“Depp vs. Heard” is a Netflix documentary about the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial. It is a three-part documentary that examines the infamous defamation case that captured the world’s attention.
The $50 million defamation trial of Johnny Depp took place in Virginia following an article published by the actress in The Washington Post. Since the said newspaper has servers in Virginia, and a printing press there, it was chosen as the state where the court case would held, which: the star-studded case, as most of you know and can thoroughly verify in this documentary series, attracted a lot of attention beyond the legal venue.
Especially on the internet. You know, social media, tik tok, the then Twitter, and so on.
About the documentary
What can a documentary add to something we already know? Johnny Depp garnered all the attention, there few Amber fans, and people, the media, are siding with the actor – so was the feeling at the time. Had the trial turned into a media spectacle?
The documentary is prop full of fan reactions from internet platforms, in a trial that was broadcasted live and surpassed in media attention any other trial aired to date (if O.J. Simpson allows me to say so).
By court order, Johnny Depp was prohibited from looking at Amber Heard. He complied with the court order at all times (amid giggles and derisive gesticulations, of course). A public trial about words expressed in private, a trial that went beyond these words and stirred up many emotions, laughter, and reactions, and that, starting today, if you haven’t had enough of this story yet, you can enjoy on Netflix.
Did Depp win the trial thanks to the social media? Or did he have a spectacular legal team behind him that portrayed him as the ultimate victim? Who knows.
Our Opinion
A documentary that poses a clear question: was it the decision of a jury or a public square spectacle that reached a verdict before the actual judicial resolution?
With
Johnny Depp
John Christopher Depp II, who was born on June 9, 1963, is an American actor, producer, and musician who has been recognized with awards such as a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild, as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards. Depp’s debut was in the horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and he achieved fame as a teen idol on the TV show 21 Jump Street (1987–1990). During the 90s, Depp focused mostly on independent films, playing a variety of unusual characters, like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Benny and Joon (1993), Dead Man (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). He also began partnering with director Tim Burton, in movies like Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), and Sleepy Hollow (1999). Depp’s success in the 2000s rose when he starred as Captain Jack Sparrow in the series Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–present). He earned critical acclaim for Finding Neverland (2004), and he continued to collaborate with Burton in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Depp was one of the biggest stars in 2012 and was named the world’s highest-paid actor, with earnings of US$75 million, by Guinness World Records. During the 2010s, he founded production company Infinitum Nihil and created the rock band Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. Depp vs. Heard was released by Netflix on August 16, 2023. Read More
Amber Heard
Laura Heard (born April 22, 1986) has become a well-known American film and television actress. She received mainstream recognition for her roles in Never Back Down (2008) and Pineapple Express (2008). Heard has also appeared in The Joneses (2009), The Ward (2010), The Rum Diary (2011), Drive Angry (2011), Machete Kills (2013), and Magic Mike XXL (2015). In 2017, she took on the role of Atlantean queen Mera in the DC Extended Universe films Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). In addition to her acting career, Heard has served as a global spokesperson for the cosmetics company L’Oréal Paris since 2018, and is involved in human rights activism. Read More
