Michael Jackson is dominating streaming platforms once again. The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic Michael, starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, has undoubtedly acted as a catalyst for this resurgence. The movie made some box office records, earning USD 97 million domestically and USD 218.8 million globally in its opening weekend, breaking the record for the highest-ever opening figures for a biopic. On the back of the film’s box office success and social media popularity, Michael Jackson’s catalogue saw a massive 146% surge compared to the week before the movie’s release, generating approximately 137.5 million on-demand streams in the US.
Multiple MJ songs have re-entered the Billboard charts, reaching new peaks. So, now is the perfect time to revisit the most-streamed Michael Jackson songs on Spotify of all time.
Top 10 most-streamed songs of ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson on Spotify
Billie Jean — 2.7 B streams
“Billie Jean” takes the top spot as the most-streamed Michael Jackson song with 2.7 billion streams on Spotify. The song tells the story of a fictional woman named Billie Jean who claims the singer is her lover and the father of her son, allegations he famously denied, singing “Billie Jean is not my lover.” Jackson said the character was inspired by the groupie culture and the accusations he and his brothers faced while on tour. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 and has since re-entered the chart, currently at No. 38.
Beat It — 1.7 B streams
“Beat It” is another massive hit from Michael Jackson’s album Thriller. The track merged pop elements with hard rock beats, elevated further with an iconic guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, making it one-of-a-kind. Contrary to its hard rock vibes, the song carries an anti-violent message and encourages people to walk away from fights rather than prove their strength. The song became a No. 1 hit in several countries, and the album won Album of the Year at the Grammys. “Beat It” has entered the Billboard Global 200 chart and is currently sitting at No. 16. The song has accumulated over 1.7 billion streams over the years on Spotify.
Smooth Criminal – 2012 Remaster — 1.1 B streams
With over a billion streams on Spotify, “Smooth Criminal” is one of the most visually stunning and ambitious songs in Michael Jackson’s discography. Featured on his 1987 album, Bad, the song is about a woman named Annie who is attacked in her apartment. The repeated line, “Annie, are you OK?” remains one of the most recognisable hooks in pop history. It’s best remembered for its gravity-defying 45-degree lean and the iconic music video directed by Colin Chilvers.
Thriller — 894 M streams
The title track of Michael Jackson’s iconic album, Thriller, currently has over 894 million streams on Spotify, making it one of the most famous pop songs and music videos ever. Departing from the conventional pop themes, the singer went for a horror-inspired concept, blending pop, funk, disco, and theatrical storytelling. The zombie choreography became a worldwide phenomenon and a Halloween staple. The album Thriller (1982) spent 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won eight Grammys in 1984.
Rock With You — 893 M streams
Produced by Quincy Jones, the song “Rock with You” from his 1979 album Off the Wall helped establish Michael as a major solo artist after his Jackson 5 days. It’s one of his early pop R&B cuts with a blend of funk and soft pop. His champagne-smooth vocals, layered harmonies, and subtle vocal ad-libs make the song a classic, which is why listeners keep returning to it decades later. It became a No. 1 hit and proved that Michael Jackson could dominate the charts as a solo artist. The timeless song has garnered over 893 million streams on Spotify.
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough — 766 M streams
Another one of Jackson’s early solo hits from his 1979 album Off the Wall, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” is his first major self-written song to top the charts. Packed with disco grooves and infectious funk basslines, the song perfectly captures the 70s dance floor vibe. The song shows off Michael’s high-energy vocals and soaring falsetto. In 1979, it became Michael’s first solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and later earned him his first solo Grammy, cementing his status as a solo superstar. With 766 million streams, it’s still one of the most beloved disco hits.
The Way You Make Me Feel — 746 M streams
One of the most charismatic songs from the 1987 album Bad by Michael Jackson, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, has collected over 746 million streams on Spotify. Upon release, it became a huge hit internationally for its cool street-style feel and flirty charm. Michael sang about being completely enamoured by someone, unable to resist her pull. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped Bad become one of the biggest albums of the 1980s.
Chicago — 639 M streams
One of Instagram and TikTok’s favourite tracks, “Chicago”, has amassed over 639 million streams on Spotify. It’s a moody R&B track that was officially released in 2014 on the posthumous Michael Jackson album Xscape. “Chicago” followed a mysterious woman he met on his way to Chicago, who told him she was alone and emotionally trapped. The song has a surprisingly fresh sound, even though its vocals were recorded sometime around the 1990s or early 2000s. Fans all over the world loved both its contemporary production and the nostalgia of hearing a new Jackson vocal, making it one of the standout tracks from the Xscape album.
Man in the Mirror — 629 M streams
With 629 million streams, “Man in the Mirror” is one of the most emotional and inspirational songs by MJ. Released in 1988 from the album Bad, the song is a call for self-reflection and personal responsibility. The choir at the end gives the song a spiritual and uplifting energy. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an anthem for personal change and social consciousness.
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) — 620 M streams
‘P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)’ from the 1982 album Thriller is the 10th most-streamed Michael Jackson song on Spotify, with 620 million streams. It’s a fun, flirty, and irresistibly danceable song with a lighter, carefree vibe. Quincy Jones’s polished production made the song one of the standout hits on the album. Michael’s sisters, Janet Jackson and LaToya Jackson, contributed to the background vocals. This song balanced the overall dark storytelling of the Thriller album with pure pop joy.
(Main and featured image: Michael Caulfield Archive / Getty Images)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.