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Moonwalker

  • 1988
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Brandon Quintin Adams, and Kelley Parker in Moonwalker (1988)
Trailer for Moonwalker
Play trailer1:37
1 Video
99+ Photos
SuperheroSupernatural FantasyActionCrimeFantasyMusicThriller

Anthology movie by, and starring, Michael Jackson in his prime, combining a number of music videos from his bestselling "Bad" album with a fantasy tale of Michael's confrontation with a ruth... Read allAnthology movie by, and starring, Michael Jackson in his prime, combining a number of music videos from his bestselling "Bad" album with a fantasy tale of Michael's confrontation with a ruthless drug dealer known as Mr. Big.Anthology movie by, and starring, Michael Jackson in his prime, combining a number of music videos from his bestselling "Bad" album with a fantasy tale of Michael's confrontation with a ruthless drug dealer known as Mr. Big.

  • Directors
    • Jerry Kramer
    • Jim Blashfield
    • Colin Chilvers
  • Writers
    • Michael Jackson
    • David Newman
  • Stars
    • Michael Jackson
    • Joe Pesci
    • Sean Lennon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Jerry Kramer
      • Jim Blashfield
      • Colin Chilvers
    • Writers
      • Michael Jackson
      • David Newman
    • Stars
      • Michael Jackson
      • Joe Pesci
      • Sean Lennon
    • 114User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Moonwalker
    Trailer 1:37
    Moonwalker

    Photos118

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    + 113
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    • Michael
    Joe Pesci
    Joe Pesci
    • Mr. Big (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Sean Lennon
    Sean Lennon
    • Sean (segment "Smooth Criminal") (segment "Come Together")
    Kelley Parker
    Kelley Parker
    • Katie (segment "Smooth Criminal") (segment "Come Together")
    • (as Kellie Parker)
    Brandon Quintin Adams
    Brandon Quintin Adams
    • Zeke (segment "Smooth Criminal") (segment "Badder") (segment "Come Together")
    • (as Brandon Adams)
    Jeff Adkins
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    • (as Jeffry Adkins)
    Patrick Alan
    Patrick Alan
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Brenda Barrett
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Scott Benson
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Bonnie Beutler
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Lindell Blake
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Kim Blank
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Shelby Brown
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Geron Canidate
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Cindera Che
    Cindera Che
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Chris Coaley
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Gary Coburn
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    Raphael Douglas
    • Dancer (segment "Smooth Criminal")
    • Directors
      • Jerry Kramer
      • Jim Blashfield
      • Colin Chilvers
    • Writers
      • Michael Jackson
      • David Newman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews114

    6.119.1K
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    Featured reviews

    North Stars Fan

    different, to say the least

    I remember watching this movie back in 1988 and was really amazed at many of the dance sequences and special effects. The best part of the movie is when Michael Jackson is dancing with a rabbit named "Spike" and is given a ticket for dancing in a "no dancing" zone, as Spike mysteriously disappears. There is really no plot to this movie but that doesn't mean that it isn't good because it is. This movie is really the last appearance of Michael Jackson at his peak (before he got all weird that is) He peaked in 1988 and after that I never cared for anything else he did. He just got too weird for my tastes. The music in this movie is probably the best Michael Jackson has ever done. Like another poster pointed out, it was basically a really long music video for the album "Bad" as just about all the songs from the movie appear on that album. But it was really cool though. It's definately worth watching on a rainy day or if you have nothing else to do
    HAL9000-11

    Not a movie really, but worth taking a look

    It is very ridiculous that they have tried to force this flick into having a plot. I mean the bit in the middle with Joe Pesci as the bad guy, and Michael Jackson as the hero, is so absurd.

    But the collection of video clips, live performances, and montages is great ! good music for sure !

    I like the fact that in the F.X. shots, so many different techniques are used. Some look really unsophisticated. But others are just so great (even by today´s standards, remember this is a 16 year old movie)... i mean the sequence were M.J. turns himself into some kind of robot, and then into some sort of spaceship is breathtaking.

