Editing Moonwalker

{{Short description|1988 film by Jim Blashfield, Jerry Kramer and Will Vinton}}
{{About||the related video games|Michael Jackson's Moonwalker|other uses|Moonwalk (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish||Moonraker (film)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Moonwalker
| image          = Smoothcriminal7.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[Bill Gold]]
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* Jerry Kramer
* '''"Smooth Criminal":'''
* [[Colin Chilvers]]
* '''"Leave Me Alone":'''
* [[Jim Blashfield]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* '''"Smooth Criminal":'''
* [[David Newman (filmmaker)|David Newman]]
}}
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* '''"Smooth Criminal":'''
* [[Michael Jackson]]
}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Dennis E. Jones
* Jerry Kramer
* [[Frank DiLeo]]
* Michael Jackson
* '''"Speed Demon":'''
* [[Will Vinton]]
* '''"Leave Me Alone":'''
* Jim Blashfield
* Paul Diener
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* Michael Jackson
* [[Sean Lennon]]
* Kellie Parker
* [[Brandon Adams (actor)|Brandon Quintin Adams]]
* [[Joe Pesci]]
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* [[John Hora]]
* [[Thomas E. Ackerman]]
* Robert E. Collins
* [[Frederick Elmes]]
* Crescenzo G.P. Notarile
}}
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* Dale Beldin
* David E. Blewitt
* Mitchell Sinoway
}}
| music          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bruce Broughton]] (score)
* Michael Jackson (songs)
}}
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lorimar Motion Pictures]]
* MJJ Productions
* Ultimate Productions
* [[Will Vinton Productions]] {{small|(''"Speed Demon"'')}}
}}
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]
| released       = {{Film date|1988|10|29}}
| runtime        = 93 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 92:33--><ref>{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/moonwalker-1970-1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320145139/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/moonwalker-1970-1 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 20, 2017 | title=''MOONWALKER'' (PG) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=November 4, 1988 | access-date=January 16, 2016}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $22 million
| gross          = $67 million<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thatgrapejuice.net/entertainment/2018/07/retro-rewind-michael-jacksons-moonwalker |title=Retro Rewind: Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalker' |date=July 7, 2018 |publisher=That Grape Juice |access-date=October 19, 2018}}</ref>
}}
'''''Moonwalker''''' is a 1988 American [[experimental film|experimental]] [[anthology film|anthology]] [[musical film]] starring [[Michael Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/making-moonwalker-michael-jacksons-oddball-cinematic-folly-tells/ | title=The making of Moonwalker: What Michael Jackson's oddball cinematic folly tells us about his mind | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=November 2018 | last1=Fordy | first1=Tom }}</ref> Rather than featuring one continuous narrative, the film expresses the influence of fandom and innocence through a collection of [[short film]]s about Jackson, several of which are long-form [[music video]]s from Jackson's 1987 album ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dennis Hunt|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-10-ca-310-story.html|title=VIDEO REVIEW : 'Moonwalker': A Stroll Through a Super Ego|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 10, 1989|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> The film is named after the dance technique known as the [[Moonwalk (dance)|moonwalk]], which Jackson was known for performing.<ref>{{cite book|author=Elizabeth Amisu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S6PiDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA160|title=The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|date=September 26, 2016|isbn = 9781440838651|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>

The film was released theatrically in [[Europe]] and [[South America]], but [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] canceled plans for a Christmas 1988 theatrical release in the [[United States]]. ''Moonwalker'' was released on VHS, and remained #1 on ''Billboard'''s Video Chart for 22 weeks. ''Moonwalker'' also spent 14 weeks at #1 on Billboards Top Video- Cassette sales chart<ref name="Michael Jackson the Solo Years">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yb_ghov9uEMC&dq=michael+jackson+moonwalker+box+office&pg=PA92 | title=Michael Jackson the Solo Years | isbn=9780755200917 | last1=Halstead | first1=Craig | last2=Cadman | first2=Chris | date=2003 | publisher=Authors On Line }}</ref> In 1989, ''Moonwalker'' was honoured with a certification of 800,000 copies sold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).<ref name="Gold & Platinum - RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=MICHAEL+JACKSON&ti=MOONWALKER|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref> Moonwalker has been certified 9 x Platinum in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Album cover">[https://www.bpi.co.uk/media/1154/default-album-single.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=539&rnd=131483860940000000 Album cover]</ref>

