AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” stands out once again as the band’s biggest hit as it returns to multiple sales charts in the U.K. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MAY 21: Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs during the Power Up tour at Nissan Stadium on May 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
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AC/DC’s catalog is one of the most successful, immediately recognizable and lucrative in the hard rock subgenre. The Australian outfit has released several of the bestselling rock albums of all time, as well as a number of singles that millions of people could probably sing on command.
The music of AC/DC has stretched far beyond only those who love the harder side of rock, and a handful of tunes have become staples at sporting events, which ensures that the masses never truly forget about them. “Thunderstruck” may be AC/DC’s most familiar smash, and it is that track that bounds back onto multiple charts in the United Kingdom this week as it becomes a bestseller again, decades after it was first pushed as a single.
AC/DC Brings “Thunderstruck” Back to Two Charts
“Thunderstruck” returns to two sales-focused rankings in the U.K. this frame. The AC/DC classic reenters the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts at Nos. 57 and 62, respectively. Both lists focus exclusively on purchases of individual songs. The downloads tally looks specifically at digital sales, while the more competitive, less specific sales roster also incorporates physical purchases.
AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” Has Previously Reached the Top 10
Historically, “Thunderstruck” has performed slightly better on the Official Singles Downloads chart, compared to the download-only tally. The track has rocked as high as No. 9 on the downloads list, becoming a relatively rare hard rock top 10 hit. On the Official Singles Sales tally, “Thunderstruck” missed the highest tier by only two spaces, peaking at No. 12.
“Thunderstruck” Has Spent Years as a Bestseller
“Thunderstruck” has spent more than 100 weeks on both sales rankings where it returns this time around. The AC/DC staple is up to 127 frames on the Official Singles Downloads chart and 110 on the Official Singles Sales list. It is the only song from the group to manage triple-digit stays on either roster.
The second-longest-charting hit for AC/DC on the sales tally is “Shot in the Dark,” with only five weeks on the roster to its credit. On the downloads ranking, “Highway to Hell” comes next, but it held on for less than two months. It trails “Thunderstruck” by literal years when looking at longevity.
AC/DC Fills Four Spaces on the U.K. Rock Chart
AC/DC scores four hits on the Official Rock & Metal Singles chart this week. Three of them appear only on that genre-specific roster. “Thunderstruck” ranks highest among the group as it steps up one space to No. 4. “Highway to Hell” and “Back in Black” also improve, reaching Nos. 14 and 25, respectively. At the same time, “You Shook Me All Night Long” moves in the opposite direction, falling from No. 23 to No. 31.
AC/DC’s Classics Have Spent Hundreds of Weeks Charting
All four AC/DC songs on this week’s Official Rock & Metal Singles chart have spent more than 600 frames somewhere on the ranking. “Thunderstruck” recently crossed the 700-week mark very recently. “Back in Black” will soon join that 700-period club, while “Highway to Hell” has accumulated 676 turns on the tally and “You Shook Me All Night Long” reaches 635 as of this week’s rankings.
Three of the four have spent time at No. 1. “You Shook Me All Night Long” is the lone exception, though it came within one spot of joining the others, peaking instead at No. 2.