Thriller 25

Lore & Background

The prospect of a 'second chapter' to Thriller was first publicly discussed on Access Hollywood in late 2006, when Jackson said he would discuss the idea with collaborator will.i.am. The album was released in Australia on February 8, 2008, internationally on February 11, 2008, and in the United States on February 12, 2008. To promote the album, Jackson's website was recreated and accounts on MySpace and Facebook were set up. A SoBe advertisement aired during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, to over 95 million viewers, and again at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008.

Thriller 25 debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums chart and in nine other countries. It sold three million copies worldwide by Jackson's death in June 2009. The album received critical acclaim, though reviewers generally found the new material less compelling than the original album. Two singles, 'The Girl Is Mine 2008' and 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008', were released to moderate success, and other remixes charted despite no physical release.

Reader's Guide

Thriller 25 stands as a significant commercial and cultural artifact, reaffirming the enduring popularity of the original album while introducing it to a new generation. The reissue's success—becoming the best-selling catalog album in the US of 2008—demonstrated the lasting market power of Jackson's work. Its release marked one of Jackson's final major projects, with the singer co-producing all newly remixed tracks. The album's critical reception highlighted the timeless quality of the original songs, even as the new collaborations were seen as less inspired. The reissue also showcased early digital-era promotion, including social media accounts and a Super Bowl advertisement. By selling three million copies worldwide within a year and a half, Thriller 25 proved that the original album's cultural footprint remained immense, bridging the gap between Jackson's 1980s peak and his posthumous legacy.