Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” Reaches 520 Weeks on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 13, 2026

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” has now logged 520 weeks on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, a total that works out to a decade’s worth of weekly chart appearances. The milestone, reported by Forbes on September 25, comes after the album sold more than 8,000 copies in the latest tracking period.

What the Number Means

The 520-week figure is cumulative, meaning it counts every week the album has appeared on the chart, not necessarily an unbroken ten-year streak. “Thriller” first appeared on this chart long after its 1982 release, since the Top Album Sales ranking tracks only purchases, both physical formats and digital downloads, and excludes streaming. That makes any long run notable in an era when streaming dominates how people listen.

How It Got Here

The album’s sales run has picked up speed this year. In March 2025, “Thriller” had spent 440 weeks on the chart, according to Forbes. It passed 500 weeks in May 2026, when it jumped from No. 48 to No. 7 following the release of the “Michael” biopic and its soundtrack. It has stayed on the chart every week since, adding another 20 weeks by late September.

It also came close to the top. In early June, “Thriller” rose to No. 2 on Top Album Sales, matching its peak position, but was blocked from No. 1 by the debut of Le Sserafim’s “Pureflow.” Despite its reputation, the album has never topped this particular chart.

A Small Club

Reaching 500 weeks on the sales chart is rare. One report described “Thriller” as one of only four albums to hit that mark, and Forbes noted that titles by Bob Marley and Nirvana got there first. In other words, “Thriller” isn’t the record holder, but it is among a very small group of albums that have stayed in front of buyers this long.

Other Billboard Charts

According to Forbes, “Thriller” appears on six different Billboard rankings this week and sits inside the top 10 on four of them. The charts named include Vinyl Albums, Top R&B Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album recently spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums before Beyoncé’s “B’Day” reissue took the spot. Forbes also noted that “Thriller” is not MJ’s only top 10 title on the sales chart this week, and that some of his other albums have also logged triple-digit weeks there.

Why It Matters

“Thriller” is widely cited as the best-selling album of all time, and its 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 remain a record for a studio album. What the 520-week milestone adds is evidence of steady buying across decades, boosted this year by the film, rather than a one-time spike. Whether it ever reaches No. 1 on the sales chart is the open question, with only a single week’s competition standing between it and that peak so far.

Sources: Forbes (Hugh McIntyre), Contactmusic.com and Smooth Radio and Wikipedia