Over the course of his incredibly iconic career, Michael Jackson completely revolutionized the way music videos were made, forever transforming the industry as a whole. The King of Pop was known for changing the game in a variety of different ways, but there's no denying that his contribution to music videos is his most memorable. Jackson was so intent on the storytelling he did in his music videos that he referred to them solely as "short films", because he insisted that it was the only term suitable for his elaborate creations.

To narrow Jackson's music videos to just his top 10 is an incredibly difficult feat, but there are a variety of factors that go into this ranking. The best short films will have a healthy mixture of solid storytelling, inventive choreography, and a large cultural impact. Jackson was a prolific creator when it came to short films, but his best will adhere to those guidelines and even more. From the start of his solo career to the end, here are Jackson's 10 best music videos/short films, ranked.

10 Billie Jean

Thriller (1982)

When discussing Jackson's music videos, it's impossible not to mention "Billie Jean", the first defining short film of Jackson's entire career. This was when Jackson truly began to shift from what he had done before, catching the attention of people across the world before he began a historical run with Thriller's other short films. The glowing steps he takes, the loafers, the jacket, and the red bow tie have all become iconic images that would go on to stick with the world forever.

While this video falls short of where many of his other short films thrive in of its overall storytelling, the influence of this video simply cannot be overstated. It opened the door for the way Jackson would continue to reinvent the music video industry, constantly pushing the envelope and broadening the scope of what he could and would do to bring his songs to life. Since it all started with "Billie Jean", and is no doubt one of his most recognizable short films, it certainly deserves a place here in the top 10.

9 They Don't Care

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)

"They Don't Care " may not be one of Jackson's most recognizable videos, but it's undoubtedly one of his most important. The topic of the song alone proves its worth and its relevancy, even today, covering the injustices found in society - especially regarding the treatment of Black people and other minorities. Jackson had two different visions for his "They Don't Care " visuals that both tell this important story: one filmed in Brazil, and one in a prison setting. The latter was so controversial that it was even banned from airing in the US.

The prison version of "They Don't Care " is even age-restricted on YouTube, though it can still be watched directly on Michael Jackson's official channel.

The behind-the-scenes background and symbolism of both these short films for "They Don't Care " is what makes them as good and important as they are. Both directed by Spike Lee, the Brazil version is filmed in the spirit of reclaiming what once belonged to mistreated individuals, and the prison version calls out the corruption amongst the US government and the police. Jackson creating both these short films with a platform as massive as his for such important and relevant topics undoubtedly earns them a place on this list, even if other videos still sur it.

8 The Way You Make Me Feel

Bad (1987)

Bad is perhaps one of Jackson's most visual albums, in that he produced a short film for nearly every single song. Of all these music videos, however, "The Way You Make Me Feel" is easily one of the most iconic and memorable, having woven its way into the fabric of our culture. Jackson takes his listeners to the city streets as he tries his hand at wooing someone who's caught his eye - but not just in any traditional way. His character goes to lengths to truly prove to her how he feels about her, mainly through some incredibly iconic choreography.

From that memorable dance break to the outfit he wears, so many aspects of the short film for "The Way You Make Me Feel" continue to be revisited and recreated to this day. Even the way Jackson carried this over into his live shows, wearing the same outfit and recreating the scenes onstage, breathed more life into the video itself. It's easy to see just how influential this particular short film was on the music industry, and where its overall story may fall short, that cultural impact and its choreography certainly step in to elevate this as Jackson's 8th best.

7 Beat It

Thriller (1982)

Following in the same vein as "The Way You Make Me Feel" is "Beat It", which is inarguably one of Jackson's most iconic music videos he ever made. "Beat It" was one of the first short films Jackson made with a solid story, having moved on from videos where he simply sang and danced, such as those seen during his Off the Wall era. Between his outfit with the iconic red-orange jacket and the choreography at the end of the short film, there's no shortage of memorable and culturally important moments in this video.

What makes this one so significant, however, is its behind-the-scenes importance. As a song that warns about the dangers of gang violence, Jackson made the decision to recruit actual rival gang to play extras in the background of the video. He, in accordance with his team, approached the LAPD and was able to make it happen, which speaks even more strongly to the message of the song and thus the storytelling of the short film as a whole. Although Jackson's other videos may eclipse this particular one, it still deserves a place here on this list.

6 You Rock My World

Invincible (2001)

Though perhaps still, in a way, quite underrated by the public as a whole, "You Rock My World" was Jackson's last massive short film before his ing in 2009. The only major music video he created for his Invincible album, "You Rock My World" utilizes the in-depth storytelling that Jackson mastered with short films like "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal." Taking inspiration both from himself and from others, Jackson tells a story about taking the risk to be with a woman he loves, despite her - and his own - dangerous ties.

