Thriller Album
The Best-Selling Album of All Time
Released on November 30, 1982, "Thriller" redefined what a pop album could be and remains the best-selling album in history.
The iconic Thriller album cover
Record-Breaking Sales
"Thriller" has sold over 70 million copies worldwide, with some estimates reaching up to 100 million when including unofficial sales. In the United States alone, it has been certified 34x Platinum by the RIAA. The album spent 37 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for over 500 weeks.
Revolutionary Production
Produced by Quincy Jones, "Thriller" featured groundbreaking production techniques and genre-blending sounds. The album seamlessly mixed pop, rock, R&B, funk, and disco. Every track on the album charted, with seven of the nine songs becoming top 10 hits. The collaboration between MJ and Quincy Jones created a sonic masterpiece.
The Music Videos
The 14-minute "Thriller" music video, directed by John Landis, revolutionized the medium forever. With a budget of $500,000 (unprecedented at the time), it featured movie-quality production values, a horror narrative, and elaborate zombie choreography. MTV played it twice an hour during its peak. The video is preserved in the Library of Congress.
The legendary Thriller music video transformation