Michael Jackson: Thriller

Music Video
1983
S
13m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Michael Jackson, Jack Bricker, Tony Gardner, and Cynthia Garris in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.7/10

19K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 3 nominations

Photos255

Michael Jackson, Jack Bricker, Cynthia Garris, Tim Lawrence, and Ola Ray in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

Michael Jackson and Ola Ray in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

Tony Gardner in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

Cast38

Edit

Michael Jackson

Michael

Ola Ray

Michael's Girl

Forrest J. Ackerman

Man in Movie Theater
(uncredited)

Reed Armstrong

Zombie
(uncredited)

Rick Baker

Zombie Opening the Crypt
(uncredited)

Stephen Bishop

Man in Movie Theater
(uncredited)

Kim Blank

Zombie
(uncredited)

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

Zombie
(uncredited)

Casey Cole

Zombie with blue dress
(uncredited)

John Command

Zombie
(uncredited)

Michelle Defevre

Zombie
(uncredited)

Michael DeLorenzo

Zombie
(uncredited)

Tony Fields

Zombie
(uncredited)

Richard Gaines

Zombie
(uncredited)

Director
- John Landis
Writers
- John Landis
- Michael Jackson
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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 Talo jossa kello tikittää (2018) - a 2D version was also submitted for classification in the UK.

Connections
Edited into Michael Jackson's 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

User reviews70

Review

Featured review

10/10

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)

helpful•28