Entertainment
Over 40 Years Later, This No. 1 Michael Jackson Album Is Still His Greatest of All Time
It really takes immense impact for an album to remain relevant so many years after its release — and only a few in music history have achieved the same level of respect and influence as Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The King of Pop’s sixth studio album isn’t only beloved by critics and listeners worldwide, but is also recognized as the best-selling album of all time. Released on November 30, 1982, Thriller has amassed more than 100 million sales across the globe. It also produced multiple top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Beat It” and “Billie Jean” both reaching No. 1 and becoming cultural staples that continue to influence artists today. Upon its release, the record received overwhelmingly positive feedback from critics and fans alike. Now, 43 years later, the album remains a cultural milestone and an important piece in pop culture, forever etched into Jackson’s legacy.
‘Thriller’ Cemented Michael Jackson’s Status as a Global Superstar
Jackson is indeed one of the biggest superstars the music world has ever seen, and much of that recognition can be attributed to the success and creative brilliance of Thriller. If anything, by the time the album was released in 1982, Jackson was already a rising star with an impressive track record. His first five solo albums (Got to Be There, Ben, Music & Me, Forever, Michael, and Off the Wall) and his time with The Jackson 5 as a young performer had already solidified his place in music history. Thriller, however, was the project that catapulted him into an entirely new stratosphere. At that point, Jackson wasn’t just an American singer-songwriter; he had become a global phenomenon.
The singer boasts a total of 13 GRAMMY wins, seven of which were earned through Thriller. During the 26th Annual GRAMMY Awards, the album took home Album of the Year, while the title track won Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male). Meanwhile, “Billie Jean” secured wins for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, and “Beat It” captured both Best Rock Vocal Performance and the prestigious Record of the Year award. On the other hand, the Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller went on to win Best Video Album during the 27th Annual GRAMMY Awards — proof that the album was more than just a hit record.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Continues to Shape Pop Culture and Music History
“For no mere mortal can resist the evil of the thriller.”
‘Thriller’ Continues to Break Records Decades After Its Release
The success of Thriller wasn’t just a phenomenon felt in the 1980s — its impact transcends generations. Just recently, the late pop icon broke another record by becoming the first artist ever to reach the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 in six different decades (the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s, and ‘20s), all thanks to the disco-funk hit and the forever Halloween staple, “Thriller.” The song, which originally peaked at No. 4 back in 1984, jumped from No. 32 to No. 10 in 2025. The single also earned 14 million streams and 9.3 million in radio airplay during the Halloween 2025 season, an incredible feat for a single released more than 40 years ago.
After Thriller, Jackson went on to release four more albums before his passing in 2009 at age 50: Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), and Invincible (2001), his tenth and final studio album. These records, alongside his early work, stand as a testament to Jackson’s enduring success. But Thriller will always be remembered not only as the album that transformed his career trajectory, but also as one that fundamentally reshaped the pop music landscape — redefining sound, production, style, and even the art of music videos. The music video for “Thriller,” directed by John Landis, is a cultural landmark in its own right and is often hailed as one of the greatest music videos of all time.
Jackson’s music continues to echo through the airwaves and in the work of countless modern artists who credit him as a major influence. He wasn’t admired solely for his record-breaking hits; his dynamic performances and unmatched cultural influence also earned him widespread acclaim. Even so, it’s his songs that continue to carry his legacy forward, decade after decade. And Thriller remains one of the central reasons he endures as the King of Pop. Decades after the album’s release, its influence can still be felt in modern music, proving that Thriller is a timeless body of work that continues to inspire and captivate new generations.