The "Leave Me Alone" video aired as a separate entity and won a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] in 1990 for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Music Video, Short Form]], which is the only Grammy Award Jackson received for the album ''Bad''. "Leave Me Alone" video also won the Cannes Gold Lion Award for Best Special Effects.<ref name="MUSIC VIDEOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.blashfieldstudio.com/musicvideos.html|title=MUSIC VIDEOS|website=blashfieldstudio.com}}</ref>

==Summary==
The film's segments are connected by an underlying but overall narrative meant to represent the different stages in Jackson's career and were based on his own view of how his fans idolized him rather than listening to the messages he wanted to say with his music.

==="Man in the Mirror"===
The first segment of Moonwalker is a live performance of "[[Man in the Mirror]]" during his [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]] in Europe and America. Clips from [[Met Center]] in [[Minneapolis]] among others can be seen. It also features a montage of clips of children in [[Africa]], [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], [[Mother Teresa]], [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Desmond Tutu]], [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], kids in [[graduation]], and other historical figures.

==="Retrospective"===
The second segment is a 10-minute [[biographical film]] about Jackson, covering the early years from [[the Jackson 5]] until the [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]].

The songs in order of appearance are:<br>1. "[[Music and Me (Michael Jackson song)|Music and Me]]"<br>2. "[[I Want You Back]]"<br>3. "[[ABC (The Jackson 5 song)|ABC]]"<br>4. "[[The Love You Save]]"<br>5. "2-4-6-8"<br>6. "[[Who's Lovin' You]]"<br>7. "[[Ben (song)|Ben]]"<br>8. "[[Dancing Machine]]"<br>9. "[[Blame It on the Boogie]]"<br>10. "[[Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)]]"<br>11. "[[Rock with You]]"<br>12. "[[Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough]]"<br>13. "[[Can You Feel It (The Jacksons song)|Can You Feel It]]"<br>14. "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]"<br>15. "[[Beat It]]"<br>16. "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]"<br>17. "[[Billie Jean]]"<br>18. "[[State of Shock (song)|State of Shock]]"<br>19. "[[We Are the World]]"<br>20. "[[The Way You Make Me Feel]]"<br>21. "[[Dirty Diana]]"

==="Badder"===
The third segment is a parody of the music video for [[Bad (Michael Jackson song)|''Bad''{{'}}s title song]], featuring children filling the roles of various people from the original clip. The video stars [[Brandon Adams (actor)|Brandon Quintin Adams]] (who also appears in the "Smooth Criminal" segment) as the young Michael Jackson. It also featured three of Michael's nephews Jermaine La Jaune Jackson, Jr. along with [[Jackson family|TJ and Taryll Jackson]] and a young [[Nikki Cox]]. The singing group [[Suns of Light|The Boys]] appeared as background dancers. Ingrid Dupree of the [[Kidsongs]] kids also appear in this segment.

==="Speed Demon"===
The fourth segment begins with the "Badder" short film transitioning into the second short film, "Speed Demon", produced by [[Claymation]] innovator [[Will Vinton]]. A portion of the clip is set to Jackson's song "[[Speed Demon (song)|Speed Demon]]". After filming "Badder", Little Michael and his bodyguards (also young kids) are leaving the set and walk through a cloud of smoke and come out as their regular adult age. As he exits the set, he is spotted by tourists and they suddenly begin to chase him for an autograph. In an attempt to avoid the overzealous fans and the interviewers (including camera-happy Japanese tourists accompanied by stereotyped "Oriental" music, the press, and even [[The Noid]]) plus some [[Gunfighter|gunslingers]] (after stumbling upon the filming of a [[Western (genre)|Western]] helmed by a director resembling [[Steven Spielberg]]), Jackson soon disguises himself as a rabbit named Spike, using a costume from one of the film sets (imbued with [[Animatronics|animatronic]] properties using Claymation, giving a similar combined-media effect as ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'', but with more obvious bluescreening).

Michael taunts the fans into chasing him, once they realize it is him. Michael steals a bicycle which then turns into a motorcycle once he hits the highway in order to flee, with the fans and the [[paparazzi]] (now also appearing in Claymation form) giving chase in various other, more cartoonish vehicles. During the chase, he morphs into other celebrities, namely [[Sylvester Stallone]], [[Tina Turner]] and [[Pee-wee Herman]], with the bike also briefly morphing (into a jackhammer, stop sign, waterski, and jet pack) in repeatedly unsuccessful attempts to throw the fans off.

