Appearances in Other Media
Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, particularly the songs dance routine in the video, have been referenced in television series and films. The dance routine was mimicked in many films, including Donga (1985), Coming to America (1988), The Malibu Beach Vampires (1991), The zombie gorillas did a dance routine in the video Clint Eastwood (song) by Gorillaz. Dead & Breakfast (2004), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Bo! in the USA (2006), I Am Zombie Man (2007) and Si j'étais toi (2007) and in an episode of television show, Alvin & the Chipmunks. The song is briefly featured in film Doogal (2006) and the songs lyrics were sung by the characters in an episode, entitled "Soultaker" on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. Rihanna did the dance routine in her video "Disturbia".
A prison in Cebu, Philippines became famous after releasing a YouTube video where its inmates reenacted and performed the "Thriller" dance.
In 1997, South Park had an episode, "Pinkeye", which parodies the song and the video
The Chemical Brothers said in 2002 that if their song "My Elastic Eye" is played on large speakers, the bass would resemble “Thriller.” Scottish band Tigerstyle released a bhangra remix of "Thriller" to which dance act Signature danced to it in their semi-final performance in the second series of Britain's Got Talent in May 2008.
In 2011, the cast of American musical TV series Glee performed "Thriller" as a mash up with "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs in episode "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle".
Pop singer Britney Spears made a reference to "Thriller" in her music video for "I Wanna Go" (2011). In the ending of her video actor Guillermo Díaz leads Spears out of the room. He then turns to the camera with glowing red eyes and his laugh is heard, similar to Vincent Price. In the Halloween episode of Timberwolf High, Jimmy starts doing the "Thriller" dance with Tracy during the song from the mix up with the square dance from Hillbilly Hare and "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO.
The video has been spoofed on Thriller Night, a 6-minute short film parody of "Thriller", directed by Gary Trousdale and featuring the characters of the Shrek film series. It released on September 13, 2011, on the Scared Shrekless DVD. It has also been spoofed on YouTube web series Annoying Orange by the titular character, in the episode "Chiller".
PopCap's game Plants vs Zombies features a Michael Jackson zombie, in which he stops and zombies pop out of the ground and they do the dance moves to "Thriller". The zombie's sprite was later replaced with a disco zombie at the request of Jackson's estate.
Read more about this topic: Thriller (song)
Famous quotes containing the words appearances and/or media:
“What I often forget about students, especially undergraduates, is that surface appearances are misleading. Most of them are at base as conventional as Presbyterian deacons.”
—Muriel Beadle (b. 1915)
“Few white citizens are acquainted with blacks other than those projected by the media and the so—called educational system, which is nothing more than a system of rewards and punishments based upon one’s ability to pledge loyalty oaths to Anglo culture. The media and the “educational system” are the prime sources of racism in the United States.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)