History Main / MichaelJacksonsThrillerParody

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'' has the band laying resurrected dead to rest with the song "Zombie Dance".

* ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'': Charlotte's LimitBreak as a Necromancer involves her summoning some zombies and mimicking the portion of the dance where both arms are raised while sticking out her tongue.
* ''VideoGame/Disgaea3'': in the opening animation that runs if you don't immediately but start, the main characters do a dance that is equal parts Thriller and Hare Hare Yukai.

* The Dancing Zombie in ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' was originally based on Michael Jackson, though an update after the singer's death replaced him with a disco dancer with a FunnyAfro.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Breadwinners}}'' HalloweenEpisode "Bread of the Living Dead" not surprisingly had Sway Sway and Bruduce doing this when they used the Zombie Loaf bread to keep zombies at bay and realize they follow their every movement while holding it, leading into the dance number, "Shake Your Zombie Booty!".
* An episode of ''[[Series/ElChavoDelOcho El Chavo Animado]]'' has El Chavo having an ImagineSpot of Don Ramón raising from a tomb as a zombie, doing the Thriller dance (with some appropiate music as well).

[[caption-width-right:350:"You close your eyes / And hope that this is just an imitation"[[note]]Top to bottom: ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'', Anime/SuperSonico, the [[UsefulNotes/TheOtherwoods Tollywood]] movie ''Donga'' (specifically the "[[MemeticMutation Golimar]]" number)[[/note]]]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"You close your eyes / And hope that this is just imitation"[[note]]Top to bottom: ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'', Anime/SuperSonico, the Telegu film ''Donga''[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"You close your eyes / And hope that this is just imitation"[[note]]Top to bottom: ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'', Anime/SuperSonico, the Telegu film ''Donga''[[/note]]

* The Indian Telegu film ''Donga'' (1985). [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDKcevMFUCo A character dances with zombies, also dressed in a "Thriller" jacket (along with the yellow eyes and teeth from the coda), singing a song with a very similar tune.]] It became an Internet meme in the 2000s.

[[quoteright:330:[[Music/{{Thriller}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jacko.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:''"You close your eyes/ and hope that this is just imitation!"'' ]]

* In the German comedy ''Otto-Der Film'' (1985) the zombie dance is spoofed with lookalikes of the German folksinger Heino, adapting the song's tune to the lyrics of his song "Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss".

--> Your body starts to [[PainfulRhyme spasmus]]

* At ''Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} Operation Big Freeze'', March 12, 2011, there was a six-man tag with Wrestling/TheOsirianPortal (Amasis[=/=]Ophidian[=/=]Hieracon [Jonathan Gresham]) vs. The Dark Army (Sinn Bodhi[=/=][[Wrestling/TheBatiri Obariyon[=/=]Kodama]]). The Portal did their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBHC_DF1hTY hypnosis routine]], and the song started, with The Dark Army imitating the zombies and chasing the Portal around the ring. Finally, everyone got back in the ring and did the dance.

Music/MichaelJackson's elaborate MusicVideo for "Music/{{Thriller}}" debuted to much hype in 1983 and was an instant smash hit. As the most famous single video of all time, it's become a StockParody, usually referencing the "[[TheDeadCanDance zombie dance]]" performed by Michael and a troupe of ghouls and/or the closing OrWasItADream shot of Michael with evil yellow eyes. The red leather jacket Jackson wore in the video is also likely to turn up in such spoofs.

* At ''Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} Operation Big Freeze'', March 12, 2011, there was a six-man tag with Wrestling/TheOsirianPortal (Amasis[=/=]Ophidian[=/=]Hieracon [Jonathan Gresham]) vs. The Dark Army (Sinn Bodhi[=/=]Obariyon[=/=]Kodama). The Portal did their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBHC_DF1hTY hypnosis routine]], and the song started, with The Dark Army imitating the zombies and chasing the Portal around the ring. Finally, everyone got back in the ring and did the dance.

* At ''Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} Operation Big Freeze'', March 12, 2011, there was a six-man tag with The Osirian Portal (Amasis[=/=]Ophidian[=/=]Hieracon [Jonathan Gresham]) vs. The Dark Army (Sinn Bodhi[=/=]Obariyon[=/=]Kodama). The Portal did their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBHC_DF1hTY hypnosis routine]], and the song started, with The Dark Army imitating the zombies and chasing the Portal around the ring. Finally, everyone got back in the ring and did the dance.

* In the 1980s a porn parody was made of this music video called "Driller: A Sexual Thriller". It features a Michael look-a-like, but otherwise it was very little to do with the original. WebVideo/TheCinemaSnob reviewed it in one of his episodes.

* Naturally part of ''Music/AlienAntFarm's'' tribute cover of ''Smooth Criminal'' which among other Michael Jackson homages include some men partially doing the zombie moves and the end of the video, one of them showing off the spooky eyes.

* Done in an episode of ''[[WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012 Littlest Pet Shop]]'' when werewolf paranoia grips the pet day camp.