Starring alongside Jackson in "You Rock My World" is Chris Tucker, which only further proves just how iconic this particular short film is. Jackson elevates his production level with the sets, dialogue, special effects, and more, with the final act portraying a massive fire after an incredibly intense dance battle. Although it's a shame we never got to see Jackson create more short films after this one, it's a huge note for his career to have ended on. It may not be as culturally impactful as his past music videos, but it more than earns its spot on this list.

5 The Time

Dangerous (1992)

Starting off the top 5 of Jackson's short films is " The Time", one of Jackson's most cinematic contributions from his Dangerous album. This music video has an absolutely stacked cast, including Eddie Murphy, Iman, and even Magic Johnson, all of whom bring an additional charm to the story Jackson tells. Taking his audience back to the ancient days of Egypt, Jackson's percussive beat on this song perfectly fits the setting, truly whisking his viewers away to a moment in the past - much like Jackson attempts to do to the subject of his song.

The costuming, choreography, and story are all immensely memorable in today's world, and they were nothing short of revolutionary at the time. Jackson's character managing to "rizz up" the pharaoh's wife right in front of him is absolutely hilarious, but it all comes together perfectly throughout the short film. Jackson was always trying new things with his music videos, and this one, with its historical setting, was no exception. It's easily one of his best and his most iconic, earning a place within the top 5.

4 Bad

Bad (1987)

Learning from the huge success of "Thriller" and its short film approach, Jackson was yet again ready to create a full-on story with his music video for the title track of his Bad album. While most audiences may be familiar mainly with the section of this short film that takes place inside a New York City subway station, the first part of it provides a backstory for Jackson's character, all of which is based upon a true story. Jackson's character, Darryl, is a student returning home for break, where he has to face his old group of badly-influential friends.

The iconic section of the "Bad" short film, in which Jackson breaks out into song and dance in the subway station wearing leather, buckles, and endless zippers, is Darryl imagining himself standing up to these friends, who have been trying to influence him to do things such as participate in drug deals and rob people for money. By the end of it all, the stand he makes for himself ends up getting through to his old friends, who ultimately leave him alone. It's a powerful story, interlaced with some of Jackson's most iconic costuming, choreography, and overall visuals.

3 Michael Jackson's Ghosts

Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)

At several points in his career, most notably during his Bad and HIStory eras, Jackson elevated his "short film" goals into longer-form films, beginning with 1988's Moonwalker - a film that starred Joe Pesci and Sean Ono Lennon. Jackson would go on to take the lessons he learned from that story to create Michael Jackson's Ghosts, a 40-minute film that Stephen King contributed to on the writing front. It was based on his song "Ghosts", which was released on the 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix.

Jackson plays two key characters in this story: Maestro, a ghoul who lives in a manor within a small town, and the town's mayor. The latter is evidently set up as the antagonist, with Maestro instead being a misunderstood entertainer who uses his supernatural abilities to enhance his performance. Every aspect of this film elevates the core elements of Jackson's music video standards: acting, storytelling, choreography, set design, special effects, and more. Only its semi-lacking cultural impact, with it not being as well known outside of Jackson's fan base, keeps it outside the top 2.

2 Smooth Criminal

Bad (1987)

Originally created as a part of the aforementioned Moonwalker film, the short film for "Smooth Criminal" is one of the most iconic visuals to ever be created. Much of the imagery from this music video continues to be used, referenced, and associated directly with Jackson to this very day. From the sharp white suit and fedora to the iconic lean, "Smooth Criminal" is woven into the very fabric of society, and it always will be. Even better is the fact that it accomplishes this with a healthy mixture of factors, making it extremely compelling.

Even as a part of a bigger story, "Smooth Criminal" can still function as a standalone. Jackson steps into the 30s-style club while on the run, both dealing and avoiding blows through dance as he, in a way, becomes the titular subject of his own song. For a song that surprisingly never even managed to go #1 in the United States, "Smooth Criminal" has undoubtedly become a hallmark of Jackson's career, and of the music video industry as a whole. Only one other short film manages to even come close to suring this one.

1 Thriller

Thriller (1982)

There is simply no beating Jackson's "Thriller", easily the most iconic music video and short film of all time. This was the first time Jackson truly told a longer-form story in his own music video, doing so in a fascinating number of layers that no other artist had ever attempted to tackle at the time. From the werewolf transformation to the zombie dance, there was no shortage of innovation in this short film that made it an absolute pinnacle of the craft. Music videos would never be the same after this, and everyone knew it.

Music videos would never be the same after this, and everyone knew it.

"Thriller" has since become a song that comes back around every year for Halloween, and that heavy association between the song and that holiday all stems from this short film alone. Every single part of it is immensely recognizable, from his outfit to the meme of him eating his popcorn in the theater. There are so many different ways in which "Thriller" continues to inspire and become more and more relevant in our culture today, which is derived from its incredible storytelling, choreography, and more. Michael Jackson continued to improve the craft after this, but "Thriller" will always be his best.