    I also like M.J.'s version of "come together" (Beatles original)
    daisyduke8000

    A REALLY, REALLY EXCELLENT MOVIE ( but only for MJ fans)

    I love this movie! But of course I am a Michael Jackson fan, so there you go. This film reminded me of the abstract films made by the Beatles in the '60's, only for MJ. It was excellent- the music, Michael, everything was great. Oh, yes, and in response to another persons review of this movie, MICHAEL DOES NOT URINATE DURING THE "COME TOGETHER" NUMBER. I don't know where he came up with this crazy idea, but I personally watched that sequence again, watching specifically for that, and does not do it. So, sir, you should not spread untrue rumors about Michael. Hasn't he been through enough? Sheesh. Anyhow, this is one special, great movie. So if you like Michael, or just want to watch something that may one day become a classic( like "Yellow Submarine" or "Help" for The Beatles), see it. You won't regret it.
    Victor Field

    A ninety-minute love letter to Michael Jackson, from Michael Jackson.

    It may seem hard to believe now, but back in the 1980s Michael Jackson didn't need to refer to himself as the King of Pop; we all KNEW he was, in part because his lifestyle and pecadillos hadn't yet started to overwhelm his music (back when his music was worth the effort of overwhelming). One of the offshoots of his amazing success was "Moonwalker," a movie basically designed to celebrate the awesomeness that is - or was - Michael Jackson, which was a massive cinematic Christmas gift for his fans in 1988 just about everywhere, except at home; Jackson's then-manager and one of the movie's executive producers Frank DiLeo demanded a massive share of the box office from its potential US distributor, and when they said no "Moonwalker" was released directly to video in the US.

    The trouble is, viewed as a movie this decision isn't hard to understand - "Moonwalker" isn't so much a movie as a collection of music videos, all varying in quality. The bits dealing with Michael's younger years are truly fun, and so are some of the special effects throughout (like Will Vinton's work in "Speed Demon"), but the centrepiece of the short film "Smooth Criminal" (pint-sized villain Joe Pesci, as "Lideo" [get it?], wants to get all the children in the world hooked on drugs, and guess who has to stop him? Clue: His name appears 45 times in the credits) doesn't work, in part because the story stops dead to allow for the "Smooth Criminal" video to be shown in its entirety.

    The movie's unending and unquestioning adoration of Michael Jackson gets its fullest flower there, although the video for "Leave Me Alone" (in which he basically exploits his life in song while at the same time telling us to go away, something he would later take even further in "Stop Questioning Me" and "Black or White," which set new standards for self-serving BS topped only by Geri Halliwell and Jennifer Lopez) comes close. Even at the time it seemed a bit much, and viewed today... well, remember how ill-timed the joke in "Addams Family Values" about a kid screaming at a poster of Michael Jackson was? The entire movie nowadays has that same feel magnified; plus it feels like a relic from another age.

    The shame of it all now is that it reminds you that MJ really was a wizard once upon a time, but it's all changed now.
    7furienna

    Probably not for the MJ bashers, no, but yes, it's great for us fans!

    Actually this movie has silly moments, both in the claymation part and in the Joe Pesci and children part, and it's much worse than other MJ movies like "The Wiz", "Captain Eo" and "Ghosts". But as a die hard Michael Jackson fan since almost eleven years, (Yeah, that's half my life, you guys!), I can't complain too much about it. Just seeing this lovely guy and hearing his wonderful music is a trip to Heaven for me. But as a movie, it's not good at all, and I'm afraid, that it would get a much lower grade for me, if my darling Mike hadn't been the one starring in it. But since no one but Mike IS the moonwalker, it has to get a 7 out of 10 from me.

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Jackson originally wanted the movie released in theaters in the United States, but budget problems forced him to make it a straight to video release. However, it was released in theaters internationally.
    • Goofs
      While Michael is performing "Come Together" his white shirt is ripped to his chest, then to his pants, then not ripped at all, then ripped to his pants, and so on throughout the whole performance.
    • Quotes

      Young Michael: What is he wearing?

      Agent: A Prince t-shirt and red sneakers.

      Young Michael: *Prince* t-shirt?

    • Alternate versions
      MTV and VH1 have shown this film many times, and although it isn't a long film they have cut it, specifically the "Smooth Criminal" segment (the showpiece of the film): The dance segment in Club 30's is heavily edited, as is the scene where the kids' dog is returned to them by Michael's manager (leaving one plot question unanswered!) The "Come Together" performance is also shorter. The more recent VH1 Rock and Roll Picture Show airings cut the film down even more, most noticably in the Retrospective sequence.
    • Connections
      Edited from Michael Jackson: Speed Demon (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      ABC
      Written by The Corporation

      Performed by The Jackson 5

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    FAQ19

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    • What are the differences between the European Blu-ray Version and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1988 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official YouTube
      • Warner Bros. (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Badder
    • Filming locations
      • Brownstone Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • MJJ Productions
      • Ultimate Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $22,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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