21 Albums With Single Week Sales Totaling More Than A Million

In the 30 years since Nielsen Music began tracking point-of-sales data, only 21 albums have sold at least 1 million copies in one week.

The Bodyguard soundtrack was the first album to hit the benchmark, selling more than a million copies in its sixth week after its release. Taylor Swift’s Reputation was the most recent album to sell more than a million, which it did in its first week of release in 2017.

Insider compiled a list of these high-achieving albums. Check them out below.

1.Taylor Swift- Reputation

Taylor Swift’s sixth album, Reputation, sold 1,238,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It was released on November 10, 2017.

2. Adele- 25

Adele’s third album, 25, sold 3,378,000 units in its first week. It was still selling over a million copies in its second and fifth weeks, moving 1,160,000 and 1,190,000 units, respectively. It was released on November 20, 2015.

3. Taylor Swift- 1989

Swift’s fifth album, 1989, moved 1,287,000 units in its first week. It was released on October 27, 2014.

4. Taylor Swift- Red

Swift’s Red album, the fourth project, sold 1,208,000 copies in its first week after release. It was released on October 22, 2012. 

5. Lady Gaga- Born This Way

Lady Gaga’s second album, Born This Way, moved 1,108,000 copies during the week it was released. It was released on May 23, 2011.

6. Taylor Swift- Speak Now

Taylor Swift’s third album, Speak Now, sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week. It was released on October 25, 2010.

7. Lil Wayne- Tha Carter III

Lil Wayne’s sixth album, Tha Carter III, sold 1,006,000 in its first week. It was released on June 10, 2008.

8. 50 Cent- The Massacre

50 Cent’s sophomore effort, The Massacre, sold 1,141,000 during its first week. It was released on March 3, 2005.

9. Usher- Confessions

Usher’s fourth album, Confessions, sold 1,096,000 in its first week. It was released on March 23, 2004. 

10. Norah Jones- Feels Like Home

Norah Jones’ second album, Feels Like Home, sold 1,022,000 copies in its first week. The album was released on February 10, 2004.

11. Eminem- The Eminem Show

Eminem’s fourth project, The Eminem Show, sold 1,322,000 units in its first week. Em dropped it on May 26, 2002.

12. *NSYNC- Celebrity

* NSYNC’s fourth and final album, Celebrity, moved 1,888,000 copies the first week after its release. It dropped on July 24, 2001.

13. The Beatles- 1

The Beatles’ compilation album, 1, sold 1,259,000 units in its sixth week. It was released on November 13, 2000.

14. Backstreet Boys- Black & Blue 

The Backstreet Boys’ fourth project, Black & Blue, sold 1,591,000 copies in its first week. It was released on November 21, 2000.

15. Limp Bizkit- Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water

 Limp Bizkit’s third album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, sold 1,055,000 units in its first week. The album was released on October 17, 2000.

16. Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem’s third album, The Marshall Mathers LP, sold 1,760,000 units the first week following its release. It dropped on May 23, 2000.

17. Britney Spears- Oops!… I Did It Again

Britney Spears’ second album, Oops!… I Did It Again, moved 1,319,000 units in its first week. The project came out on May 3, 2000.

18. *NSYNC- No Strings Attached

* NSYNC’s third album, No Strings Attached, sold 2,416,000 in its first week. It was released on March 21, 2000.

19. Backstreet Boys- Millennium

Backstreet Boys’ third album, Millennium, sold 1,134,000 copies in its first week. Millennium was released on May 18, 1999.

20. Garth Brooks- Double Live

Country singer Garth Brook’s first live album, Double Live, sold 1,085,000 units its first week. It was released on November 17, 1998.

21. Whitney Houston and Various Artists- The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album

The soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard sold 1,061,000 units in its sixth week. It was released on November 17, 1992. It was the first album that Nielsen verified moved more than a million units in a week.