The music video for Michael Jackson's iconic 1988 song "Smooth Criminal" has surpassed one billion views on YouTube.
"Smooth Criminal" marks Jackson's fifth music video to reach the milestone. "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "They Don't Care About Us" and "Thriller" are the King of Pop's other videos with more than one billion YouTube views.
"Smooth Criminal" was released on November 14, 1988, from the pop legend's seventh studio album, Bad. It was written by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. The lyrics describe a woman who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth criminal."
The music video for "Smooth Criminal" is the centerpiece of the 1988 film Moonwalker. The 1930s setting and Jackson's white suit and fedora pay tribute to the Fred Astaire musical comedy film The Band Wagon. In the video, Jackson and the dancers perform an apparently physically impossible "anti-gravity lean."
The video won Best Music Video at the 1989 Brit Awards. The Critic's Choice awarded Jackson the "Best Video" award and the People's Choice Awards for "Favorite Music Video" for that same year.
Described as one of Jackson's best songs," Smooth Criminal" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Entertainment News
December 26, 2025 08:42 ET Third quarter economic growth data from some major economies including the U.S. were the main news in this holiday shortened week. GDP growth and industrial production data from the U.S. helped to boost morale, while the consumer confidence survey results were less upbeat. In Europe, the quarterly economic growth data from the U.K. drew attention, while the minutes of the Australian central bank’s latest policy session was in focus in Asia.