How many copies did Metallica's 1991 album sell in its first US week?

Metallica's 1991 album sold 598,000 copies in its first US week.

That opening-week figure placed the self-titled record at number one on the Billboard 200. It was a major commercial result for a heavy metal band, especially because the album's success continued long after its release instead of fading after an initial burst of interest.

The album's singles helped sustain attention. “Enter Sandman” arrived before the album and became a major hit, while “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True” were released afterward. Together, they gave the album an unusually long promotional life.

The first-week total should not be confused with the album's eventual sales. Metallica went on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide and over 20 million copies in the United States according to later figures. Its continued sales made it one of the defining commercial successes of the SoundScan era.