From the glossy revolution of MTV to the viral rhythms of TikTok, music videos have served as a mirror of culture, a canvas for innovation, and a battleground for artistic identity. More than just marketing tools, they’ve evolved into a powerful form of storytelling, combining sound, style, and symbolism in under five minutes.

Music videos capture more than just visuals—they define fashion trends, inspire memes, and reflect political and social movements. Whether it’s a cinematic masterpiece by Beyoncé, a lo-fi rebellion by OK Go, or a surreal, AI-generated concept on YouTube, the best music videos leave a lasting impression.

This definitive list spans genres, decades, and visual styles—from iconic staples to unexpected cult favorites. Prepare for bold choreography, unforgettable cinematography, and maybe a few surprising deep cuts along the way.

Our Criteria for Ranking the Greatest Music Videos

What defines a truly iconic music video? It’s not just high production value or celebrity cameos—it’s the rare fusion of visual brilliance, cultural timing, and emotional resonance. To curate this list of the best music videos of all time, we at NewConstellations applied a comprehensive set of criteria grounded in artistry, impact, and legacy.

At the heart of every great video is its ability to shape or reflect society. From the defiant stance of “This Is America” by Childish Gambino to the feminist firepower of Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” these videos didn’t just support a song—they started conversations.

We gave weight to videos that redefined what music videos could look like. Whether it’s groundbreaking camera techniques, avant-garde editing, or early use of CGI, technical prowess mattered. Think of the rotoscoping in A-ha’s “Take On Me” or the intricate one-take illusions in Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.”

Legacy matters. Some videos became templates for entire genres or inspired new generations of visual storytelling. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” did it in the ’80s. More recently, Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” elevated the concept of the visual album, influencing everyone from Billie Eilish to Rosalía.

A powerful music video evokes emotion or delivers pure visual joy. Whether it’s the slow-burning intimacy of Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” or the euphoric choreography in OK Go’s treadmill masterpiece, emotional resonance was key.

“The best music videos stay with you long after the track ends. They imprint visuals onto the soundtrack of your life.”
— Sophie Muller, director (known for work with Annie Lennox and Sade)

Deep Dives into Iconic Videos

Understanding the behind-the-scenes magic of the world’s most iconic music videos reveals not only groundbreaking creativity but also the cultural undercurrents that made them unforgettable. These four videos represent genre-shaping milestones—each a masterclass in direction, symbolism, and visual risk-taking that helped define the trajectory of music video history.

Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1983)

No music video has blurred the line between cinema and song quite like “Thriller.” Directed by John Landis, the 13-minute horror spectacle premiered as an event, not just a release.

What made it groundbreaking?

• It introduced narrative-driven long-form music videos
  
• Combined Hollywood horror tropes with pop choreography
  
• Featured Vincent Price’s eerie voiceover, anchoring the cinematic tone
  

The video’s impact was seismic. It led to the creation of the MTV Video Vanguard Award, essentially in Jackson’s honor. His now-legendary zombie dance became a pop culture ritual, replicated in classrooms, flash mobs, and flashbacks.

“Michael told me he wanted to turn music videos into mini-movies,” said Landis in a 2009 interview.
“He didn’t just want to entertain—he wanted to astonish.”

Beyoncé – “Formation” (2016)

Released just before her Super Bowl halftime show, Beyoncé’s Formation is both an anthem and a cultural reckoning. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the video explores Black Southern identity, post-Katrina resilience, and Afrocentric power.

Key visual moments:

• Beyoncé on a New Orleans police car submerged in floodwater
  
• A young Black boy dancing in front of riot police
  
• Lyrics and imagery addressing Black pride and political resistance
  

The styling, symbolism, and editing came together as a visual thesis on intersectionality and empowerment. It didn’t just promote an album—it redefined the visual album as a political statement.

OK Go – “Here It Goes Again” (2006)

In an age when YouTube was barely a year old, OK Go uploaded what would become one of the first viral music videos: a lo-fi treadmill dance filmed in one continuous shot.

Why it worked:

• Zero budget, maximum creativity
  
• Precise choreography—fun, quirky, instantly shareable
  
• Break from traditional music video polish in favor of DIY charm
  

The success of Here It Goes Again wasn’t just a lucky fluke. It became a blueprint for organic virality in music marketing—artists began focusing on conceptual originality over big production.

“We weren’t trying to go viral. We just wanted to do something weird,” said lead singer Damian Kulash.

Missy Elliott – “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” (1997)

Directed by Hype Williams, Missy Elliott’s debut video merged hip-hop, futurism, and surrealism in a way the industry had never seen. Her inflated garbage bag suit? Iconic. The fisheye lens? Revolutionary.

Futurism meets fashion:

• Bizarre, high-concept costumes exuded Afrofuturist energy
  
• CGI-heavy, distorted sets emphasized stylized reality
  
• Broke ground for female hip-hop artists in visual experimentation
  

Missy Elliott’s work with Hype Williams created a new visual vocabulary that emphasized nonconformity, dominance, and creativity.

Childish Gambino – “This Is America” (2018)

With its jarring tonal shifts and viral choreography, “This Is America” became an instant lightning rod. Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) uses symbolism and surreal violence to explore gun culture, systemic racism, and media distraction in the United States.

Standout visuals:

• A church choir execution scene referencing the Charleston massacre
  
• Scenes of chaos unfolding in the background as Gambino dances in the foreground
  
• The contrast between infectious beat and disturbing imagery
  

The video’s visual density invited multiple interpretations and scholarly analysis. It won four Grammys, including Video of the Year.

