With the Michael movie arriving in theaters last weekend and breaking box office records, it honestly feels like the perfect time to celebrate the visuals that made Michael Jackson the King of Pop long before the world ever called him that. His music videos weren’t simply videos; they were full-fledged productions, short films, cultural events, and in some cases, international events.
Given the fact that this week is basically still an unofficial “Michael Jackson Week,” we decided to take a look back at the most impactful music videos from his career that are still hitting as hard today as they have been since their release.
Here are our Top 15 Michael Jackson music videos of all time, the ones that shaped pop culture, pushed boundaries, and showed exactly why no one has ever done it like him.
15. Leave Me Alone (1989)
The most satirical video Michael has ever done. He takes all of the tabloid lies and creates an amusement park ride out of them and says, “You guys are lying about me? Fine. Let’s see if we can top your ridiculousness.” The energy is chaotic yet fun. Still relevant today. He took all the commotion surrounding him and turned it into art.
14. The Way You Make Me Feel (1987)
Michael at his smooth, playful best. The street‑corner chase, the blue lighting, the chemistry with Tatiana Thumbtzen, it all feels like pure Bad‑era confidence. The energy is flirty and fun, and the whole video has this effortless charm that makes it impossible not to smile when you watch it.
13. Rock With You (1979)
Pure disco magic. It’s simple, but that’s the beauty of it. Just Michael, a shimmering outfit, green lasers, and a groove that never gets old. There’s something so warm and inviting about this video, like he’s letting you into the joy of the music without needing anything extra. It’s effortless charm, and it still feels timeless.
12. Ghosts (1996)
Before you moonwalk all this placement, please, just “Leave Me Alone” and hear us out. Ghosts is one of his most underrated masterpieces. Long, theatrical, perfectly weird in all the best ways, and visually insane. Michael plays multiple characters, and the whole thing feels like a darker, more experimental, and sophisticated cousin to Thriller.
11. Earth Song (1995)
This is one of Michael’s most emotional and visually powerful videos. The imagery is heartbreaking and beautiful, and you can feel how deeply he cared about the world. The way the video moves from devastation to healing, and the way his voice cracks with urgency, it stays with you. It’s not just a music video, it’s a plea, and it still feels painfully relevant today.
10. Black or White (1991)
A global message, a massive premiere, and visuals that still hold up. The morphing sequence alone is iconic, but the energy and optimism make this video unforgettable.
9. They Don’t Care About Us (1995)
The Brazilian version is raw, emotional, and unapologetic, delivering a hard-to-digest truth. Michael, standing in the middle of real communities, surrounded by people who felt seen through his music, it hits differently.
8. Beat It (1983)
Gritty, cinematic, and culture‑shifting. The gang choreography and storytelling changed music videos forever. And that red jacket? Instantly legendary.
7. You Rock My World (2001)
Early‑2000s Michael with that smooth, confident energy, plus the hilarity of Chris Tucker in every scene. It feels like an action mini‑movie, and you can tell Michael was still all about storytelling, charm, and delivering an excellent choreographic performance.
6. Billie Jean (1983)
The sidewalk lighting up under his feet is one of the most iconic visuals ever. Cool, mysterious, and pure Michael, this video is simple but unforgettable.
5. Bad (1987)
A dramatic short film with sharp choreography and intense energy. Michael’s performance here is powerful and confident, marking a major shift in his artistic identity and making it the perfect emotional climax for the ending of Part 1 of the Michael movie.
4. Scream (1995)
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson together? Legendary. The messages regarding the feelings of immense pressure, invasion, and being pushed past your limit by the world around you come through in every moment, where the video becomes a space for both of them to finally push back. The futuristic black‑and‑white visuals (which still hold the record as the most expensive music video ever made), the attitude, the choreography, everything about this video feels expensive, innovative, and extremely ahead of its time.
3. Remember the Time (1992)
This is Michael at his most cinematic and joyful. The casting, which includes Magic Johnson, Eddie Murphy, and the stunningly beautiful Iman. The world‑building, the choreography, the storytelling, everything about this video feels like a celebration of Black excellence and creativity. It’s playful, romantic, and visually stunning, and it still feels fresh every time you rewatch it.
2. Smooth Criminal (1988)
Peak performer Michael. The suits, the lighting, the storytelling, the lean, the dance break, the choreography, everything about this video is perfection. It’s stylish, cinematic, and endlessly rewatchable.
1. Thriller (1983)
The blueprint. The cultural reset. The music video that changed everything. Thriller is still the gold standard for music video cinematic excellence, theatrical, iconic, and unforgettable.
No matter how you rank them, Michael Jackson completely redefined the visual landscape for what music videos could be. He turned visuals into iconic pop cultural events, choreography into storytelling, and pop music into something absolutely cinematic. And with the Michael movie breaking records this week, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit the phenomenal videos that shaped his legacy and, honestly, shaped pop culture itself.
Let us know which videos would make your Top 15, because everyone has their own list.
