Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983)
Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 1983 horror movie directed by John Landis, with a running time of 14m. It stars Michael Jackson, Ola Ray and Vincent Price.
John Landis turns a pop single into a fourteen-minute horror short. Michael Jackson takes his date to the movies, then out for a walk under a full moon, and the night curdles into something out of the creature features he grew up on. Released while Thriller sat atop the charts, it treated the music video as real filmmaking: a story, a transformation, makeup by Rick Baker, and a dance break that outlived every trend that followed. It was the first music video added to the U.S. National Film Registry.
Quick answers
What is Michael Jackson's Thriller about?
John Landis turns a pop single into a fourteen-minute horror short. Michael Jackson takes his date to the movies, then out for a walk under a full moon, and the night curdles into something out of the creature features he grew up on. Released while Thriller sat atop the charts, it treated the music video as real filmmaking: a story, a transformation, makeup by Rick Baker, and a dance break that outlived every trend that followed. It was the first music video added to the U.S. National Film Registry.
When was Michael Jackson's Thriller released?
Michael Jackson's Thriller was released on 21 November 1983.
How long is Michael Jackson's Thriller?
Michael Jackson's Thriller runs 14m.
Who made Michael Jackson's Thriller?
Michael Jackson's Thriller was directed by John Landis.
Cast
- Michael Jackson as Michael Jackson
- Ola Ray as Michael's Girlfriend
- Vincent Price as Narrator (voice)
- Cynthia Garris as Zombie (uncredited)
- Mick Garris as Zombie (uncredited)
- Hanala Sagal as Dancer (uncredited)
- Forrest J. Ackerman as Man in Movie Theater (uncredited)
- Reed Armstrong as Zombie (uncredited)
- Rick Baker as Zombie Opening the Crypt (uncredited)
- Miko C. Brando as Zombie (uncredited)
- James Canino as Zombie (uncredited)
- Greg Cannom as Zombie (uncredited)
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Explore Michael Jackson's Thriller guides
A few thoughts on Michael Jackson's Thriller
Watch it for the craft as much as the song. John Landis and makeup artist Rick Baker gave a music video the seriousness of a feature, and the choreography has been copied in schoolyards and stadiums ever since. It rewards a full-screen look rather than a glance on a phone.
Classic-monster horror and midnight-movie scares
Thriller is John Landis paying loving tribute to the creature features Michael Jackson grew up on, complete with a full-moon transformation and Rick Baker makeup. These lean into that old-school monster energy, mummies, haunted houses, and things that stalk you home after dark. Watch for the craft of a good scare more than the gore.
New horror to cue up after the lights drop
The whole trick of Thriller is turning an ordinary walk under a full moon into something monstrous. These newer horror releases keep that after-dark dread going, some played straight and some with a wink at the genre's own conventions. A quick queue for when fourteen minutes of Landis leaves you wanting a full feature.