The 1982 album Thriller by Michael Jackson has returned to the top tier of the U.S. charts, following the release of the biographical film Michael.
Projections for the May 1–7 tracking week indicate that Thriller will earn approximately 53,000 equivalent album units, placing it at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 midweek chart – an increase from 45,000 units the previous week, when the album re-entered the chart at No. 7.
The current rise in activity follows the April 24 theatrical debut of Michael, which stars Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. According to box office estimates, the film opened with $97 million domestically and has since exceeded $300 million worldwide.
Data compiled by analytics firm Kworb shows that Jackson ranked No. 1 on its Global Digital Artist chart for May 2026, with 11,157 points. Several of his recordings, including Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, and Bad, have experienced increased plays in multiple territories.
The renewed interest in Michael Jackson was prompted by the release of his biopic and has driven a surge in streaming and chart performance nearly 17 years after his death in 2009.
Fan responses on X have also referenced the album’s historical record. Thriller spent 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart during the 1980s and has accumulated more than 700 weeks on the chart overall, making it the best-selling album of all time.
If current projections hold, the album’s return to the top five would mark one of the highest chart positions for a catalog release of its age in the modern tracking era.
