Forty years since the release of Michael Jackson Thriller album, the estate of the music legend and Sony Music Entertainment have teamed up to release a new official documentary showing never-before-seen footage and interviews during the making of the album.
Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, estimated to have sold at least 67 million copies worldwide, according to the Guinness World Records.
The album, released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Recordsis Jackson’s sixth studio album and Jackson’s second as a solo artist on Epic Records, then a division of CBS Records.
It has produced several financial successes, including The girl is mine, beat her, I want to start something, human nature, and PYT (Pretty Young Thing).
Billie Jean, the most listened to Michael Jackson song, and Thriller, the only music video to be inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Elite Film Registry, are also part of the Thriller album.
“Michael Jackson’s thriller marked a seminal and pivotal moment in music and pop culture around the world.”
Tom MackaySony Music Entertainment
Thriller broke a record 12 Grammy nods and a record eight wins including album of the year. It was also the first album to be approved triple diamond speak RIAA.
“The release of Thriller redefined Michael Jackson from teenage star to adult superstar, who wrote memorable songs, sang beautifully and reached the highest level of performance on stage,” according to the filmmaker Nelson-Georgeswho is currently making the documentary.
George, an American journalist, author and music and cultural critic, made his directorial debut in 2007 with life support, with Queen Latifah. Latifah won numerous awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and the NAACP Image Award. This film was also named Best TV Movie of the Year by the NAACP.
In June 2010, George published Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson, a chronicle of Thriller album where George explored the making of the album.
George added: “The album and the short films it inspired created a new model for marrying music and image. It was a privilege to explore this extraordinary album and revisit its magic.
The Thriller documentary will be produced by Company Name and distributed by Optimal productions and Sony Music Entertainment. It will be Jackson’s third album-based documentary film following the release of “Bad 25” in 2012 and “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall” in 2016.
The King of Pop’s work has also been celebrated in a number of films, including This Is It, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas and MJ The Musical on Broadway.
“This documentary’s exploration of Michael’s process and impact is eye-opening.”
John Branca and John McClain, Michael Jackson Estate
“Michael opened up and explored the emotional depths and pushed the boundaries of sonic innovation on Thriller. In doing so, he broke through destructive barriers in the music industry and literally united the world through his music: there’s not a place on this planet that hasn’t been blown away by the music of Michael Jackson.
This documentary’s exploration of Michael’s process and impact is eye-opening,” John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Michael Jackson Estate, said of the film.
Meanwhile, Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content, Sony Music Entertainment, said, “Michael Jackson’s Thriller marked a pivotal and pivotal moment in music and pop culture around the world.
“We are thrilled to expand the estate’s documentary collection with our next film and look forward to sharing it with fans around the world,” added Mackay.
Company Name’s Colin Hanks and Sean Stuart are producing the film, while John Branca and John McClain are executive producers.The music industry around the world