Michael Jackson Filmography & Story

Whether you were a fan of his music or not, there is no disputing that Michael Jackson was truly a global icon. One of the most successful musicians of all time, he went from Motown beginnings to international megastar with his incredible vocals, mesmerising stage presence, and showmanship. While his private life may have been complex, in public, he was the epitome of stardom. 

With a new Michael Jackson movie due for release soon, the world will be reminded of his towering presence onscreen and on stage. His talent for visual storytelling opened up a whole new generation of music videos, where the song became part of the story and the story became part of the song. 

From Thriller (featuring that groundbreaking zombie dance sequence) to Smooth Criminal and Remember the Time, Jackson consistently demonstrated that he understood the power of combining music with visual extravaganzas. To celebrate his movie career and in eager anticipation of the new Michael Jackson movie, let’s take a look at his filmography highlights. 

Music Videos that Changed the Landscape

We can't examine Michael Jackson’s filmography without first looking at those music videos. At the top of the list is Thriller, named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful music video ever. Thriller changed the landscape that had been dominated by artists simply ‘singing along’ in a video, and also helped to revive the flagging fortunes of the MTV music channel at the time. Thriller was a pivotal point in music videos, with production values and a combination of storytelling, dance and music that elevated it from the usual offerings. 

Then along came ‘Bad’, which pushed the boundaries even further at 18 minutes long, starring Jackson and Wesley Snipes (who was a true A-lister at the time) and directed by none other than Martin Scorsese. A cinematic tribute to West Side Story, the Bad video was genuinely epic.

In the Smooth Criminal video, Jackson’s creativity was on display once again, using an anti-gravity lean technique to create a visually stunning dance sequence. In 1991, the Black or White video seamlessly morphed actors into one another, and once again featured some of Hollywood's big-name actors in cameo roles.

Jackson was never afraid to push the limits, especially when it came to the length of his music videos. For example, ‘You Rock My World’ is 13 and a half minutes long and even featured a fleeting appearance by screen legend Marlon Brando.

The takeaway from all of Jackson's music videos is that they weren't just marketing accompaniments to his music releases. They were events, showcased in cinemas, played repeatedly on channels like MTV, and festooned with awards. It's hard to understate just how vital Michel Jackson's music videos were. They were, quite literally, revolutionary.

Moonwalker (1988): An Experimental Musical Anthology Film

In 1988, a groundbreaking concept in musical anthologies was introduced. Moonwalker once again bucked the trend, and rather than featuring a single narrative, it examined Jackson's fandom using a collection of short films, some of which were longer "director's cuts" music videos from the 'Bad' album. The film takes its name from Jackson's signature Moonwalk dance move, and each segment is linked by an underlying narrative that guides the viewer through the various stages of Michael Jackson's life. It also took a look at how his fans idolised him, and how he regarded them in return.

Critics gave Moonwalker a mixed reception, praising its music but criticising the fact that there was no plot, and demonstrating that they had somewhat missed the whole point of the film itself. This wasn’t a film that needed a plot – Jackson’s colourful life was more than enough to provide a basis for the film. It wasn’t so much a film in the traditional sense, but a slightly self-indulgent retrospective. The critics may not have liked it, but millions of fans around the world loved every second of Moonwalker. 

Captain EO (1986)

With a run time of just 17 minutes, Captain EO was a phenomenon. So much so that this glitzy, star-studded short with a budget of nearly $24 million ran on a loop at EPCOT in Disney World for 11 years from 1986 until 1997. This 3D sci-fi film, produced by George Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, tells the story of Captain EO (Jackson) and his crew aboard a spaceship; they must save the world from the Evil Queen (played with real relish by Anjelica Houston) by performing a song and dance routine. 

That's about as thin as it gets with regards to plots, but the massive budget and Coppola in the director's chair took Captain EO to a whole new level. It's definitely worth tracking down a copy on DVD, to see what true Hollywood indulgence looks like. Once again, critics panned it, but Jackson’s fans didn’t care and loved every precious second of that 17-minute runtime.

This Is It (2009): Concert Documentary

In the weeks leading up to his untimely death, Jackson was rehearsing This Is It, a show scheduled to open in London in July. Leaving the indulgences of Captain EO far behind, Jackson returned to his roots, embracing his music in all its glory. This documentary showcases his flair for the dramatic, his sheer onstage presence and, of course, his talent as a musician and dancer. 

This Is It doesn't just focus on Jackson, but also on those around him, from dancers auditioning to be part of the spectacle to rehearsals in LA, covering the entire concert playlist, and including backstage footage and candid moments. Jackson never got to perform those sell-out shows. This Is It was to be Michael Jackson’s legacy and probably the best tribute to an icon there could be. It won a host of awards and is a must-have in every Michael Jackson fan’s collection.

Michael – The Ultimate Retrospective

September marks the highly anticipated release of Michael, the upcoming Michael Jackson movie that has been in the works for a surprisingly long time. In addition to focusing on his music and stellar career, there will, of course, be plenty of runtime devoted to his complex personal life, as befits a Michael Jackson biography. 

This music is Michael Jackson’s legacy. For fans, that’s all that matters, and the chance to peep behind the curtain of genius that separated Jackson from the outside world is one to be embraced.

Jackson is set for release in September. Keep checking the VOX Cinema website nearer the time for more information on screen times for this eagerly awaited biography.

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