Movies
‘Thriller 40’ – Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Documentary to Debut Next Month
A new documentary, Thriller 40, arrives to celebrate Michael Jackson‘s Thriller four decades after its landmark release. The doc will examine the groundbreaking album, including the iconic music video for “Thriller,” a Halloween staple.
Thriller 40 debuts December 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Showtime and will stream on Paramount+ (for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers).
The film “takes fans back in time to the making of the record-breaking album and release of revolutionary short films that redefined the music video format and captivated audiences globally,” the official press release teased previously. “’Billie Jean’ remains the most streamed Michael Jackson song and ‘Thriller’ is the only music video that has been inducted onto the elite National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.”
The upcoming documentary will feature “never-before-seen footage and candid interviews,” chronicling “the point in Jackson’s career that launched the singer into mega-stardom and created a pop culture phenomenon that is woven through the culture and continues to influence the worlds of music, television, dance, fashion and more to this day.”
Mary J. Blige, will.i.am, Mark Ronson, Misty Copeland, Maxwell, Usher, and “Thriller” music video director John Landis and more are all interviewed for the documentary, which also includes never-before-seen footage behind the making of the classic.
“The release of Thriller redefined Michael Jackson, taking him from teen star to adult superstar, who composed memorable songs, sang beautifully and reached the highest level of on-stage performance,” director Nelson George said in a statement. “The album, and the short films they inspired, created a new template for marrying music and image. It’s been a privilege to explore this extraordinary album and revisit its magic.”
The “Thriller” music video will of course be a central focus in the documentary. The video was directed by John Landis and featured an iconic spoken-word sequence from Vincent Price.
Watch the trailer below ahead of Thriller 40‘s debut on Showtime and Paramount+ on December 2.
A heist turns nightmarish for Lizzy Caplan (Cobweb) in the offbeat comedy thriller Drag, and the SXSW darling now has an official release date.
Briarcliff Entertainment will release Drag in theaters on January 29, 2027.
The thriller follows “two estranged sisters who attempt to rob a secluded home in rural upstate New York. What begins as a simple burglary spirals into a nightmarish ordeal after one sister throws out her back and becomes immobilized on the second floor. As tensions rise and panic sets in, the sisters are forced into a painful and increasingly absurd fight for survival before the homeowner returns.”
It’s described as “Equal parts thriller and physical comedy,” which “explores sibling rivalry, physical pain, and the uniquely chaotic bonds of family.”
Lucy DeVito (“Little Demon”), John Stamos (“Full House”), and Christine Ko (“Dave”) also star.
The release announcement comes with a new look at Drag, introducing the estranged sisters caught in a heist nightmare.
Drag is co-written and co-directed by Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer, marking their feature debut.
The film is produced by Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, and Jake DeVito through Jersey Films 2nd Avenue.
Briarcliff CEO Tom Ortenberg called Drag “a brilliantly original film that’s suspenseful, hilarious, and completely unpredictable. The cast led by Lizzy, Lucy, John, and Christine are the magic that makes the concept work. Audiences are in for a huge treat.”
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