After a long chase, the fans/press are finally thwarted by crashing into a giant (Claymation) cop and are arrested. Jackson finally then manages to escape and rides off to a [[desert]]. He takes off his rabbit costume and it then suddenly comes to [[Anthropomorphism|life]] and challenges him to an extended dance-off. In the end, a passing traffic cop interrupts Jackson to point out he is in a "No Dancing Zone", and when Michael turns to show him that he was competing with the rabbit, he sees that the rabbit has disappeared. The cop then sarcastically asks for Jackson's autograph (as opposed to "signature") on the ticket. Just as Jackson is preparing to leave, the rabbit's head materializes on a nearby rocky crag, which then nods to him and smiles.

==="Leave Me Alone"===
The fifth segment of the film is a surreal [[Animation|animated]] music video for the song "[[Leave Me Alone (Michael Jackson song)|Leave Me Alone]]", focusing on [[supermarket tabloid]] interest in Jackson's [[personal life]]. It compares Jackson's life to an amusement park, and how his fans just see him as such. It is meant to point out, in a mocking tone, the way the tabloids unnecessarily sensationalized his life with claims that he had a shrine to [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and bought the Elephant Man's bones. In the video, Jackson's life is portrayed as a circus due to the press's manipulation and the everyday tug-of-war he endured as an artist. His beloved then-pet [[Common chimpanzee|chimp]] [[Bubbles (chimpanzee)|Bubbles]] makes a cameo appearance as Jackson is seen picking him up and riding with him in his roller coaster car. His pet snake, Muscles, is also present. The press is portrayed with dog heads to insinuate that they are like animals. The segment ends with Jackson destroying the park, and looking off into space.

==="Smooth Criminal"===
The segment begins with three orphans (Sean, Katie, and Zeke) sneaking through a big city to see their friend Michael going out for the evening. As Michael stands in front of the door, he notices a falling star before he is ambushed by men with machine guns. The film then backtracks to show Michael and the children playing in a meadow in happier times.

As they are playing, their dog Skipper runs away, and as Michael and Katie look for him, they uncover the lair of Frankie Lideo (the last name was an alternate spelling of the last name of Jackson's then-manager Frank Dileo), a.k.a. Mr. Big, a drug-dealing mobster with an army of henchmen. Leading an operation called "Bugs and Drugs," he wants to get the entire population of Earth addicted to drugs, starting with children. As Mr. Big continues work on his operation, he discovers that Michael and Katie are spying on him.

The story returns to the ambush in front of Michael's apartment. Unknown to the gangsters, Michael wished on the falling star and escaped the gunfire, leaving only his [[overcoat]]. Upon realizing he has escaped again, Mr. Big orders his henchmen to track down Michael with dogs. He is eventually cornered in an alley, where he wishes on another falling star and turns into a [[Lancia Stratos Zero]] sports car that mows down several of Mr. Big's henchmen. Michael is pursued through the city streets until he loses the henchmen.

Meanwhile, the children scout out Club 30s, where Michael had told them to meet him, and find only an abandoned nightclub. As Jackson arrives, Katie sees a silhouette of him turning back from a car into himself. The door of the club opens with a gust of wind, and Michael walks in to find it filled with men in [[suit]]s and [[swing dancer]]s. The children gather outside a window of the club and watch Michael dance to "[[Smooth Criminal]]". Mr. Big lays siege to the club and kidnaps Katie.

Michael follows them back to Big's lair and ends up surrounded by his henchmen. Mr. Big appears and taunts Michael by threatening to inject Katie with highly addictive narcotics. While Katie manages to wriggle free, Mr. Big decides he has had enough and orders his men to kill Katie first then finish off Jackson, just as a falling star passes by. Michael transforms into a giant robot and kills most of Mr. Big's soldiers, then turns into a spaceship. Mr. Big gets into a large hillside-mounted energy cannon, firing on the spaceship knocking it into a nearby ravine. The children are his next target, but the spaceship returns from the ravine in time to fire a beam in the cannon with Mr. Big inside, destroying it and finishing the villain once and for all. The children watch the ship fly into the night sky with a shower of light.

