1982 Hit Voted 'Best Music Video of All Time'
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" has been voted the best music video ever made, according to a ranking compiled by TheTopTens.
The video was released in 1982 as the lead single from Jackson's Thriller album, and quickly made history as one of the most prolific music videos ever created. It was directed by John Landis and features Jackson dancing alongside a horde of zombies.
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Was A Game-Changing Music Video
While there had been plenty of artists who took their music videos seriously, "Thriller" felt like one of the first examples of a musician bringing an entire, realized artistic vision to a music video. The full video is approximately 14 minutes in length, with an entire storyline that fans have dissected and analyzed over the years.
The video was first shown to a private audience at the Crest Theater in Los Angeles, with celebrities such as Prince, Diana Ross, and Eddie Murphyin attendance. It later debuted on MTV, with the channel recording a viewership spike of 1,000% every time it was shown (via Vanity Fair).
It's estimated that the music video's success increased sales of the Thriller album at least twofold, transforming Jackson from a mere musical genius into an artistic visionary who dominated pop culture for decades to come.
TheTopTens' list also mentions videos such as "Take on Me" by A-Ha, "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, and "Breaking the Habit" by Linkin Park. Jackson is mentioned again at #5 on the list with "Smooth Criminal".
"Michael Jackson turned music videos into a 'pop event' with the release of the "Thriller" music video," one commenter wrote. "He was so ahead of his time when it came to music videos."
Another says: "Thriller has to be the best video of all time, no questions asked [...] MJ was such a talented man, and his music will live forever."
One final commenter writes: "Michael can compete with himself only. His other videos should be on the list as No. 2, No. 3, etc."