Ariana Grande Thank U Next Video Overview
The Ariana Grande Thank U Next music video was released on December 30, 2018, directed by Hannah Lux Davis. The video features Grande performing in stylized settings inspired by classic films such as Bring It On, Mean Girls, 13 Going on 30, and Legally Blonde. It was shot at the University of Southern California and various Los Angeles locations. The visual was produced by Republic Records and distributed by Universal Music Group. The video quickly surpassed 100 million views on YouTube within its first month of release. It remains one of Grande's most-watched music videos on the platform. For more details on the video's release and performance, visit the official YouTube video page.
The song Thank U Next, which the video accompanies, was written by Ariana Grande, Victoria Monét, Tayla Parx, and its producers Tommy Brown and Charles Anderson. It was released as the lead single from Grande's fifth studio album of the same name. The track samples "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins and "Lovefool" by The Cardigans. The production was handled by Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The song itself reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. For more information on the song's composition and credits, visit Billboard's Hot 100 chart page.
Production and Visual Style
The video's visual style draws direct inspiration from early 2000s teen films, with Grande recreating iconic scenes. The opening sequence parodies the cheerleading routine from Bring It On, featuring Grande and her dancers in a high school gym setting. The Mean Girls-inspired segment includes a "Jingle Bell Ball" scene and a reference to the "Plastics" lunch table. The 13 Going on 30 aesthetic is shown through a fashion montage with a magical makeover sequence. The Legally Blonde reference appears in a courtroom scene where Grande plays a confident lead. The production design was led by a team that included set designer Victoria Pearson and costume designer Law Roach. For more on the director's work, visit Forbes coverage on music video direction.
Behind the scenes, the video was filmed over several days in late 2018. The cinematography was handled by director of photography Scott Cunningham. The choreography was created by Scott Nicholson, who had previously worked with Grande on other projects. The video's color grading emphasized bright, saturated tones to match the nostalgic film references. Post-production was completed by a team at a major Los Angeles post-production studio. The final cut was edited to match the song's runtime of three minutes and twenty-seven seconds. The video's aesthetic has been widely analyzed in media studies for its use of intertextuality. For more on the production process, visit the SEC's EDGAR database for public company filings related to Universal Music Group's parent company.
Chart Performance and Cultural Impact
Thank U Next, supported by the video, achieved multiple chart records globally. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It also reached the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. The track was certified multi-platinum in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. The album Thank U