Forty-three years after becoming an anthem, Billie Jean is going head-to-head with the biggest songs in the world today and coming out on top.
The Michael Jackson hit has climbed to the runner-up spot on Spotify’s Global Daily chart after being streamed more than 5.95 million times in a single day. It is almost unbelievable that a song released in 1983 is still being played at such massive levels. Most songs from that era no longer appear on daily rankings.
‘Billie Jean’ Hits #2 on Spotify Global Chart Amid Michael Biopic Surge
The reason behind this success is obvious. Since the theatrical release of the highly anticipated Michael on April 24, 2026, Jackson’s catalog has seen its streaming numbers more than double. The movie, starring Jaafar Jackson and directed by Antoine Fuqua, has sparked a massive resurgence in Jackson’s discography, with Billie Jean leading the way.
It is not just this song benefiting from the momentum, either. Following the premiere of Michael, 13 Michael Jackson songs entered Spotify’s Global Top 200 chart, while Beat It broke into the top 100, reaching #11 with 3.38 million daily streams. Meanwhile, Smooth Criminal landed at #51. Such simultaneous domination by a legacy catalog is extremely rare in today’s streaming era.
The overall figures are equally impressive. Michael Jackson has become the #1 artist on the Global Digital Artist Ranking, reaching 87 million monthly listeners. Billie Jean has also returned to the Billboard Hot 100, landing at #38. Furthermore, Thriller topped the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, while seven of Jackson’s albums appeared among the top 40 albums globally.
The movie itself has made history as well. By earning more than Oppenheimer did on its opening day, with over $40 million in revenue, Michael set a record for the biggest opening day ever for a biopic. Its domestic opening week is currently projected to earn between $94 million and $100 million.
Billie Jean had already been recognized as one of the most legendary pop songs of all time. Now, thanks to the Michael biopic, streaming audiences are treating it like a brand-new release.