Mr. Brightside

Lyrically, "Mr. Brightside" depicts a true story of Brandon Flowers' jealousy and paranoia when he walked into a bar in Las Vegas and found his girlfriend cheating on him.{{Cite news|date=April 1, 2021|title=Mr Brightside: The hit that just won't die|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56601090|access-date=April 1, 2021}} "I was asleep and I knew something was wrong," he said. "I have these instincts. I went to the Crown and Anchor, a bar in Vegas, and my girlfriend was there with another guy."

Guitarist Dave Keuning composed the music before meeting Flowers. Flowers then wrote lyrics and composed the chorus after hearing Keuning's ideas. Flowers credits the speed of the song's creation to its having only one verse. He says, "We went in and made demos pretty quickly after that, and it took a ton of time. That's also why there's not a second verse... I just didn't have any other lines, and it ended up sticking."Carley, Brennan (May 8, 2015). [http://www.spin.com/2015/05/brandon-flowers-interview-killers-10-favorite-songs/ "Brandon Flowers Lists His 10 Favorite Brandon Flowers Songs."] SPIN. Retrieved June 6, 2015. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. is credited with creating the fast-paced drum beat in the first twenty-two seconds.Breckenfield, Ed. "Off the Record: The Killers' Ronnie Vannucci – "Hot Fuss"" Proquest. N.p., September 2005. Web. September 26, 2016. The "calling a cab" section of the song has both a musical and textual similarity to the middle section of the song "Queen Bitch" from David Bowie's album Hunky Dory (1971).{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-killers/7193 |title=NME Reviews – The Killers: Mr Brightside|date=September 15, 2005 |work=NME |access-date=April 25, 2016}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/killers-brandon-flowers-talks-writing-mr-brightside-730129/ |title=Rolling Stone – The Killers: How We Wrote 'Mr. Brightside' |date=September 29, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{listen

|filename= MrBrightside.ogg

|title= "Mr. Brightside"

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}}The song was mixed for its inclusion on Hot Fuss by Mark Needham, along with business partners Braden Merrick and Jeff Saltzman. The song was first created as a reference mix in just over half an hour "on an 8-input console, with no automation" according to Needham. Despite several subsequent remixes, the members of the Killers preferred the original one, which then made it onto the record. In recording the vocal effects, Saltzman used Echo Farm, sticking with the default vocal effects setting. Needham says it "overdrives the vocal a bit and sets an 84 ms delay."{{Cite web|url=https://modernmixing.com/blog/2014/02/01/psychology-of-a-mix-engineer-mark-needham/|title=Mark Needham | Interview with The Killers Mixing Engineer}}

"Mr. Brightside" is written in the key of D-flat major{{Cite web |last1=Dave |first1=Keuning |last2=Brandon |first2=Flowers |last3=Ronnie |first3=Vannucci |last4=Mark |first4=Stoermer |last5=Killers |first5=The |date=May 1, 2009 |title=Mr. Brightside |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0072605 |access-date=April 21, 2021 |website=Musicnotes.com}} with a moderately fast tempo of around 148 BPM.

In their first performance together as the Killers, Flowers and Keuning played "Mr. Brightside" as part of a two-song open-mic night set at Las Vegas' Cafe Roma. Of the performance, Flowers says "It was terrible, awful."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/brandon-flowers-20050421 |title=Q&A: Brandon Flowers|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 21, 2005}} In November 2001, the group had recorded "Mr. Brightside" along with three other demos including "Desperate", "Replaceable", and "Under the Gun" at Mike Sak's Kill the Messenger Studio in Henderson, Nevada. They handed out a demo of the song for free during their shows in 2002. After signing with UK indie label Lizard King Records, the track was sent to radio as a buzz single{{clarify|date=October 2023}} and it was frequently played by BBC Radio 1 DJ's Zane Lowe and Steve Lamacq as well as being play-listed by XFM. Just one week after its April release, MTV2 secured a deal to air the song for a week."Killers Head MW CD Talent Thrillers." Proquest. N.p., April 24, 2004. Web. September 26, 2016.