==="Come Together"===
In the conclusion to "Smooth Criminal", Sean, Katie and Zeke return to the city, believing that Michael is gone forever. As the boys talk about Michael, Katie walks away crying and clutching a paper star. As she sits in a corner wishing for him to come back, the paper star flies out of her hand and Michael walks out of the night fog. He takes them back to ''Club 30's'', where they find that the club has turned into the backstage area of a concert. Michael's stage crew return the children's missing dog and then escort Michael onto the stage where he performs a cover of [[The Beatles]] song "[[Come Together]]" with the children watching and cheering him on from backstage.

===Closing credits===
During the closing credits, two more segments are shown. The first has [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]] performing "The Moon is Walking" in Club 30's amidst behind-the-scenes clips. The second is a selection of slowed-down and sped-up clips from the "[[Smooth Criminal]]" segment, which was also used as an alternate music video to the song.

==Cast==
* [[Michael Jackson]] as Himself
* [[Joe Pesci]] as Frankie "Mr. Big" Lideo
* Kellie Parker as Katie
* [[Sean Lennon]] as Sean
* [[Brandon Adams (actor)|Brandon Quintin Adams]] as Zeke / "Smooth Criminal" / "Baby Bad" / Michael "Badder"
* [[Clancy Brown]] as Policeman
* [[Paul Reubens]] as [[Pee-wee Herman]] (uncredited voice)
* [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]] as Themselves
* Jermaine La Jaune Jackson, Jr. as Himself
* [[TJ Jackson]] as Himself
* [[Taryll Jackson]] as Himself
* [[Nikki Cox]] as Herself
* [[Suns of Light|The Boys]] as Themselves
* [[Pons Maar]] as [[The Noid]] (voice)

==Release==
The release of ''Moonwalker'' was originally scheduled to coincide with Jackson's 1987 album, ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]''. During the [[Film|theatrical]] release of ''Moonwalker'', Jackson was also embarking on the [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]], his first tour as a solo performer. The film was released theatrically in Europe and South America, but [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] canceled plans for a Christmas 1988 theatrical release in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PvwoEAAAQBAJ&dq=michael+jackson+moonwalker+box+office&pg=PT228 | title=Believing a Man Can Fly: Memories of a Life in Special Effects and Film | last1=Chilvers | first1=Colin | last2=Lam | first2=Aaron }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://theboombox.com/michael-jackson-estate-bans-moonwalker-at-l-a-theater/ | title=Michael Jackson Estate Bans 'Moonwalker' at L.A. Theater | date=20 January 2011 }}</ref> ''Moonwalker'' was instead released on home video by [[Columbia Records|CMV Enterprises]] in the United States and Canada on January 10, 1989, just as the Bad World Tour finished.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/y87vmy/michael-jackson-moonwalker | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814090720/https://www.mtv.com/news/y87vmy/michael-jackson-moonwalker | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 14, 2022 | title=Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalker' to Get U.S. Theater Debut? | website=[[MTV]] }}</ref> (His tour was supposed to finish sooner, but had been postponed due to some vocal strain, so it went on until the last week of January 1989.) The video had sold more than 800,000 copies in the United States by April 17, 1989.<ref name="RIAA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153725/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=moonwalker&artist=michael%20jackson&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Gold & Platinum Certification information] <!-- this is a really cumbersome URL! --></ref>

===Critical reception===
The film received mixed reviews. Critics praised the music though complained that there was no plot and that it seemed like a series of music videos tied together. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that ''Moonwalker'' "seems unsure of what it was supposed to be. At the center of the pic is the 'Smooth Criminal' segment, a musical/dramatic piece full of dancing, schmaltzy kids, sci-fi effects and blazing machine guns (directed by Academy Award winner [[Colin Chilvers]], based on a story by Jackson). Around it are really just numerous Jackson music videos with little or no linkage. Although quite enjoyable the whole affair does not make for a structured or professional movie."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117793231.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |title=Moonwalker Review&nbsp;— Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie ''Moonwalker'' |work=Variety |date=January 1, 1988 |access-date=July 18, 2009}}</ref>

==Legacy and awards==
''Moonwalker'' was released on VHS, and remained #1 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Video Chart for 22 weeks. ''Moonwalker'' also spent 14 weeks at #1 on Billboards Top Video- Cassette sales chart<ref name="Michael Jackson the Solo Years"/> The Video Software Dealer's Association awarded Jackson with an award for ''Moonwalker'' in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000687/1989|title=Video Software Dealers Association (1989)|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

