If you’re a Netflix subscriber in the U.S., you likely have your gaze fixed on either J.Lo and Brett Goldstein’s new romantic comedy, Office Romance (which Goldstein wrote for Jenny from the Block) or the new season of Tina Fey’s dramady series The Four Seasons. But there’s also a good chance that you’ve been waiting for some great new documentaries to appear on the streaming service, and that’s where I come in.
On this fine June weekend, four heavy hitters are vying for your attention—a long-overdue revisiting of one of the most controversial celebrity trials of the last century, a chilling reexamination of a notorious British cold case, and the first of a new Netflix documentary series that aims to dive into the latest headlines while they’re still in the moment.
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Michael Jackson: The Verdict
An examination of the trial of a fallen pop icon
For those who criticized the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, that came out earlier this year, for its complete sidestepping of the pop star’s controversial 2005 child molestation trial, Netflix’s new three-part docuseries, Michael Jackson: The Verdict, just dropped on the streamer to fill in all the blanks. Taking a deliberately straightforward approach to the 12-week trial, The Verdict is a no-frills examination that uses loads of archival footage, court records, and testimony from many of the people involved in the trial and who were close to the Thriller singer.
Directed by documentarian Nick Green, The Verdict feels like a scrapbook of information and footage, including some never-before-seen video from the initial police search of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California. But the most compelling elements of the film come for the fresh new interviews from key players in the case, including prosecutor Ron Zonen, defense attorney Mark Geragos, multiple jurors from the trial, and, most fascinatingly, the BBC journalist Martin Bashir, who was allowed incredible access to Jackson for his scathing 2003 documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, which triggered the investigation in the first place. It’s a fascinating and eerie look at the trial that rocked a nation.
QuizNetflix June 2026 new releases
Trivia challenge
From animated adventures to romantic dramas — how much do you know about Netflix’s hottest June 2026 arrivals?
DramaAnimationRomanceThrillerComedy
Office Romance is a Netflix comedy series centered on workplace relationships. Which setting is the show primarily built around?
That’s right! Office Romance leans into the familiar but endlessly entertaining world of corporate office life, where professional boundaries and personal feelings collide in comedic fashion. The workplace setting gives the show plenty of material for awkward meetings, watercooler moments, and romantic tension.
Not quite — Office Romance is set in a corporate office environment, not the other setting you chose. The show mines the everyday absurdities of office culture to fuel its romantic and comedic storylines, making cubicles and conference rooms the perfect backdrop for messy feelings.
Mexico 86 is a Netflix drama series. What real historical event serves as the backdrop for the story?
Correct! Mexico 86 uses the 1986 FIFA World Cup — famously hosted in Mexico — as its dramatic backdrop. The tournament is remembered for iconic moments like Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, and the series weaves personal and political drama into that electrifying sporting atmosphere.
Not quite. Mexico 86 is set against the backdrop of the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico hosted. That tournament is one of football’s most legendary, and the show uses its energy and stakes to frame a compelling human story rooted in that era.
Voicemails for Isabelle is a Netflix emotional drama. What central premise drives the story’s narrative?
Exactly right! Voicemails for Isabelle centers on the deeply emotional experience of grief, as someone listens back through voicemails left by a person they have lost. The format of preserved voice messages serves as a powerful storytelling device, capturing love and loss in an intimate and modern way.
That’s not the one. Voicemails for Isabelle is a grief-driven drama where the protagonist revisits voicemails from a deceased loved one. The show uses these audio memories as a poignant way to explore mourning, memory, and the traces people leave behind.
Little Brother is a Netflix family film arriving in June 2026. What is the core theme at the heart of the story?
Well done! Little Brother explores the rich and emotionally resonant territory of sibling relationships, focusing on brothers navigating their differences and ultimately finding connection. Family films on Netflix have increasingly leaned into authentic emotional storytelling, and Little Brother is no exception.
Close, but not quite. Little Brother is fundamentally about sibling bonding and the sometimes-complicated relationship between brothers. The film uses humor and heart to explore how family ties can be tested and strengthened at the same time.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 arrives on Netflix in June 2026. In the original animated series, what is the name of the region that serves as the primary setting for the show’s second season?
Spot on! Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, subtitled ‘Earth,’ is largely set across the vast Earth Kingdom, introducing memorable locations like Ba Sing Se and Omashu. It’s widely considered one of the greatest seasons of animated television ever made, deepening the lore and the characters significantly.
