Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Reaches A Rarely-Seen Sales Milestone

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Reaches A Rarely-Seen Sales MilestoneByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorMay 10, 2026, 05:07pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Michael Jackson's Thriller returns to the top 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart as it celebrates 500 weeks as one of the top-selling titles in America. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI - JULY, 1996: American singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson (1958-2009) performs on stage during a concert for the 50th birthday of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei circa July, 1996 at the Jerudong Park Amphitheatre in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. (Photo by Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images)Getty ImagesIt’s a huge week for Michael Jackson on the Billboard charts, perhaps the most exhilarating for the late superstar since his death more than a decade ago. When Jackson passed away unexpectedly, there was a rush to buy and stream everything he’d ever recorded, and at the time he charted multiple new hits while quite a few of his albums and songs returned to various rankings. In 2026, the celebration of his legacy continues with the self-titled biopic Michael. The box office smash has produced a new winning soundtrack album, Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture, which debuts on half a dozen rankings in the United States this frame. Simultaneously, most of the superstar’s singles and quite a few of his full-lengths debut or return, while a celebrated collection reaches an incredible milestone on one of Billboard’s most competitive lists.Thriller Reaches 500 Weeks on the Top Album Sales ChartThriller rockets up the Top Album Sales chart, Billboard’s detailed roster that focuses entirely on the bestselling — not most-consumed — full-lengths an...