Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Rocks Back Into The Top 10, 40 Years Later

More than 40 years after it first became one of the biggest albums of all time, Thriller by Michael Jackson continues to prove its lasting appeal. The multi-genre, hit-packed collection remains present on several rankings in the United States, and this time around, it even manages to return to the top 10 as sales climb and Americans keep falling in love with the superstar’s music again and again.

Thriller’s Sales Rise

Sales of Thriller across all formats grew by more than 28% from one week to the most recent tracking period. Luminate reports that the set sold 3,900 copies in the U.S. in the previous tracking frame. That sum is enough to push Thriller from No. 17 to No. 10 on the Vinyl Albums chart.

Not all of those purchases were on wax, but Thriller has remained a must-own for vinyl collectors for a long time, so it can usually be found on the list. At the same time, the Grammy-winning effort jumps from No. 30 to No. 25 on the Top Album Sales ranking, which blends all formats, including vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital downloads.

Thriller Lives on Five Billboard Charts

Thriller can be found on five charts this week, and it ascends on all of them. In addition to both the Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums tallies, the collection lives inside the top 40 on both the Top R&B Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, surging to Nos. 13 and 29, respectively.

Michael Jackson Climbs the Billboard 200

Thriller enjoys its greatest lift on the Billboard 200, a general consumption ranking. On that tally, it rockets 30 spaces north, landing at No. 108. The full-length moved 11,500 equivalent units in the tracking period reflected on the current Billboard charts, with most of that activity coming from streaming platforms.

Michael Jackson’s Multiple Hit Albums

Jackson claims a pair of hit albums in the U.S. at the moment, as is often the case. The Essential Michael Jackson, which features many of the songs that come from Thriller as well as numerous other smashes, rises to No. 88 on the Billboard 200 while holding steady on the Top R&B Albums (No. 10) and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts (No. 23).