The 40th anniversary of the best-selling album in history – Thriller – was celebrated in 2022, but only now do we have on Paramount Plus an excellent documentary about Michael Jackson‘s masterpiece. Thriller 40 goes beyond the behind-the-scenes of the album, and it’s nothing short of incredible. Especially because Michael’s most recent memory is almost monstrous, with the shadow of all the accusations of pedophilia and his dark and sudden death at the age of 50. In the middle of his last years of life, what made him famous – his music – took a backseat. It’s great to rediscover it.

Navigating the creative process of the artist who became the most popular in the world is almost like rediscovering Michael Jackson, and understanding fully how he became an Icon. For many, especially the second generation, the question remains: was he really all that?

I saw him on stage when he came to Brazil, 30 years ago and I can say with all the words: yes he was. The magic of the 90-minute documentary, directed by Nelson George, is the fact that it talks to the people who worked on the album, who talk about a Michael composer, a Michael who focused on being more than perfect and became a pop genius. There are archive images from the recording of Thriller, with Michael telling in the first person how he wanted to make short films – not music videos – and on a journey through time, we fall in love with the artist Michael Jackson again.

There are details of Thriller 40 that are exciting: how he incorporated street dance, and different styles of music always in an innovative way, as well as how he found in music the way to break down the barriers of racism and prejudice. This part of the documentary may even be a “new” story for many people, because after he became the biggest pop star on the planet, there were no limits for Michael, and it is incredible to realize his impact and meaning, but even more so, to understand how he arrived there. No nostalgia, no exploration of anything sentimental, just the excellence of his art. It is a gift for all generations because, if there is something that has never been controversial, it is Michael Jackson’s music.

P.S.: You know you’re going to finish the documentary wanting to dance to Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean… be warned!

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