With the start of the holiday season, timeless hits make their way back onto the Billboard charts, and this has led to Michael Jackson setting another huge record with his iconic pop music. His 1982 hit track “Thriller” has returned to the list, claiming the No. 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael Jackson hits another music record
With the passing of the 2025 Halloween season, one of the King of Pop’s iconic songs has climbed up the charts again.
Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit, “Thriller,” has now reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, jumping up from last week’s No. 32 position. This makes him the first artist ever to reach the Top 10 in six different decades, starting in the 1970s. Previously, Andy Williams, who passed away in 2012, held the record of having a song in the Top 10 across five decades.
Jackson’s “Thriller” originally peaked at No. 4 in 1984, becoming the seventh single from the album of the same name to reach the Top 10. Every year, the song peaks on the Billboard Hot 100, but this year’s Halloween season marks its highest-ever re-entry.
“Thriller” reportedly charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 11 of the last 13 Halloween seasons. However, it had never entered higher than No. 19 in 2021, after which it remained in the 20s for the following three years. (via Billboard)
Hence, if the song made it to No. 10 this year, the timing of the streams and sales tracking, compared to previous years, and fewer new tracks in competition have pushed it higher. Additionally, with Billboard changing a few of its rules, holiday songs now qualify to return to the Hot 100 above No. 50, regardless of total chart weeks.
Apart from the Halloween season, the recent release of the trailer for Antoine Fuqua’s film Michael could also have affected the Billboard rankings. The biopic, set for an April 24, 2026, release, will see Jaafar Jackson taking on the lead role as his late uncle, Michael Jackson.
Other cast members include Miles Teller, Kat Graham, and Colman Domingo, among others.
