John Landis on how Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” changed the media landscape

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video was inspired by John Landis’ movie An American Werewolf In London. Jackson, according to Landis, loved the visual effects from the film and wanted to turn into a monster onscreen. The resulting video ended up sparking change across the media landscape, breaking down MTV’s color barrier, reinvigorating the home video market, and sending shockwaves through the music industry. In the clip above, John Landis talks about how it all came together.