04-05-2025
AC/DC Now Claims A New Biggest Hit On One Chart With 'Thunderstruck'
AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' hits a new peak on the Billboard Global 200, rising to No. 140 and becoming ... More the band's highest- and longest-charting global hit. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA: In this image released on May 2, Brian Johnson of music group AC/DC performs onstage with music group Foo Fighters during Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World will be broadcast on May 8, 2021. (Photo byfor Global Citizen VAX LIVE)
'Thunderstruck' has been AC/DC's longest-running hit on the Billboard Global 200 for quite some time now. That chart, introduced half a decade ago, ranks the most popular songs around the world by blending sales and streaming data to display what listeners everywhere are enjoying. In the modern era, 'Thunderstruck' has become the Australian rock outfit's most popular track, decades after its release and years after it first appeared on the highly competitive tally.
The tune is still climbing, and this frame marks a very special one for the cut — and for the band in general.
'Thunderstruck' rises two spots on the Billboard Global 200 this week, improving from No. 142 to No. 140. That marks a new best showing for the single on the worldwide roster.
Just last week, 'Thunderstruck' was tied as AC/DC's highest-charting hit ever on the Billboard Global 200. It matched 'Highway to Hell,' as both compositions stalled at No. 142. Now, 'Thunderstruck' has pulled ahead, and AC/DC officially claims a new biggest hit ever on the ranking.
As it reaches a new all-time peak on the Billboard Global 200, 'Thunderstruck' also climbs slightly on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. That tally, compiled in the same way, but without factoring in American streams or sales, does not see the tune hit a new best showing this week. In the past, it soared as high as No. 169. This time around, it's up to No. 175, so while it's not far behind its top position, it hasn't reset the record just yet.
'Thunderstruck' also appears on a trio of Billboard charts that track American listeners specifically. Impressively, the decades-old cut is steady across all three and remains inside the top 10 on the Rock Digital Song Sales, Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, and Hard Rock Streaming Songs rankings, as it remains a top seller and streamer.
So far, none of AC/DC's five songs that have reached the Billboard Global 200 have broken into its upper half. Along with 'Thunderstruck' and 'Highway to Hell,' 'Shot in the Dark' (No. 150), 'Back in Black' (No. 191), and 'You Shook Me All Night Long' (No. 199) have all charted, though only for brief moments.
In addition to being AC/DC's highest-charting global hit, 'Thunderstruck' is also its longest-charting. The track has now spent 90 weeks somewhere on the Billboard Global 200. 'Back in Black' stands as the band's second-longest-running success on the tally, with just six frames on the list. 'Highway to Hell' only managed four, while both 'Shot in the Dark' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long' debuted, disappeared, and have yet to return.
