Seventeen years after his death, Michael Jackson has once again proved his unmatched dominance on the music charts. Driven by the global phenomenon of his biographical film, the late King of Pop's greatest hits compilation, The Essential Michael Jackson, has officially taken the top spot as the UK's best-selling album of 2026 so far.
According to data released by the Official Charts Company covering the first nine months of the year, Jackson's 2005 compilation album amassed more than 508,000 chart units. The impressive milestone allowed the catalogue release to outperform major current releases from contemporary superstars, holding off Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving in second place and Harry Styles’ Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally in third.
The late singer's resurgence on the charts extends well beyond his greatest hits package. Highlighting the incredible longevity of his body of work, two of Jackson’s most iconic studio releases—Thriller and Bad—also surged back into the UK Top 20, landing at the 16th and 20th positions respectively.
This historic chart run follows the unprecedented success of Michael, the 2026 biographical feature film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the titular role. The blockbuster film recently crossed $1 billion in worldwide box-office revenue, making history as the first musical biopic to ever hit the billion-dollar milestone.
The film's theatrical release has catalyzed a massive renaissance across digital platforms. Sony Music reported in August that global streams for Jackson’s catalogue surged to nearly four times their pre-release levels, demonstrating how the cinematic spectacle has both introduced his timeless repertoire to a new generation of listeners and re-ignited passion among longtime fans.
16 Oct 2026
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