In 1989, ''Moonwalker'' was honoured with a certification of 800,000 copies sold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).<ref name="Gold & Platinum - RIAA"/> Moonwalker has been certified 9 x Platinum in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Album cover"/>

The "Leave Me Alone" video aired as a separate entity and won a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] in 1990 for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Music Video, Short Form]], which is the only Grammy Award Jackson received for the album ''Bad''. "Leave Me Alone" video also won the Cannes Gold Lion Award for Best Special Effects.<ref name="MUSIC VIDEOS"/>

==Home media==
The film had a limited theatrical release and was released in the United States on [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]]. The vignettes featured in the movie also appear in a DVD box set of Michael Jackson music videos titled ''[[Michael Jackson's Vision]]''. The set only features the song and dance sequences from "Smooth Criminal", the title song, and the ending "Come Together" as opposed to the entire short film.

''Moonwalker'' was released on a region-free [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] in the United Kingdom in June 2010 by [[Warner Bros.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Moonwalker-Blu-ray/10513/|title=Moonwalker Blu-ray (Michael Jackson) (United Kingdom)|via=www.blu-ray.com}}</ref> This Blu-ray version contained a new remastered transfer and a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0030A0ZD4/|title=Moonwalker|website=Amazon UK|date=June 3, 2010}}</ref> The release has been censored, with the scenes of Mr. Big hitting Katie and threatening to inject her with heroin cut from the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=224122|title=Moonwalker (Comparison: European Blu-Ray / BBFC PG Blu-Ray - German DVD) - Movie-Censorship.com|first=Gerald|last=Wurm}}</ref> The Blu-ray was released in its original theatrical 16:9 aspect ratio, different from the previous [[open matte|4:3]] home releases.

''Moonwalker'' has yet to be officially released on DVD and/or Blu-ray in North America. The film is available to buy worldwide exclusively on the [[Amazon Prime Video]] streaming service, which is the version from the 2010 Blu-Ray disc release.

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Canada |type=video |artist=Michael Jackson |title=Moonwalker |award=Platinum |number=4 |relyear=1989 |certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United Kingdom |type=video |artist=Michael Jackson |title=Moonwalker |award=Platinum |number=9 |relyear=2009 |certyear=2019|id=9277-168-5}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United States |type=video |artist=Michael Jackson |title=Moonwalker |award=Platinum |number=8 |relyear=1989 |certyear=1989}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==Other media==
===Video games===
{{Main|Michael Jackson's Moonwalker}}
''Moonwalker'' was first adapted in game form to various home computers by British developer [[U.S. Gold]].<ref name="DenMoonwalker">{{cite web|author=Simon Brew|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/a-hotel-accident-got-the-moonwalker-video-game-signed-off/|title=A Hotel Accident Got The Moonwalker Video Game Signed Off|publisher=[[Den of Geek]]|date=February 15, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> This top-down action game followed the segments of the film and bore little resemblance to the latter, more popular games developed by [[Sega]] with Michael Jackson's cooperation.<ref name="DenMoonwalker"/>

''Moonwalker'' was developed into an [[arcade video game]] by [[Sega]] with the help of Jackson, which was released on the [[List of Sega arcade system boards#Sega System 18|Sega System 18]] hardware.<ref name="Sega8bitMJ">{{cite web|url=http://www.smstributes.co.uk/viewuserreview.asp?gameid=224&userreviewid=511|title=Review: Michael Jackson's Moonwalker|website=Sega8bit|access-date=June 11, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128134821/https://smstributes.co.uk/viewuserreview.asp?gameid=224&userreviewid=511|url-status=dead}}</ref> A distinct adaptation was also developed for the [[Sega Genesis|Genesis/Mega Drive]] and [[Master System]] consoles.<ref name="Sega8bitMJ"/> The console versions of the game were actually based on an evolved version of the side-scrolling Sega Mega Drive ''Shinobi'' series engine, while the arcade version was a three-quarters [[beat 'em up]].<ref name="MJGaming101">{{cite web|author=David DiRienzo|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/michael-jacksons-moonwalker-genesissms/|title=Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Genesis/SMS)|website=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>

