“Enter Sandman” reached number 16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The song was released as the lead single from Metallica’s The Black Album on July 29, 1991. Although it did not reach the Hot 100’s top ten, number 16 represented a major crossover result for a heavy-metal band and helped establish Metallica as a mainstream rock act.
On Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, the single performed even better, reaching number 10. Its commercial impact was reinforced by a heavily played music video directed by Wayne Isham. The track’s instantly recognizable riff and unsettling sleep imagery made it one of the album’s defining songs.
Several other Black Album singles had different chart profiles. “The Unforgiven” peaked at number 35 on the Hot 100, while “Nothing Else Matters” reached number 34. Chart positions can vary by country and by Billboard chart, so the number 16 answer specifically refers to the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, not the Mainstream Rock chart or an international ranking.