As one of the biggest and most influential music artists to ever walk the planet, Michael Jackson is someone who conquered pop culture and became one of the most famous people in recorded history. Simply put, there has never been anything like prime Michael Jackson, and to this day, he holds numerous records and still has millions of fans spanning the globe.

Jackson had an incredible run in the 80s, which was a decade that had plenty of pop culture figures. There were some great comic book movies like Batman to hit theaters during the decade, and the rise of the Ninja Turtles gave way to a 1990 film that kickstarted a franchise of its own.

So, how in the world are Michael Jackson and the Ninja Turtles linked? Let's take a look at their unique connection.

80s Pop Culture Remains Amazing

Then 1980s was a decade that had incredible music, amazing movies, and a pop culture sphere that really took things to another level. It was the decade that gave us the rise of Tom Cruise, the end of disco, and amazing sports moments and figures that continue to live on as legends.

Because nostalgia is always in, many people continue to tap into the 80s well for inspiration. We just saw Wonder Woman 84 get a release this year, and one of the most interesting elements of the film was seeing Diana and Steve navigate their way through the 80s, windbreakers and all.

The music scene in the 80s was utterly fantastic, and there seemed to be a place for everyone on the charts. Rock music had powerhouses like Guns 'N Roses, pop had Madonna, and even rap had LL Cool J and Run-DMC. Then, of course, you had Prince and David Bowie, who were in a league of their own.

When taking a look back at the pop culture powerhouses of the 1980s, there is simply no way that anyone can ignore what Michael Jackson did during the decade.

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Michael Jackson Was A Powerhouse During The Decade

Michael Jackson rose to fame as a child fronting The Jackson 5, and even at a young age, he showed that he was a performer unlike any other. His solo career took some time to get rolling, but once Off the Wall broke out in the latter half of 1979, the singer took that momentum into the 80s and never looked back.

During the 1980s, Michael Jackson was releasing one classic after the next, and 1982's Thriller became the highest-selling album of all time for a number of years. The man could simply do no wrong on the charts during the 80s, and because of this, Jackson became the decade's biggest star and was able to stretch his hand into other areas of the business.

Now, while Jackson was certainly known for what his music did on the charts, it could be argued that what his music videos did on the small screen was just as important. His music videos are still iconic, with some still considered among the best ever made. One thing that no one saw coming, however, was that one of his greatest videos would connect him to an iconic superhero team.

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The Connection Between Jackson And The Ninja Turtles

TMNT 1990 Movie still
Via hollywoodreporter.com

So, what's the unique connection between Jackson and the Ninja Turtles. Well, back in the 80s, director Steve Barron, the man behind Jackson's iconic "Billie Jean" video, was the man that directed Teenage Mutanta Ninja Turtles and helped make the heroes in a half shell a box office powerhouse!

According to CinemaBlend, Kim Dawson, a producer on the film, talked about the decision to roll the dice with a director who was known for his music videos.

Per CinemaBlend, "Dawson also mentioned during the panel discussion that hiring music video directors was especially popular in Hollywood in the late 1980s, considering they could work fast and, without DGA accreditation, for cheap."

This is a really interesting piece of information, as the studio took a huge risk with Barron at the helm for the movie. Had things not worked out, it could have been disastrous for the studio, and it could have wrecked any chance for a major sequel to be made.

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After making just north of $200 million, the Ninja Turtles franchise was off and running, and Barron had his first big screen hit on his hands. Barron would subsequently go on to direct films like Coneheads, and he produced movies like While You Were Sleeping. It was a gamble, but things wound up paying off in the end.

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