10 Best Music Videos Of All Time (Ranked by Impact)

Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” is the most loved music video of all time because it pushed creative boundaries beyond anything we’d seen before.

In this article, I’ll take you through the ranking of the most influential and visually stunning music videos ever created, exploring how these visual masterpieces have shaped music culture and continue to inspire artists today.

Which Is The Best Music Video Of All Time?

Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” remains the gold standard for music videos even decades later after its release in 1986. In this video, directed by Stephen R. Johnson, Gabriel lies perfectly still while animators work around him, creating a dreamy scene using stop-motion techniques. 

It’s fascinating to see how seamlessly the video transitions between bizarre images of dancing chickens, moving fruit arrangements, and claymation figures, all while maintaining perfect synchronization with the song’s funky rhythm.

The video’s technical brilliance earned it nine MTV Video Music Awards and continues to influence music video directors today.  It still feels fresh and innovative, despite being created with pre-digital technology. This is why “Sledgehammer” consistently tops lists of the greatest music videos ever made.

Top 10 Best Music Videos Of All Time

We’ve had countless memorable visual experiences that have defined generations and pushed creative boundaries. Here’s our carefully curated list of the most groundbreaking visual masterpieces that have changed how we experience music.

Let’s get into these music videos in detail to know why they ranked among the best music videos of all time.

1. Sledgehammer

A revolutionary masterpiece that forever changed music video production.

The stop-motion animation required Gabriel to lie under a sheet of glass for 16 hours while animators worked their magic around him. The seamless transitions between claymation, pixilation, and various animation styles create a journey that perfectly complements the song’s energy. 

This technical marvel still feels innovative today, all thanks to director Stephen R. Johnson for his timeless vision. It won the Best British Video Brit Award for best music video in 1987.

2. Smells Like Teen Spirit

This raw music video shows teens rebelling in a school gym, perfectly showing how the new generation was feeling and helping make alternative rock popular worldwide.

When you watch this video, you’re witnessing the exact moment alternative rock crashed into the mainstream. Director Samuel Bayer created a high school setting and pep rally that perfectly showed Generation X’s frustrations. 

The video, shot in an actual high school gymnasium with real students as extras, creates an authenticity that you can feel through the screen. It’s impossible to separate this visual from the cultural shift it represented, making it more than just a music video.

3. Take On Me

This amazing video uses pencil drawings that come to life, creating a love story where the characters move between a comic book world and reality.

The rotoscoping technique, where live-action footage is traced over frame by frame, creates that distinctive pencil-sketch animation that blends with reality. Director Steve Barron created a romantic fantasy that pulls lead singer Morten Harket and his love interest between the animated and real worlds. 

This video still feels innovative even now. The video required over 3,000 frames of illustrations, and that dedication to craft shines through in every frame.

4. The Rain

With its famous black inflated suit, fish-eye camera shots, and futuristic style, this video showed everyone that Missy Elliott was bringing something completely new to hip-hop.

Missy Elliott is the best female rapper at the moment. The first time you see Missy Elliott in that inflated black vinyl suit, you know you’re watching something completely original. Director Hype Williams and Missy created visuals that would influence hip-hop aesthetics for decades to come. 

With its fisheye lenses, futuristic sets, and bold fashion statements, this video made Missy an artist who always creates new trends. It’s still amazing how fresh and ahead of its time it remains (it could be released today and still stay viral).

5. Thriller

This evergreen 14-minute song was a prominent part of Michael Jackson’s concerts and tours. The video feels like a real horror zombie movie with a lot of dancing and special effects.

Director John Landis created a mini-movie that forever raised the bar for what music videos could achieve. As a kid, it felt both terrifying and mesmerising by the zombie dance sequence. 

The video’s production quality, with makeup effects by Rick Baker and that iconic red jacket, showed that music videos could be legitimate artistic productions. It’s impossible to say how this video changed the music industry’s approach to visual storytelling.

6. This Is America

This powerful video makes a strong statement about gun violence and how Americans often ignore serious problems.

This video was directed by Hiro Murai, and Childish Gambino, the rapper’s real name is Donald Glover, created a disturbing, nuanced critique of American gun violence and racial politics through meticulously choreographed sequences and shocking images. 

The video uses distraction, joyful dancing in the foreground while horrific violence unfolds in the background, as its central metaphor. Every time you watch it, you’ll notice new details and symbolism, making it one of the most intellectually engaging music videos ever produced.

7. Sabotage

This funny video shows the Beastie Boys dressed up as 1970s TV cops.

Spike Jonze’s 70s cop show parody for “Sabotage” is pure fun from start to finish. The Beastie Boys sporting those ridiculous mustaches and performing their own stunts, you won’t stop laughing at how perfectly they showed the look and feel of cheesy police dramas. 

The video’s grainy film quality to the dramatic zoom shots, and perfectly timed freeze frames are what make it even better. A simple joke becomes an infectious joy ride that perfectly complements the song’s energy.

8. Single Ladies

This black and white video helped Beyoncé win three Grammys, which led her to win the most Grammys ever. 

Sometimes the most powerful concepts are the simplest. This video shows how pure performance can create an unforgettable visual. Director Jake Nava’s decision to film the dance routine in continuous takes emphasizes Beyoncé’s incredible performance skills.

The choreography gained even more appreciation for the required precision and energy. The video sparked countless imitations and parodies, cementing its place in pop culture history through its striking minimalism with no colors.

9. Vogue

This video shows Madonna and her dancers striking glamorous poses inspired by old Hollywood stars.

In “Vogue,” Madonna and director David Fincher created a stunning black-and-white tribute to Hollywood’s golden age that simultaneously celebrated and mainstreamed ballroom culture. 

The video balances artistic homage with innovation, referencing classic cinema while creating something thoroughly modern. The precision of the dance moves, the impeccable lighting that sculpts each frame, and Madonna’s commanding presence make this video a must-watch. It shows how music videos can elevate subcultures to mainstream recognition.

10. Weapon Of Choice

This unexpected video features actor Christopher Walken dancing and eventually flying through the air.

When you see Christopher Walken flying through a deserted hotel lobby, you know you’re watching something special. Director Spike Jonze took a simple concept, let’s have Christopher Walken dance, and turned it into something that makes us smile. 

Walken’s expressions with his surprisingly nimble dance moves perfectly match the playful tone of the song. This video proves that sometimes the most compelling visual concepts come from the most unexpected creative choices.

30 Best Music Videos Of All Time

While the top 10 music videos are the absolute favourites worldwide, there are many more videos that have shaped music culture. Let’s explore the extended list of videos that deserve recognition for their creativity, technical achievement, and cultural impact.

Also Read: Largest Music Festivals Around the World

Conclusion: Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” Is The Best Music Video Of All Time, As It Sets A New Bar For Creativity!

As we’ve explored the visual masterpieces that defined generations, from to Nirvana’s grunge anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” A-ha’s innovative blend of animation in “Take On Me,” and Missy Elliott’s futuristic “Supa Dupa Fly,” it’s clear that the greatest music videos not necessarily require technical innovation or big budgets.

Go check out these iconic music videos and know why they are still popular.

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