Both the console and arcade versions are based on the "Smooth Criminal" segment of the film, following Michael in suit and fedora through stages based on his different music videos as he rescues children from the drug dealer Mr. Big.<ref name="MJGaming101"/> In the three-player simultaneous arcade game, contact with Bubbles, Michael's chimp, transformed him into a robot warrior, replacing Michael's "star magic" and melee dance attacks with missiles and laser beams.<ref name="MJGaming101"/> In the console versions on certain levels, rescuing a certain child first would trigger a comet to fall from the sky that could be grabbed transforming Michael into the robot (which could fly with a rocket pack as well as using lasers and a missile special attack).<ref name="MJGaming101"/> Michael automatically changes into a robot for the final showdown with Mr. Big's henchmen and finally into a space ship for the last battle, in a sort of flight-sim shooter in the Genesis version.<ref name="MJGaming101"/> All incarnations of the game featured the ability of Michael to use some form of "Dance Magic" which would force his enemies to dance to the music of various tunes from "Bad" or "Thriller" and be destroyed as a result.<ref name="MJGaming101"/>

In North America, the game had a successful launch.<ref name="RePlay"/> It was the top-grossing new video game on the ''RePlay'' arcade charts in September 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=September 1990 |volume=15 |issue=12 |page=4 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-15-issue-no.-12-september-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2015%2C%20Issue%20No.%2012%20-%20September%201990/page/4}}</ref>

The game received a positive review from ''RePlay'' magazine.<ref name="RePlay">{{cite magazine |title=News Digest: Yo, Michael! Superstar's Video Game Hits Coinbiz Map |magazine=RePlay |date=September 1990 |volume=15 |issue=12 |pages=15, 32 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-15-issue-no.-12-september-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2015%2C%20Issue%20No.%2012%20-%20September%201990/page/15}}</ref>

===Comic===
In 1989, [[Blackthorne Publishing]] adapted the film into a comic book, ''Moonwalker 3-D'' (# 75 in ''Blackthorne's 3-D Series'').<ref>[http://www.atomicavenue.com/atomic/TitleDetail.aspx?TitleID=7376/ ''Moonwalker 3-D''] at atomicavenue.com Retrieved August 15, 2013</ref> This title, illustrated by Abel Laxamana<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/laxamana_abel.htm|title=Abel Laxamana|website=lambiek.net}}</ref> was a major contributing factor in the demise of Blackthorne, since the publisher had to pay a large licensing fee for the property, and when the comic flopped, they experienced a large financial loss.<ref>[http://comicsalliance.com/the-5-greatest-michael-jackson-moments-in-comics/ ''The 5 Greatest Michael Jackson Moments in Comics: 2. His 3-D "Moonwalker" Comic Helped Bankrupt Blackthorne Publishing''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001212215/http://comicsalliance.com/the-5-greatest-michael-jackson-moments-in-comics/ |date=October 1, 2013 }} at comicsalliance.com, 30.June 2009, by Laura Husdon Retrieved August 15, 2013</ref> Blackthorne ceased its operations in 1990.

===Toys===
In 2014, [[Bandai]] released an S.H. Figuarts figure of Jackson in his "Smooth Criminal" outfit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefwoosh.com/index.php/2014/10/bandai-s-h-figuarts-smooth-criminal-michael-jackson/ |title=Bandai - S.H. Figuarts "Smooth Criminal" Michael Jackson |publisher=The Fwoosh |date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref>

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!align="left"|Chart (2009{{endash}}2024)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row" | [[UK Video Charts]]<ref>{{cite web|website=[[Official Charts Company]] | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/music-video-chart/20240804/13/|title=Official Music Video Charton 4/8/2024 {{!}} 4 August 2024 - 10 August 2024|access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref>
| align="center"| 1
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0095655}}
* [http://www.games-db.com/Search?What=moonwalker Search] for 'Moonwalker' on Games-db.com.
* [http://www.mobygames.com/search/quick?q=moonwalker Search] for 'Moonwalker' on MobyGames videogame database.
* [https://archive.today/20121208175525/http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/movies/moonwalker.html Moonwalker information and screenshots]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130806193116/http://www.returnofthemoonwalker.com Website of ''The Return of the Moonwalker'']

{{Bad (album)}}
{{Michael Jackson}}
{{Will Vinton Productions}}

[[Category:Michael Jackson]]
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