Michael Jackson has made an iconic return to the Billboard Hot 100, with “Thriller” surging to No. 10 after the 2025 Halloween season, cementing a new historic record. The track, which jumped from No. 32, marks a monumental milestone, making Jackson the first artist in history to land top-10 hits across six decades: the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s, and now the ‘20s. No other artist has ever achieved this feat.
Originally released in 1982, “Thriller” racked up 14 million streams and reached an audience of 9.3 million via radio, according to Luminate. Although the song’s highest-ever peak was No. 4, its re-entry into the top 10 underscores Jackson’s enduring cultural influence, even 16 years after his passing. Jackson surpasses Andy Williams, who had top-10 placements across five decades until his death in 2012, solidifying his place in music history.
The surge in “Thriller’s” popularity coincides with the excitement surrounding the upcoming biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, which is set to hit theatres on April 24, 2026. The trailer for the film has sparked renewed interest in Jackson’s music, drawing both long-time fans and new listeners back into his expansive musical universe. The film promises to offer a deeper look at Jackson’s journey to becoming the King of Pop, celebrating his unmatched legacy as one of the most influential artists the world has ever seen.
Jackson’s ascent on the Billboard charts adds to a career full of remarkable achievements. His first top-10 hit as a solo artist came in November 1971 with “Got to Be There”. Over the following decades, he notched up a total of 30 top-10 hits, including 13 chart-toppers. This latest achievement marks his first top-10 appearance since 2018, when he posthumously featured on Drake’s “Don’t Matter to Me”.
While Jackson dominates the news, Taylor Swift continues her reign in the present-day charts. Her track “The Fate of Ophelia” holds the No. 1 spot for the fifth consecutive week, and her album The Life of a Showgirl remains at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a fifth week. Swift’s success shows no signs of slowing, with 27.4 million official streams, 59.2 million radio impressions, and 29,000 units sold. She’s kept the momentum alive with several strategic releases, including the “Loud Luxury” remix on November 6 and the “Alone in My Tower Acoustic Version”, which hit streaming platforms on October 31.