Green Day’s American Idiot takes the top spot as biggest rock album of the 21st century

To mark National Album Day 2025, the Official Charts have unveiled the Top 40 most successful rock and metal studio albums released in the UK this century. At the top of the list is Green Day’s politically charged punk opera American Idiot.

First released in 2004, the iconic album has earned more than 2.6 million UK chart units through a mix of sales and streaming. Packed with unforgettable hits including American Idiot and Wake Me Up When September Ends, the record was created as a bold response to the post-9/11 political atmosphere in the United States. Official Charts Chief Executive Martin Talbot highlighted how the album’s core themes of frustration and social unrest continue to resonate strongly even after twenty years.

Right behind Green Day is Linkin Park’s groundbreaking debut Hybrid Theory, which holds the Number 2 spot with more than 2 million chart units, representing a pivotal moment for the nu-metal movement. The Darkness claim the highest British entry at Number 3 with their glam rock debut Permission to Land, which has sold 1.45 million units. Evanescence follow at Number 4 with their moody, powerful Fallen, while Muse’s ambitious 2006 release Black Holes & Revelations rounds out the Top 5.

The ranking also highlights how several major rock acts have continued to dominate over the years. Muse and Foo Fighters each hold four albums in the Top 40, while Nickelback appear three times. My Chemical Romance, who placed The Black Parade at Number 6, are set to embark on a UK tour in 2026 to honor the record’s 20th anniversary, further proving the lasting influence of these era-defining albums.

National Album Day 2025 is shining a spotlight on rock, with Wolf Alice, Iron Maiden, Nova Twins, and Architects leading the celebrations as Album Champions.