NEW YORK, NEW YORK – October 2, 2022 – To commemorate the 40-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s revolutionary Thriller album, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music Entertainment are celebrating the artistic vision that anchored the biggest selling album of all time with a new official documentary. Directed by acclaimed journalist, music historian, and filmmaker Nelson George, the film which is currently in production takes fans back in time to the making of the record-breaking 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.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and candid interviews, the as yet 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,” said Nelson George. “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.”
The music on Thriller is so dynamic and singular that it defied any definition of rock, pop or soul that had Thriller was the second studio album by Jackson as a solo artist on Epic Records. It went on to capture a record 12 Grammy® nominations and a record-setting eight wins, including Album of the Year. And Michael captured a record eight Grammy Awards that same night, including for “E.T. The Storybook” album. Since its debut, Thriller has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and was the first album to be certified triple diamond by the RIAA.
The latest Optimum Productions and Sony Music Entertainment documentary, produced by Company Name, joins “Bad 25” and “Michael Jackson’s Journey from gone before. “Beat It” was a new kind of pop-rock hybrid and demolished the longstanding segregation between black and white music with Eddie Van Halen’s incendiary guitar. On “The Girl Is Mine,” a black man and a white man bantered about the same girl. When a fledgling MTV, which was programming white rock artists almost exclusively, refused to play the video for “Billie Jean” Epic 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 Motown to Off the Wall” as the third documentary film with a focus on a Jackson album. Additional productions celebrating Jackson’s unparalleled impact include the 2009 film, This Is It, Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas and MJ The Musical on Broadway.
“Michael opened and explored emotional depths and pushed the boundaries of sonic innovation on Thriller. 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,” stated John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Michael Jackson Estate. “This documentary’s exploration of Michael’s process and impact is revelatory.”
“Michael Jackson’s Thriller marked a momentous and pivotal moment in both music and pop culture around the world,” said Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content, Sony Music Entertainment. “We’re excited to expand the estate’s documentary collection with our upcoming film and look forward to sharing it with fans around the world.”
Sony Music Entertainment is distributing the film. Colin Hanks and Sean Stuart from Company Name serve as producers. John Branca and John McClain serve as Executive Producers.
About Sony Music Entertainment Premium Content
Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) Premium Content division is a full-service content development studio showcasing the Company’s global legacy, scale and robust offerings for top creative talent around the world. Designed to provide our artists and creators with unique opportunities to captivate new global audiences, the team develops, produces, and distributes a range of premium projects across film, television, podcasting, gaming and more. Tapping into SME’s vast portfolio and catalog libraries, the division champions innovative ideas and collaborations across the Sony entertainment companies to amplify our artists’ creative vision and engage fans with captivating content across all formats.
About the Estate of Michael Jackson
Following Michael’s death, the Estate of Michael Jackson continues to produce artistically exceptional and enormously successful ventures. Upon release, Michael Jackson’s This is It (2009) became the highest grossing music documentary of all time. There have been two acclaimed documentaries with Spike Lee directing – Bad25 in 2012 followed in 2016 by MICHAEL JACKSON’s Journey From Motown To Off The Wall, which had its broadcast premiere on SHOWTIME® and became the channel’s highest rated music documentary of all time. In 2017, Thriller 3D premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and in 2018 was shown in an exclusive IMAX® limited engagement. The Estate of Michael Jackson has also co-produced live stage events including two shows in partnership with Cirque du Soleil, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, which remains among the top ten touring shows of all time and Michael Jackson ONE which is a permanent show at Mandalay Bay & Resort in Las Vegas that continues to thrill audiences since its opening in 2013. The latest endeavor by the Estate is the hit Broadway show, MJ the Musical, produced in partnership with Lia Vollack Productions, which opened on February 1, 2022 and is the winner of four Tony Awards.
About Company Name
In October 2011, actor/director Colin Hanks and producer Sean Stuart formed Company Name, a full-service new media venture focusing on both scripted and unscripted projects for film, television and the web. Some of the company’s projects include the critically acclaimed All Things Must Pass about the rise and fall of Tower Records, the multi-award nominated Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis, numerous projects for ESPN and their 30 for 30 brands, and the upcoming feature length documentary on Willie Mays with producer LeBron James and HBO. In addition, the company also spends time focusing on producing promotional and marketing materials for companies and projects close to their hearts. Company Name is based in Beverly Hills, California.
