HIStory Teaser (1995)

• 73%
• 1995
• Drama
• Rupert Wainwright

The official promotional teaser short film for Michael Jackson's half compilation, half studio, double album titled HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (nicknamed HIStory) and his HIStory world tour. It shows Jackson leading an army and then unveiling a colossal statue. At the time of release, it received controversy when some perceived it as portraying Jackson as a God-like dictator. Jackson confirmed in an interview with Diane Sawyer that it had nothing to do with politics, communism, or fascism and instead it was simply meant to get people's attention. Jackson also tried to explain that the other takeaways of the film, besides intentionally causing controversy, should be about love and coming together, and to appreciate the artistic value of the film. Jackson then released HIStory and its sister-album, Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, along with 13 music videos. HIStory has virtually matched the success of Jackson's Off the Wall with 20+ million copies sold each.