At its height, Thriller was selling nearly one million copies per week worldwide. The album was produced by Quincy Jones, who had previously collaborated with Jackson on Off the Wall (1979). Together, they created 30 songs, nine of which ultimately appeared on the album. Thriller was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $750,000.

The album became Jackson’s breakout global success, reaching number one in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It has also earned Diamond certification in Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Mexico, and the UK.