Documentary Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire

When the Grammy Awards ostensibly snubbed Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking 1979 album,
Off The Wall, the then-fledgling King of Pop vowed that voters at the Recording Academy would
not ignore what he would offer next.
On November 30, 1982, just over three years later, Jackson released Thriller, which earned him
a then record-breaking 8 Grammy Awards, including “Album of the Year.”
To commemorate the 40-year anniversary of Thriller, the Jackson estate and Sony Music
Entertainment said they’re celebrating the artistic vision that anchored the biggest selling album
of all time with a new official documentary.
Directed by Nelson George, the film promises to take fans back in time to the making of the
album and release of revolutionary short films that redefined the music video format and
captivated audiences globally.
“Billie Jean” remains the most streamed Michael Jackson song and “Thriller” is the only music
video that has been inducted onto the elite National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
According to a news release, the documentary features never-before-seen footage and candid
interviews.
The currently untitled documentary chronicles the point in Jackson’s career that launched the
singer into mega-stardom and created a pop culture phenomenon that is woven through the
culture and continues to influence the worlds of music, television, dance, fashion and more to
this day.
“The release of Thriller redefined Michael Jackson, taking him from teen star to adult superstar,
who composed memorable songs, sang beautifully and reached the highest level of on-stage
performance,” Nelson George said in the release.
“The album, and the short films they inspired, created a new template for marrying music and
image. It’s been a privilege to explore this extraordinary album and revisit its magic.”
When a fledgling MTV, which programmed white rock artists almost exclusively, refused to play
the video for “Billie Jean” Epic Records persisted.
Once the wall came crashing down, MTV’s ratings soared, and a door was opened for a
generation of African American artists.
“He was MTV’s Jackie Robinson,” said cultural critic Touré, who appeared this week on the
National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Let It Be Known to promote his new show,
Masters of the Game.
The second studio album by Jackson as a solo artist on Epic Records, Thriller captured a record
12 Grammy nominations and a record-setting eight wins.

Since its debut, Thriller has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and was the first album to
be certified triple diamond by the RIAA.
“Michael opened and explored emotional depths and pushed the boundaries of sonic innovation
on Thriller,” John Branca and John McClain, Jackson’s estate executors, proclaimed in the news
release.
“In the process, he breached destructive barriers in the music industry and literally united the
world through his music: there isn’t a place on this planet that hasn’t been exhilarated by the
music of Michael Jackson.”
“This documentary’s exploration of Michael’s process and impact is revelatory.”