Movies Like Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983)

Making Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 1983 documentary, music film from Jerry Kramer with a MovieMagicScore of 8.9/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Greatest Night in Pop and Quincy.

Documentary Music

The Greatest Night in Pop

2024

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

7.9

MagicScore

Quincy

2018

An intimate look into the life of icon Quincy Jones. A unique force in music and popular culture for 70 years, Jones has transcended racial and cultural boundaries; his story is inextricably woven into the fabric of America. Jones came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before working on pop music and film scores. He moved easily between musical genres, producing major pop hits of the early 1960s and serving as an arranger and conductor for several collaborations in the same time period.

7.3

MagicScore

Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me

2003

As the entertainment industry's biggest tabloid draw, Jennifer Lopez has had successful careers in multiple fields. Here, Lopez showcases her career as a pop singer with every one of her music videos to date -- from her debut, "If You Had My Love," to her latest release, "Baby I Love You." J. Lo also enhances the collection by providing personal commentary to each video, including how the ideas came to light and which videos she likes best.

8.8

MagicScore

Supersonic

2016

Supersonic charts the meteoric rise of Oasis from the council estates of Manchester to some of the biggest concerts of all time in just three short years. This palpable, raw and moving film shines a light on one of the most genre and generation-defining British bands that has ever existed and features candid new interviews with Noel and Liam Gallagher, their mother, and members of the band and road crew.

7.4

MagicScore

Dolly Parton: Here I Am

2019

Dolly Parton leads a moving, musical journey in this documentary that details the people and places who have helped shape her iconic career.

7.4

MagicScore

Milli Vanilli

2023

The story of Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, who became fast friends during their youth in Germany. With Rob coming from a broken home and Fabrice having left an abusive household, they shared a similar upbringing, as well as a future goal: to become famous superstars. In a few short years, their dreams came true. Rob and Fab, better known as Milli Vanilli, became the world's most popular pop duo in 1990 and won the GRAMMY for Best New Artist. However, their ascension to success came with a devastating price that ultimately led to their infamous undoing.

7.2

MagicScore

Daft Punk Unchained

2015

Daft Punk Unchained is the first film about the pop culture phenomenon that is Daft Punk, the duo with 12 million albums sold worldwide and seven Grammy Awards. Throughout their career Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo have always resisted compromise and the established codes of show business. They have remained determined to maintain control of every link in the chain of their creative process. In the era of globalisation and social networks, they rarely speak in public and neither do they show their faces on TV. This documentary explores this unprecedented cultural revolution revealing a duo of artists on a permanent quest for creativity, independence and freedom.

7.2

MagicScore

Audition

1964

Two closely related episodes. Youths make problems for two local orchestras about to compete nationally, and in a talent competition a young girl gets stage fright, while another lies to her boss to compete.

6.4

MagicScore

P!nk: All I Know So Far

2021

A behind-the-scenes look at P!NK as she balances family and life on the road, leading up to her first Wembley Stadium performance on 2019's "Beautiful Trauma" world tour.

7.7

MagicScore

#10

Nothing Compares

2022

Since the beginning of her career, Sinéad O’Connor has used her powerful voice to challenge the narratives she was surrounded by while growing up in predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland. Despite her agency, depth and perspective, O’Connor’s unflinching refusal to conform means that she has often been patronized and unfairly dismissed as an attention-seeking pop star.

7.6

MagicScore

#11

Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender

2012

Archive footage of interviews, concerts and personal material bring to light the solo performance work of Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

7.3

MagicScore

#12

We Are X

2016

As glam rock's most flamboyant survivors, X Japan ignited a musical revolution in Japan during the late '80s with their melodic metal. Twenty years after their tragic dissolution, X Japan’s leader, Yoshiki, battles with physical and spiritual demons alongside prejudices of the West to bring their music to the world.

7.1

MagicScore

#13

David Crosby: Remember My Name

2019

You thought you knew him. Meet David Crosby now in this portrait of a man with everything but an easy retirement on his mind. With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, Crosby shares his often challenging journey.

7.0

MagicScore

#14

Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall

2016

Director Spike Lee chronicles Michael Jackson's early rise to fame.

7.0

MagicScore

#15

Howard

2018

Though legendary lyricist Howard Ashman died far too young, his impact on Broadway, movies, and the culture at large were incalculable. Told entirely through rare archival footage and interviews with Ashman’s family, friends, associates, and longtime partner Bill Lauch, Howard is an intimate tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent and a rousing celebration of musical storytelling itself.

6.8

MagicScore

#16

Atlantis

1991

Atmospheric soundtrack follows this compilation of nature footage that focuses on the ocean and various life forms that live, mate and die in it.

6.3

MagicScore

#17

Michael

2026

The story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music. His journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.

8.6

MagicScore

#18

Mägo de Oz - Diabulus In Opera

2017

Diabulus in Opera is the fifth live album and fourth live DVD by the band Mägo de Oz, the concert was recorded on May 6, 2017 at the Arena Ciudad de México in collaboration with the Mexico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the director of orchestra José Luis López Antón, originally the direction of the orchestra would be in charge of the soprano Pilar Jurado.

8.4

MagicScore

#19

Adele: Live in New York City 2015

2015

Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Adele performs a special one-night only concert in New York at Radio City Music Hall. This extraordinary performance marked the artist's first concert in the U.S. since fall 2011 and her largest show in New York to date.

8.3

MagicScore

#20

Coco

2017

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

8.2

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Making Michael Jackson's Thriller?

The top films similar to Making Michael Jackson's Thriller by MovieMagicScore are The Greatest Night in Pop (7.9), Quincy (7.3), Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me (8.8). Each shares documentary/music themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Making Michael Jackson's Thriller worth watching?

Making Michael Jackson's Thriller holds a MovieMagicScore of 8.9/10 from 25 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Making Michael Jackson's Thriller?

Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983) is a documentary, music film directed by Jerry Kramer, starring Michael Jackson, John Landis, Rick Baker.

Where can I find more recommendations like Making Michael Jackson's Thriller?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more documentary recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like The Greatest Night in Pop Movies like Quincy Movies like Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me Movies like Supersonic Movies like Dolly Parton: Here I Am Movies like Milli Vanilli

About movies like Making Michael Jackson's Thriller

This ranked list pairs Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983), a documentary and music film from Jerry Kramer, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Michael Jackson take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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