Metallica's 1991 album sold 598,000 copies in its first US week, according to the album's Billboard 200 account.
The strong opening helped the record debut at number one, marking Metallica's first chart-topping album in the United States. Its performance was especially notable because the band had moved beyond the narrower audience associated with its earlier thrash-metal releases.
The album's singles played an important role in sustaining attention after release. “Enter Sandman” arrived before the album, followed by “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.” Together, these songs made the record unusually visible on rock radio and music television.
Its long-term sales were even more significant than its debut. Metallica became the best-selling album of the Nielsen SoundScan era in the United States and was certified 2× Diamond by the RIAA in 2025 for US shipments of 20 million copies.