“It’s not just a video—it’s a thesis on race and spectacle,” says Dr. Angela Richards, a media studies professor at NYU.

Madonna – “Like a Prayer” (1989)

When Madonna premiered “Like a Prayer,” she stirred global controversy by combining religious imagery, race relations, and sexuality. The video shows Madonna witnessing a Black man falsely accused of a crime, praying in front of burning crosses, and kissing a saintly Black Jesus figure.

Resulting backlash:

• The Vatican condemned the video
  
• Pepsi canceled her sponsorship after protests
  
• Religious groups called it “blasphemous”
  

Despite—or because of—the controversy, it is hailed as one of the first music videos to challenge institutional power and racial injustice directly.

Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” (2015)

Released during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Kendrick Lamar’s Alright became a generational anthem. Directed by Colin Tilley and The Little Homies, it juxtaposes moments of community joy with systemic police violence.

Key moments:

• Lamar levitating through a cityscape
  
• Police officers drawing guns on celebratory scenes
  
• The refrain “We gon’ be alright” became a protest chant
  

The black-and-white cinematography lends a timeless, documentary-like gravity, elevating the video beyond performance into a visual protest.

Lady Gaga – “Born This Way” (2011)

A kaleidoscope of queer empowerment, “Born This Way” blends sci-fi visuals with LGBTQ+ messaging. Directed by Nick Knight, the video portrays the birth of a new race, free from prejudice, wrapped in symbol-heavy, surrealist imagery.

Highlights:

• Gaga’s “manifesto of Mother Monster”
  
• Dancers representing different identities and body types
  
• Frequent references to genetic self-love and spiritual rebirth
  

While celebrated by the queer community, the video sparked criticism from religious conservatives and was banned in countries like Malaysia.

Céline Dion – “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”

A sweeping gothic romance directed by Nigel Dick, this video matches the emotional grandeur of Céline Dion’s voice with cinematic visuals. Set in a haunted mansion filled with flickering candles and ghostly memories, Dion performs with tragic intensity as flashbacks of a lost lover replay dramatically. The theatrical mise-en-scène and operatic structure made it an instant classic, blending music and melodrama in unforgettable fashion.

Key Moment: The motorcycle crash and its recurring ghost-like imagery dramatize grief and longing, echoing the song’s crescendo.

Leonard Cohen – “Dance Me to the End of Love” (Live)

While not known for flashy videos, Leonard Cohen’s live performance visuals have a magnetic stillness. One of the most compelling is his 2008 concert recording of “Dance Me to the End of Love” from Live in London. The dim lighting, slow pacing, and intimate camerawork place Cohen’s voice and words at the center, turning each glance and breath into poetry.

Key Moment: When Cohen lowers his head between verses, it feels like a moment of reverence for love itself—his quiet charisma captivating without visual excess.

Drake – “Hotline Bling”

Few videos have impacted meme culture quite like “Hotline Bling.” Directed by Director X, its minimalist sets, neon lighting, and Drake’s now-iconic dad dancing created a viral sensation. The video’s colorful visuals and offbeat choreography were parodied endlessly, but they also marked a bold shift in how rap videos embraced vulnerability and simplicity.

Key Moment: Drake’s playful dance in the color-shifting box became an instant GIF template, giving fans a new way to connect with the artist.

The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”

Inspired by retro noir and 1980s aesthetics, “Blinding Lights” features The Weeknd in a surreal, bloodied joyride through a neon-lit cityscape. Directed by Anton Tammi, the video captures the chaos, glamour, and isolation that define his After Hours era. The Los Angeles backdrop becomes a character itself as Tesfaye spirals deeper into madness.

Key Moment: The closing shot of The Weeknd stumbling, bloodied and laughing, bridges the line between exhilaration and despair—perfectly mirroring the synth-heavy track.

Joni Mitchell – “Both Sides Now” (Live at the Grammys 2022)

Though technically a live performance, this orchestral rendition with visual backdrops reimagines the classic through digital art and animation. Scenes of clouds, nature, and memory play on screens behind Mitchell, who appears poised and reflective. It’s a masterclass in how visual simplicity can elevate emotional depth.

Key Moment: The subtle transition from soft clouds to a vibrant sunset as the orchestration swells emphasizes the passage of time—central to the song’s message.

Justin Bieber – “Sorry” (Dance Video)

Directed by Parris Goebel, this energetic dance video flips the traditional pop format. Rather than featuring Bieber himself, it centers entirely on Goebel’s all-female dance crew in bright, coordinated outfits performing high-intensity choreography. The approach elevated the song’s popularity while spotlighting dancers as stars.

Key Moment: The impromptu freestyle section at the end—uninhibited, fun, and genre-breaking—became a benchmark for pop dance videos.

Avril Lavigne – “Complicated”

With its rebellious mall-hopping narrative, “Complicated” introduced Avril Lavigne as the skater-punk princess of the early 2000s. The video’s raw aesthetic, casual wardrobe, and spontaneous energy helped reframe teen pop with a punk attitude and inspired a new wave of alt-fashion in music videos.

Key Moment: The food court mayhem scene where Avril crashes into displays while singing to camera—a declaration of chaotic youthful authenticity.

Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”

This emotionally charged video strips away distractions to focus on Mendes’ vulnerability. Filmed almost entirely with him lying on the ground while chaos (rocks, rain, and snow) falls around him, the video symbolizes anxiety and inner turmoil. Its minimalism enhances the personal nature of the song, resonating with fans struggling with mental health issues.

Key Moment: As Mendes is buried in rubble and then re-emerges, the visual metaphor of surviving inner collapse aligns powerfully with the lyric “It isn’t in my blood.”