Michael Jackson died over 16 years ago, but he’s still making Billboard chart history.
As reported by Billboard, MJ experienced a big Halloween boost to his 1982 hit “Thriller.” The track landed at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the most recent charting week, rising from No. 31 to No. 10. The song, which charted No. 4 in 1984, makes Jackson the first artist in history to chart in the top ten in six distinct decades, starting with the ‘70s.
“Thriller” brought in 14 million streams during the Oct. 31 - Nov. 6 tracking week, 9.3 million in radio airplay audience, and 3,000 in pure sales. The song is now his sole longest-charting song with 26 weeks spent in the Hot 100, beating out the other Thriller tracks “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” which both spent a total of 25 weeks on the chart.
He previously matched Andy Williams, who charted in the top ten in five decades: the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘10s, and ‘20s. His iconic Christmas track, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” peaked at No. 5 on the chart as recently as 2020. Jackson last appeared in the top ten in 2018 thanks to his posthumous feature on Drake’s “Don’t Matter to Me.”
The top ten achievement isn’t the only record Michael Jackson has beaten this month. The teaser trailer for the MJ biopic Michael has already become the most-viewed trailer for any music biopic in history. Within its first 24 hours of release, the trailer garnered 116.2 million views, the largest launch for any movie in Lionsgate’s history. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie is set to hit theaters on April 24, 2026, and stars the late King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the titular role.
