The compilation narrowly missed reclaiming the top spot, a feat that would have earned it a historic 10th week at No. 1—the first time any Michael Jackson album would have reached that milestone on the Official Albums Chart. Instead, the album was held off by Gracie Abrams, whose newly released album, Daughter from Hell, debuted at No. 1.
Despite falling just short of the summit, The Essential continues to dominate streaming audiences across the United Kingdom. The compilation remains No. 1 on the Official Albums Streaming Chart for a ninth consecutive week, highlighting the sustained demand for Jackson's music across digital platforms.
The renewed chart success follows the release of the Michael biographical film, which sparked a surge in interest in the late pop icon's catalog. Already one of Jackson's most successful compilation albums, The Essential has remained among the U.K.'s top five best-performing albums since the middle of May, frequently alternating between the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
Earlier this year, the album returned to the top of the Official Albums Chart after jumping from outside the top 10 to No. 1 on the chart dated May 14. It remained there for two consecutive weeks before settling into a lengthy run near the summit.
That return also reshaped one of Jackson's longstanding chart achievements. The Essential recently surpassed Thriller to become the singer's longest-running No. 1 album on the U.K. Official Albums Chart. While Thriller spent eight weeks at the top during its chart run, The Essential has now accumulated nine weeks at No. 1, setting a new personal record for the late music legend.
Over the last 10 weeks, the compilation has spent six weeks at No. 2, underscoring its consistency as one of the country's most-consumed albums.
Meanwhile, Gracie Abrams celebrated another career milestone as Daughter from Hell debuted at No. 1, giving the American singer-songwriter her second U.K. chart-topping album. She previously reached the summit with The Secret of Us, while her debut album, Good Riddance, peaked at No. 3 in 2023.
Jackson's influence remains evident across multiple U.K. music charts. In addition to The Essential, both Thriller and Bad are currently featured on the Official Albums Chart and the Official Albums Streaming Chart.
Several other Jackson releases also continue to attract listeners. Number Ones, Off the Wall, and Michael – Songs from the Motion Picture are all charting on various U.K. album rankings, reflecting the continued strength of the late entertainer's catalog more than a decade after his passing.