Michael Jackson's greatest hits compilation, The Essential Michael Jackson, has become the UK's best-selling album of 2026 so far, outselling new releases by Harry Styles and Olivia Dean. The album surpassed 508,000 chart units in the first nine months of 2026, according to the Official Charts Company, more than 17 years after Jackson's death.
Biopic Success Fuels Chart-Topping Comeback
The resurgence follows the success of Michael, the 2026 biopic starring Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, and directed by Antoine Fuqua. The film crossed $1 billion in worldwide box-office revenue, becoming the first biopic to reach that milestone, according to Sony Music. Streams of Jackson's catalogue rose to roughly four times their pre-release levels after the film's release, Sony Music reported in August.
Dean's The Art of Loving ranked second on the year-to-date album chart, while Styles' Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally took third place at the end of September.
Jackson's Catalogue Continues to Perform
Beyond the compilation, Jackson's landmark albums Thriller and Bad also featured in the UK's Top 20, ranking 16th and 20th, respectively. The figures highlight the enduring appeal of his catalogue decades after his rise to global stardom.
The surge suggests that the biopic has introduced his music to new audiences while encouraging longtime fans to revisit his hits.
Legacy 17 Years On
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50, following cardiac arrest. More than 17 years later, his music continues to compete with releases from some of the biggest names in contemporary pop.
