As we look ahead, expect to see more "album as an app" experiences or enhanced AAC files that include video extras. But for now, nothing beats the simplicity of having the in your digital library. Final Verdict: Is It Worth It? Absolutely. If you already own Thriller , you might ask why you need Thriller 40 . The answer is the second disc and the portability factor.

You’re trying to sleep. You put on Human Nature . The soft, spacious synth and MJ’s plaintive vocal about “why, oh why” act as sonic Ambien. Because you downloaded the album, you don’t need the airline’s terrible Wi-Fi. You drift off just as the song fades.

The original Thriller album is 42 minutes long—perfect for a short commute. Thriller 40 is over two hours of material—perfect for a cross-country flight, a long study session, or a rainy day of errands.

Don’t let the Thriller 40 box set sit on your shelf collecting dust. Rip the CDs. Download the high-res files. Subscribe and toggle that offline switch. Put Michael Jackson in your pocket.

In the pantheon of popular music, there are albums, and then there is Thriller . When Michael Jackson unleashed his magnum opus in 1982, he didn’t just release a record; he detonated a cultural singularity that redefined music videos, dance, fashion, and the very ceiling of commercial success. Fast forward forty years, and the celebration of that legacy arrived with Thriller 40 —a double-disc extravaganza of original hits, demos, and unheard treasures.