3 rating and 927,000 viewers in its initial airing . Kew Media Group sold the documentary to channels in 130 territories . In New Zealand , the first episode was watched by 716,000 , making it one of the most watched non-sporting non-news broadcasts in the country 's history . Netherlands broadcaster VPRO referred viewers to the Mind Korrelatie foundation for victims of sexual abuse , and attracted callers in large numbers
2019 Sundance Film Festival
2019 Sundance Film Festival
Leaving Neverland