When Michael Jackson released Thriller in 1982, he permanently changed popular culture. Created in collaboration with producer Quincy Jones, the album became a visionary and groundbreaking work that fused pop, rock, R&B, and funk. While its predecessor Off the Wall had established him as a solo artist, Thriller marked the transition to universal pop music and stands today as the absolute creative and commercial pinnacle in his catalog – as well as the best-selling album in music history.

The album brought a new, darker edge to Jackson's music with themes of paranoia, and it strategically bridged genres with contributions from people like Eddie Van Halen and Paul McCartney. At the same time, the release visually revolutionized the music industry; the videos for "Billie Jean," "Beat It," and the iconic title track broke through MTV's then-existing racial barriers and transformed the music video into a global art form.

Today, Thriller is not merely an 80s phenomenon, but the gold standard for pop music that continues to shape the global pop DNA. The ambitious approach to conceiving album releases as massive, visual multimedia campaigns has set a precedent for subsequent generations' biggest pop icons – from Madonna and Janet Jackson to modern stars like Beyoncé and The Weeknd, who continue to draw upon the album's musical and visual innovations.

Media	Music Cassette (Cassette)
Number of units	1
To be released	October 30, 2026
EAN/UPC	0199584693545
Label	EPIC
Genre	Pop
Dimensions	60 × 100 × 10 mm · 150 g (Weight (estimated))