How Did Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Become One Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time?

It was the album that changed everything in pop music. In fact, when it came out, it was everything in pop music. It was R&B, dance, funk, and rock all woven together in a way we had never heard before. Four decades after its release, Michael Jackson's Thriller more than holds up as one of the greatest albums of all time.

Released on November 29, 1982, Thriller was Michael's sixth studio album. It was produced by the brilliant Quincy Jones, who had previously worked with Jackson on his 1979 album, Off the Wall. Seven hit singles came from Thriller. All of them, including the iconic title track, reached the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, which set the record at the time. The album itself is estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, making it the one of the best-selling albums in history.

So how did it all happen? A new documentary, Thriller 40, will take viewers on the exciting journey into the making and enduring cultural impact of Michael Jackson's landmark 1982 album. According to The Grio, the film will delve into the stories behind the music, the groundbreaking videos it inspired, and the album's profound influence on the global music landscape.

The documentary will also feature behind-the-scenes clips and explore Michael's creative process with untold stories from those who were a part of the project. Usher, Mary J. Blige, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, and "Thriller” video director John Landis are among those interviewed in the film.

Thriller 40 was directed by music journalist and author Nelson George, who has written two books about Michael Jackson’s life and career. The documentary premieres Saturday, December 2nd on Showtime and Paramount+. The official trailer is below:

What can be written about the King of Pop that hasn't already been written? Michael Jackson had a life and career that was unlike any other, which is why it was so well documented. He experienced the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. Perhaps the only thing left for fans is to do is simply continue appreciating his music.

Michael Jackson's music videos were as much a part of his creative output as were his songs. The term "music video" doesn't do justice to what he created for MTV. With the help of some very accomplished Hollywood filmmakers, Michael took videos to an entirely different level. He created cinematic works of art.

For this installment of the Throwback Threesome, we'll look at three examples of the visual artistry Michael Jackson built around some of this biggest hit songs. And we'll begin with what is widely considered to be the greatest music video of all time.

With the release of "Thriller" in 1982, Michael's videos had evolved into short films. Directed by Hollywood heavyweight John Landis, "Thriller" became the first music video inducted into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.

Michael Jackson's visual work continued to expand with 1987's "Bad." It was directed by Academy Award-winner Martin Scorsese and featured actor Wesley Snipes.

The video for "Smooth Criminal" was inspired by Fred Astaire's 1953 movie musical, The Band Wagon. It was also included in Michael Jackson's own 1988 film, Moonwalker.