Not this time. The second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place primarily in the Earth Kingdom, a sprawling and diverse realm central to Aang’s journey to master earthbending. The season introduces iconic locations and characters that remain fan favorites to this day.
Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You is a Netflix thriller series. Harlan Coben is known for a recurring theme in his adaptations. Which of the following best describes that signature theme?
Exactly! Harlan Coben has built an incredibly successful partnership with Netflix on the back of his signature formula: ordinary suburban characters whose carefully constructed lives suddenly unravel to reveal shocking secrets. Series like The Stranger, Safe, and Gone for Good all follow this gripping template.
Not quite. Harlan Coben’s Netflix adaptations are defined by their exploration of ordinary people hiding extraordinary secrets — suburban lives that look perfect on the surface but are riddled with buried pasts and dangerous lies. I Will Find You follows that same compelling blueprint.
Sweet Magnolias returns to Netflix in June 2026. In which fictional South Carolina town is the show set?
That’s correct! Sweet Magnolias is set in the charming fictional town of Serenity, South Carolina, where three best friends navigate love, business, and small-town life together. The show is based on the beloved book series by Sherryl Woods and has earned a devoted fanbase for its warm, feel-good storytelling.
Not quite — the show is set in Serenity, South Carolina, a fictional small town that perfectly embodies the cozy, community-driven spirit of the series. Sweet Magnolias is based on Sherryl Woods’ popular book series and follows three lifelong friends building their lives and a new business together.
I Am Frankelda is an animated series coming to Netflix in June 2026. What genre best describes the tone and style of the show?
Correct! I Am Frankelda embraces a delightfully spooky and darkly comedic anthology style, telling eerie and imaginative stories aimed at younger viewers who love a good scare wrapped in humor. It draws from a rich Latin American tradition of horror storytelling, giving it a distinctive cultural flavor.
That’s not quite right. I Am Frankelda is a dark comedy horror anthology aimed at kids and families, rooted in Latin American storytelling traditions. Its blend of creepy tales and humor puts it in the same fun-scary spirit as shows like Goosebumps or Over the Garden Wall.
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The Murder of Rachel Nickell
A 1992 cold case and a wrongful suspect
This month, Netflix is covering several angles of this grisly and controversial British murder case from the 1990s by not only delivering a dramatized limited series, The Witness, that you should totally watch, but also with this 96-minute documentary, The Murder of Rachel Nickell, that brings the reality of the cold case front and center … and it’s a stark reality.
The doc meticulously revisits the murder case of 23-year-old Rachel Nickell, who, in July 1992, was stabbed 49 times while walking her dog with her two-year-old son, Alex, who was the only witness. The film retraces the ordeal and the years that followed, including the arrest, 13-month detention, and 1994 acquittal of Colin Stagg, whose collapsed trial exposed a police entrapment op, and the eventual DNA-driven identification of the real killer, Robert Napper, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2008.
The Murder of Rachel Nickell mixes archival footage, news coverage, police records, and first-hand accounts from Rachel’s family, most compellingly, from her partner, André Hanscombe.
The Murder of Rachel Nickell
- Release Date
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June 4, 2026
- Director
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Lucy Bowden
- Producers
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Lucy Bowden
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Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted
A new Netflix series that hopes to strike when things are hot
The tagline for Netflix’s new timely doc series, Instadocs, that premiered on May 30, describes it as “a new fast-turnaround documentary series that takes you to the very center of the loudest headlines, immersing you in the facts and feelings of the moment.” Its inaugural installment, Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted, hits hard and fast as it delves into the very recent May 13, 2026, South Carolina Supreme Court overturning of the conviction of Alex Murdaugh, who has been in prison since 2023 for killing his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul.
As extensively covered in two seasons of the Netflix docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, the unbelievable story of the notorious South Carolina family’s fallen dynasty, following the deaths of five people over the course of six years beginning in 2015, has been widely publicized. Alex Murdaugh’s trial was the focus of season two of the popular series, culminating in his conviction.
But just three weeks after having his conviction overturned, Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted, offers a 30-minute inspection of the latest details, which purport to alleged jury interference by Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill, and uses key interviews with Attorney General Alan Wilson and jurors from the trial, most crucially, Myra Crosby, whose dismissal from the case is what fuelled the interference allegations.
It’s a true-crime weekend!
It’s a heavyweight weekend for documentary fans—loaded with crime, courtrooms, and consequences. If you tear through these and still want more, How-To Geek’s weekly streaming guides have you covered, too.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
- Live TV
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No
- Price
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Starting at $8/month
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
