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IMDbPro

Michael Jackson: Thriller

  • Music Video
  • 1983
  • PG
  • 13m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Michael Jackson, Jack Bricker, Tony Gardner, and Cynthia Garris in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)
Werewolf HorrorZombie HorrorHorrorMusic

A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when a hoard of bloodthirsty zombies attacks Michael and his date - only a "Thriller" can save them now.A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when a hoard of bloodthirsty zombies attacks Michael and his date - only a "Thriller" can save them now.A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when a hoard of bloodthirsty zombies attacks Michael and his date - only a "Thriller" can save them now.

  • Director
    • John Landis
  • Writers
    • John Landis
    • Michael Jackson
  • Stars
    • Michael Jackson
    • Ola Ray
    • Paul Guzman-Sanchez
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.7/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Landis
    • Writers
      • John Landis
      • Michael Jackson
    • Stars
      • Michael Jackson
      • Ola Ray
      • Paul Guzman-Sanchez
    • 73User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 3 nominations total

    Photos256

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    Top cast39

    Edit
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    • Michael
    Ola Ray
    Ola Ray
    • Michael's Girl
    Paul Guzman-Sanchez
    Paul Guzman-Sanchez
    • Zombie Street Dancer
    Forrest J. Ackerman
    Forrest J. Ackerman
    • Man in Movie Theater
    • (uncredited)
    Reed Armstrong
    Reed Armstrong
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Rick Baker
    Rick Baker
    • Zombie Opening the Crypt
    • (uncredited)
    Stephen Bishop
    • Man in Movie Theater
    • (uncredited)
    Kim Blank
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Miko C. Brando
    Miko C. Brando
    • Man in Movie Theater
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Bray
    • Man In The Movie Theater
    • (uncredited)
    Kevin Brennan
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    James Canino
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Greg Cannom
    Greg Cannom
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Casey Cole
    • Zombie with blue dress
    • (uncredited)
    John Command
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Michelle Defevre
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Michael DeLorenzo
    Michael DeLorenzo
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Tony Fields
    Tony Fields
    • Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Landis
    • Writers
      • John Landis
      • Michael Jackson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews73

    8.719.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10michaeljackson-19118

    Most iconic short film EVER

    The music video that started all music videos. The one that made history. The one that is still the best one today. The one that will live on for generations forever. Truly beyond iconic
    revival05

    Classic.

    You can say what you'd like about Michael Jackson, but songs like ''Bad'', ''Thriller'' and ''Billie Jean'' has stunned the pop-world. But this is out of the ordinary.

    It is more than a music video (I think it is the best ever), to me it is a short 14 minutes cult-classic.

    Even better is the influences from George A. Romero's legendary Death-movies. How much can you say about a music video? Michael Jackson-fans have probably already seen it, but I still have got to tell them, and everyone else, about this remarkable and historic video.
    10Cocacolaguy912-2

    Excellent.

    "Thriller" is brilliant. It is a long video, but simply brilliant nonetheless. The song itself is...excellent...add Michael JAckson dancing and you have a golden Phenomenon. Out of all the videos I have ever seen, this is the best. If you have not seen the video yet, then I urge you...

    The special effects are amazing for it's time... everything from the wearwolf transformation to the idea of these creepy zombies slowly raising from their graves is grand...spookishly grand that is. Vicent Price has his segment of bone-shivering lines...known simply as "the rap" Ola Ray does good as Michael's girl, and Michael JAckson himself...the dancing, and singing (although not during the video itself) is unmatched...

    10/10.
    10TomiusJ

    Literally, the greatest music video ever made.

    John Landis truly outdid himself when he directed Michael Jackson's THRILLER as a short film. Of course, it's corny, the dialogue is terrible and it all seems way too cheesy, but it's perfect none-the-less.

    Michael and his date are out at the cinema to view the latest horror flick. When it all gets a little too graphic for the date, she leaves. Michael follows. On the way home, they decide to take a shortcut through the local graveyard. There, it begins.

    The actual thriller dance is amazing. It's full of those trademark Jackson moves, as well as some memorable zombie moves, too. It doesn't appear rushed at all, nor too long. The whole thing seems movie-like and it really is actually rather scary. Of course, it's one of the most famous music videos of all time, and is probably the greatest music video ever made as well.

    Overall: Watch it, seriously. Those 13 minutes will be some of the best ever spent staring at a screen. (5/5)
    8didi-5

    perhaps the perfect pop video

    'Thriller' remains the greatest of the pop music promos to have a plot, great visuals, and a tip-top song to wrap the film around. Michael Jackson was at the top of the tree at this time (and not so altered in his plastic surgery regime for it to matter). Here he is in good form - the song is terrific, he leads the zombies in dance like no other.

    Ola Ray plays the girl who watches with incredulity as her sweet boyfriend (Jackson, natch) turns into a werewolf! Then to the pulsing rhythms of the opening line 'It's close to midnight', he stomps around the graveyard with the other zombies and creatures of the night.

    The crowning glory of all this is the fruity voice of the great horror star Vincent Price speaking in the middle of the record. Terrific.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In December 2009, the Library of Congress selected the video for the National Film Registry. It was the first music video to be selected.
    • Goofs
      In one scene, Michael's right "cat's eye" contact lens is askew and not in straight.
    • Quotes

      Narration: Darkness falls across the land / The midnight hour is close at hand / Creatures crawl in search of blood / To terrorize y'all's neighbourhood / And whosoever shall be found / Without the soul for getting down / Must stand and face the hounds of hell / And rot inside a corpse's shell. / The foulest stench is in the air / The funk of 40,000 years / And grizzy ghouls from every tomb / Are closing in to seal your doom / And though you fight to stay alive / Your body starts to shiver / For no mere mortal can resist / The evil of the thriller.

    • Crazy credits
      During the closing credits, a reprise of the zombies dancing is shown. At the end of the credits, they all dance back into their graves, with one of them gruesomely grimacing at the screen.
    • Alternate versions
      In 2017, it was remastered from the original 35mm negative and converted into 3D under John Landis' supervision. The audio was also updated to 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos standards. The remastered 3D version first premiered at the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 4th, 2017 alongside the 'Making Of' documentary. In 2018 it was further remastered by IMAX and preceded screenings of The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) - a 2D version was also submitted for classification in the UK.
    • Connections
      Edited into This Is It (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Thriller
      Written by Rod Temperton

      Performed by Michael Jackson

      Featuring "Rap" by Vincent Price

      Produced by Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson

      Synthesizers: Brian Banks and Greg Phillinganes (uncredited)

      Trumpet: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey (uncredited)

      Trombone: Bill Reichenbach (uncredited)

      Sax and flute: Larry Williams (uncredited)

      Mastering by Bernie Grundman (uncredited)

      Recorded & Mixed by Bruce Swedien

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1983 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • YouTube - Official music video
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thriller
    • Filming locations
      • Palace Theater - 630 S Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA(Theatre exterior)
    • Production company
      • Optimum Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,100,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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