Moonwalker (1988)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A sprawling musical anthology that explores the influence of fandom through a collection of short films and music videos.
The story
Moonwalker is an anthology musical film that explores the influence of fandom and innocence through a collection of short films about Michael Jackson. Rather than a single continuous narrative, the film features several segments, including long-form music videos from his 1987 album Bad. These segments are connected by an underlying narrative representing different stages in Jackson's career and his perspective on how fans idolized him. The collection includes a live performance of "Man in the Mirror," a biographical film, a parody of the "Bad" music video, and a surreal animated piece titled "Leave Me Alone." The final major segment, "Smooth Criminal," follows three children and Jackson through a series of high-stakes encounters in a city setting.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film is structured as a series of segments. 'Man in the Mirror' features a live performance and a montage of historical figures. 'Retrospective' is a 10-minute biography of Jackson's career. 'Badder' is a parody of the 'Bad' music video featuring children. 'Speed Demon' involves a Claymation-infused chase where Jackson, disguised as a rabbit, flees fans and transforms into various celebrities and objects. 'Leave Me Alone' is an animated piece mocking tabloid sensationalism. The centerpiece, 'Smooth Criminal,' follows three children (Sean, Katie, and Zeke) who find themselves in a city where they encounter a drug-dealing mobster named Mr. Big. During a series of transformations—including a car, a robot, and a spaceship—Jackson ultimately defeats Mr. Big and rescues the children. The film concludes with 'Come Together,' where the children and Jackson perform together on a concert stage. The credits include a performance by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and a montage of 'Smooth Criminal' footage.
- First release year
- 1988
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jerry Kramer
- Writers
- David Newman · screenplay; Michael Jackson · story
- Cast and characters
- Michael Jackson · himself; Joe Pesci · Frankie "Mr. Big" Lideo; Kellie Parker · Katie; Sean Lennon · Sean; Brandon Quintin Adams · Zeke / "Smooth Criminal" / "Baby Bad" / Michael "Bader"; Clancy Brown · Policeman; Ladysmith Black Mambazo · themselves; Jermaine La Jaune Jackson Jr. · himself; TJ Jackson · himself; Taryll Jackson · himself; Nikki Cox · herself; The Boys · themselves
- Genres
- musical; anthology; fantasy; parody; superhero; adventure
- Themes
- fandom; innocence; media sensationalism
- Tone and mood
- surreal; musical; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- anthology; musical; sci-fi; Claymation
- Source material / true-story basis
- Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews. Critics praised the music but criticized the lack of a cohesive plot, describing it as a collection of music videos with little linkage.
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy · Best Music Video, Short Form · 1990 · win; Cannes Gold Lion · Best Special Effects · win
- Production trivia
- The 'Leave Me Alone' segment was released as a separate entity and won a Grammy.; The film was adapted into a comic book in 1989 by Blackthorne Publishing.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…