Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” becomes a top seller again in the U.K. as Halloween boosts streams and sales, while “Billie Jean” and The Essential Michael Jackson climb. VARIOUS, VARIOUS – JUNE 25: **IMAGE RESTRICTED – NOT AVAILABLE FOR USE IN A NORTH AMERICAN MAGAZINE COVER UNTIL JULY 11, 2009** Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1995. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
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Halloween may already be a few days in the rearview mirror, but music charts around the world still reflect sales, streaming activity, and listening habits from before the holiday. That means some of the most famous tunes connected to the annual celebration of all things spooky and scary appear in lofty positions, though many are likely to disappear again in short order, when attention turns once more to the biggest pop, hip-hop, country and rock tracks around the world – and then soon to Christmas music once again.
As is often the case, Michael Jackson is one of the greatest beneficiaries of Halloween’s return. “Thriller,” one of his most famous songs, has been designated a Halloween classic for decades, and consumption of the single explodes every October. Just before November rolls around, fans of both Jackson and the holiday turned their attention to “Thriller” once more, turning it into a top seller and a certified smash in the United Kingdom.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” Returns to Multiple Charts
“Thriller” appears on four charts in the U.K. this frame. It returns to two of them, breaking back onto the Official Streaming list at No. 88 and finding its way into the top 40 on the Official Singles tally. That latter list ranks the most consumed tracks throughout the nation, blending both sales and streams, and this time around, “Thriller” reenters at No. 33.
What Is the All-Time Chart Peak for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”?
Previously, “Thriller” has only climbed as high as No. 20 on the list of the most streamed tunes across the U.K. Jackson’s genre-blending hit has fared significantly better on the Official Singles chart, where it broke into the top 10 during its initial run, settling in tenth place.
“Thriller” Becomes a Hit Every Halloween
“Thriller” has returned to the Official Singles chart for one week each year for the past six years in a row. In 2024, the cut only spent one frame at No. 51 in early November before vanishing. “Thriller” performed better the year prior, when in 2023 it hit No. 20.
Michael Jackson’s Smash Reappears on Another Sales Chart
In addition to the pair of rosters where “Thriller” reappears, the Halloween favorite can also be found on two other rankings. The dancefloor filler rises more than 20 spaces on both the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts, coming in at Nos. 22 and 26, respectively.
Michael Jackson Scores Multiple Hits as “Billie Jean” Joins “Thriller”
As “Thriller” becomes hugely popular again, it seems that many fans in the U.K. continued listening to Jackson even after that one song finished. Some may have decided to press play on the full Thriller album, as another one of the blockbuster’s smashes returns at the same time.
“Billie Jean” narrowly finds its way to the Official Singles chart, where it comes in at No. 98. “Billie Jean” debuted on the roster in January 1983 and only needed a little more than a month before it became another No. 1 for Jackson. The track, which has now spent 34 weeks somewhere on the list, hasn’t been seen on the tally in over a decade.
The Essential Michael Jackson Outpaces Thriller
Interestingly, while the song “Thriller” is a top performer again — both in terms of pure purchases and streaming activity — the album of the same name doesn’t fare nearly as well. British listeners are clearly more interested in The Essential Michael Jackson, the hugely popular compilation that features most of his biggest hits, including “Thriller.”
LANDOVER, UNITED STATES: American pop music star Michael Jackson sings 13 October 1988 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA (Photo credit should read LUKE FRAZZA/AFP via Getty Images)
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That set, which keeps Jackson on various charts regularly, almost hits the top 10 once more on the Official Albums chart as it pushes one space to No. 13. The project can also be found on the Official Albums Streaming roster, where it reverses course and dips one spot from No. 9 to No. 10. Thriller, the album, is nowhere to be found at present.