Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Hits No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, Decades After It Was Released in 1983

On April 24, 2026, a music biographical film Michael hit theaters. The movie chronicles Michael Jackson‘s career, from a young member of The Jackson 5 to embarking on his solo career. It stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew. Jaafar’s father is former Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson. The biopic has become a massive global hit, grossing over $703 million worldwide within its first month of release. It has become the second-highest-grossing music biopic of all time, falling slightly behind Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018.

With the film’s success, Billboard has reported that “Billie Jean” has become a global No. 1 hit. “More than 42 years after its release, Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ is the biggest song in the world, rising two spots to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. The song has surged from No. 65 three weeks earlier as the biopic Michael continues to draw moviegoers, topping the latest box office over its fourth weekend of release.”

“Billie Jean” totaled a whopping 51.5 million streams and a respectable 3,000 sales worldwide from May 8 to May 14.

“Billie Jean” Is Michael Jackson’s First Global No. 1 Hit

Since Billboard‘s Global 200 began in September 2020, this marks Michael Jackson’s first No. 1 on the chart. In 1983, “Billie Jean” was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. It was released on the iconic Thriller album, which holds the record for the best-selling album of all time. Thriller was the first album to earn seven top-ten singles, and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “Billie Jean” dates back further than all Global No. 1 hits in the charts’ history. Along with “Billie Jean,” another hit single from the Thriller album has entered the Global 200 chart. “Beat It” has entered the top five of the chart and has peaked at No. 5, moving up from No. 7 the previous week.

Michael Jackson’s untimely death on June 25, 2009, shocked the world, as he was labeled the “King of Pop”. Michael isn’t the first film on the singer to see global success. Following Jackson’s death, a documentary film, Michael Jackson’s This Is It, hit theaters in 2009. The film grossed $276.9 million at the global box office and covered Jackson’s preparation for his comeback performances. Sadly, the concerts were cancelled following Jackson’s death.