Actor's dance steps for Fatboy Slim pip Michael Jackson in greatest video poll

A bizarre video featuring a showstopping dance by the Hollywood actor Christopher Walken has been named the greatest ever made.

Fatboy Slim's "Weapon Of Choice" – featuring Walken's fancy footwork – topped a poll of music industry experts for music channel VH1.

The DJ, aka Norman Cook, also makes the top 20 with his video for "Praise You" from the same director, Spike Jonze.

Indeed, Jonze also lands the runner-up slot for his promo for the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", which sees the band in a Seventies-style cop romp.

Michael Jackson's "Thriller", usually acknowledged as a pioneering classic turning the video into a mini-movie packed with big budget effects, makes it to number six.

It is beaten by a number of British acts, with "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai – featuring Jay Kay dancing on a moving floor – at number three.

Blur's "Coffee & TV", with its walking milk carton, is at number four while Radiohead's "Street Spirit" comes in one place below.

Cook said of his accolade: "This is the biggest award I've ever received, really it is.

"But I want to dedicate this to Spike Jonze and Christopher Walken because I was at home making a baby at the time they made the video."

Jonze, 32, drew huge respect for his quirky videos and made the equally oddball movie Being John Malkovich with John Cusack. The film landed him an Oscar nomination last year, but he was beaten by Sam Mendes.

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A poll among VH1 viewers found that the fans opted for more traditional fare, giving "Thriller" the top spot, with Madonna's "Like a Prayer" in second position.

However, both can be comforted by the latest poll by knowing their videos were worthy of numerous mentions.

Madonna had the highest number of entries, with seven in the top 100, while Jackson managed six.

VH1's vice president of programming and production, Christine Boar, said: "Our chart verifies the fact the music video industry has finally progressed from 'Thriller'. That was ground-breaking for its time but the industry prefer ingenuity to big-budget extravaganzas.

"It just goes to show artists don't necessarily have to star in their own videos to make them a success."

The chart will be counted down by DJ Sara Cox on VH1 from 29 April, with 20 tracks each day until 3 May. The entire chart will be played on 4 and 5 May.

The votes came from musicians, videomakers and music industry workers.

The top 20

1 Fatboy Slim Weapon Of Choice
2 Beastie Boys Sabotage
3 JamiroquaiVirtual Insanity
4 Blur Coffee & TV
5 Radiohead Street Spirit
6 Michael Jackson Thriller
7 Bjork It's Oh So Quiet
8 Madonna Vogue
9 Robbie Williams She's The One
10 Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer
11 Chemical Brothers Let Forever Be
12 Michael and Janet Jackson Scream
13 Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit
14 Massive Attack Teardrop
15 REM Everybody Hurts.
16 Fatboy Slim Praise You
17 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
18 Madonna Justify My Love
19 Red Hot Chilli Peppers Californication
20 A-Ha Take On Me