1
BTS — “Butter”
2021 · dir.
Minimal sets and fluid camera moves let BTS formations do the work, making the video feel polished, bright, and frictionless.
ChoreographedLong Take
Best Of
The 15 Best One-Take Music Videos of All Time
No cuts. No safety net. The one-take music video is filmmaking at its most exposed — a single, unbroken shot where every movement, every camera pan, every beat has to land perfectly or the whole thing falls apart. These videos didn't just pull it off; they made the constraint feel like a superpower. From drone ballets in Japanese stadiums to raw, sweaty performances on the streets of Oxnard, here are the best continuous-shot music videos ever committed to tape.
April 2026 · 8 min read
2
Billie Eilish — “everything i wanted”
2019 · dir. Billie Eilish
Billie and Finneas drive into the dark ocean in a single mournful image of trust, anxiety, and mutual protection.
Car RigNight DrivingLong Take
3
Maroon 5 — “Memories”
2019 · dir. David Dobkin
Adam Levine performs directly to camera in a stripped-down memorial setup, making the song's grief plain and unornamented.
One-Take / Long TakeExtreme Close-UpMinimal Lighting
4
Childish Gambino — “This Is America”
2018 · dir. Hiro Murai
Childish Gambino dances through a warehouse as chaos unfolds behind him — all captured in a single, unbroken steadicam shot. The contrast between playful choreography and background violence created one of the most dissected music videos of the decade.
SteadicamTracking ShotWide-Angle LensOne-Take / Long TakeShallow Depth of Field
5
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B — “Girls Like You”
2018 · dir.
Maroon 5 and Cardi B hold court as a rotating cast of women walk on and off a single set, all captured in a flowing steadicam take. Simple concept, flawless execution.
ChoreographedSteadicamLong Take
6
Sia ft. Sean Paul — “Cheap Thrills”
2016 · dir. Lior Molcho
Sia leans on tightly framed retro studio choreography, letting the dancers carry the song's loose, celebratory bounce with near-theatrical precision.
ChoreographedOne-Take / Long TakeSymmetrical Framing
7
Anderson .Paak — “Come Down”
2016 · dir. Calmatic
Anderson .Paak rips through a kinetic performance on the streets of Oxnard, California. The handheld one-take captures his explosive energy as he moves through locations, musicians, and dancers without a single cut.
Handheld CameraOne-Take / Long TakeWide-Angle LensTracking Shot
8
Run the Jewels — “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)”
2015 · dir. AG Rojas
Two actors destroy each other in an unbroken, claustrophobic close-up that mirrors the track's relentless intensity. It's visceral, uncomfortable, and completely unforgettable.
One-Take / Long TakeHandheld CameraExtreme Close-UpSlow Motion
9
Justin Bieber — “Sorry”
2015 · dir.
A pastel warehouse becomes the stage for razor-sharp choreography captured in extended takes. The dancers' precision against the minimal set made this one of the most-watched dance videos of the 2010s.
Long TakeChoreographed
10
Sia — “Chandelier”
2014 · dir. Sia & Daniel Askill
Maddie Ziegler tears through an empty apartment in contemporary dance, followed by a relentless steadicam that never blinks. Director Sia and choreographer Ryan Heffington created something raw and deeply physical — the exhaustion is real.
One-Take / Long TakeSteadicamWide-Angle LensHandheld Camera
11
OK Go — “I Won't Let You Down”
2014 · dir. Kazuaki Seki & Damian Kulash
Filmed with a single drone in a Japanese stadium, OK Go turns 2,300 umbrella-wielding performers into a living pixel display. The overhead choreography is breathtaking, and every second had to be perfect — no second takes at this scale.
One-Take / Long TakeDrone / Aerial ShotOverhead / Bird's-Eye ShotWide-Angle Lens
12
Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko — “Stay”
2013 · dir. Sophie Muller
Rihanna strips the frame down to a bathtub and a close-up, making the performance feel painfully unguarded and almost private.
Extreme Close-UpNatural LightingOne-Take / Long Take
13
Adele — “Someone Like You”
2011 · dir. Jake Nava
Adele walks through an empty Paris in soft black-and-white, letting stillness and heartbreak carry the video's emotional weight.
SteadicamLong TakeShallow Depth of Field
14
Beyoncé — “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
2008 · dir.
A bare studio, three dancers, and relentless precision prove how far choreography alone can carry an era-defining pop video.
ChoreographedOne-Take / Long Take
15
Jamiroquai — “Virtual Insanity”
1996 · dir.
The moving-floor illusion turns a nearly empty room into a masterclass in choreography, timing, and spatial trickery.
Long TakeChoreographed