The Killers performed the song live on the rooftop of Caesars Palace during halftime of the Las Vegas Raiders' first-ever home game at Allegiant Stadium on September 21, 2020; the halftime show was broadcast on U.S. television on ESPN and ABC's simulcast coverage of Monday Night Football.{{cite news|author=Raiders Public Relations|title=The Killers set to rock halftime of the Raiders' home opener on Monday Night Football|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/the-killers-set-to-rock-halftime-of-the-raiders-home-opener-on-monday-night|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Raiders.com|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=September 22, 2020}}{{cite AV media|date=September 21, 2020|title=Watch: The Killers perform Mr. Brightside during halftime on Monday Night Football|medium=Videotape|language=en|url=https://www.raiders.com/video/watch-the-killers-perform-mr-brightside-during-halftime-on-monday-night-football|access-date=September 22, 2020|location=Paradise, Nevada|publisher=Las Vegas Raiders|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002012634/https://www.raiders.com/video/watch-the-killers-perform-mr-brightside-during-halftime-on-monday-night-football}}

In one of the song's first reviews, The Washington Post stated, "dashing through the tune as if it were a power ballad on speed, Flowers and company had the capacity crowd pulsing along with glee.""For a Moment, the Killers Killed." Proquest. N.p., June 2015. Web. September 28, 2016. "Mr. Brightside" became a popular song within the Las Vegas music scene with one reviewer calling it a "feel-good anthem that ranks as one of the best local tracks in a long time".{{cite web |url=http://www.thekillersfansite.com/earlypics/article.jpg |title=The Killers |work=Las Vegas CityLife |last=Prevatt |first=Mike |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003100037/http://www.thekillersfansite.com/earlypics/article.jpg |archive-date=October 3, 2011 }} In positive reviews, NME said the song was filled with "ambition, sex, and noise"{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/artistKeyname/7193 |title=The Killers: Mr Brightside |date=October 8, 2003 |work=NME |access-date=August 7, 2012}} while Rolling Stone described the song as having "swelled with anthemic majesty".Gitlin, Lauren. "The "Rolling Stone" Review: Live – The Killers." Proquest. N.p., November 11, 2004. Web. September 27, 2016. The Guardian considered "Mr. Brightside" to be the most overplayed song, and noted that it has been played "on the radio. In the supermarket. In the pub. The office. In a cab. Thrumming through your neighbours' wall. [...] Blasted out at every party or wedding you'll attend for the rest of your life."{{Cite web|date=May 31, 2021|title=Repeat offenders: what is the most overplayed song?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/31/what-is-the-most-overplayed-song|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}} In 2020, Paste ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Killers songs,{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-killers/the-15-best-songs-by-the-killers-august-2020/#3-mr-brightside-|title=The 20 Best Killers Songs|first1=Lexi|last1=Lane|first2=Juan|last2=Gutierrez|work=Paste|date=August 25, 2020|access-date=April 15, 2022}} and in 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number one on their list of the 10 greatest Killers songs.{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-killers-top-10-songs/|title=The Killers Top 10 Songs|first=Catherine|last=Walthall|work=American Songwriter|date=August 26, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2022}}

"Mr. Brightside" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 40 on February 12, 2005,{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-02-12/hot-100 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 – Mr. Brightside |access-date=October 18, 2008 |date=February 12, 2005 |publisher=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916025439/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2005-02-12 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 }} and peaked at No. 10 on June 11,{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-06-11/hot-100 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 – Mr. Brightside |access-date=October 18, 2008 |date=June 11, 2005 |publisher=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012185444/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-06-11/hot-100 |archive-date=October 12, 2014 }} thus making it a sleeper hit. The song reached 3.5 million in sales in 2016.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705145725/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-6-16-16.pdf |title=Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 06/06/2016 |publisher=Nielsen SoundScan |url=http://www.defjampromo.com:80/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-6-16-16.pdf |archive-date=July 5, 2016 }}

In 2005, "Mr. Brightside" was the sixth most downloaded song on iTunes."IPOD'S TOP 10 DOWNLOADS: [2 STAR Edition]." Proquest. N.p., June 2005. Web. September 27, 2016. To this day "Mr. Brightside" still has the highest popularity rating that iTunes offers, even after being available for purchase for nearly 20 years.{{Citation needed|reason=iTunes popularity ratings don't appear to exist anymore so this fact is outdated and not easily verifiable|date=October 2022}} Additionally, sales of Hot Fuss album reached over 5 million sales by 2006.Waddell, Ray, and Brian Garrity. "The Killers." Proquest. N.p., September 23, 2006. Web. September 26, 2016. The online music streaming service Last.fm reported in 2010 that "Mr. Brightside" was the most downloaded song on the website."The Killers' 'Mr Brightside' Most Played Song." Proquest. N.p., April 20, 2010. Web. September 27, 2016. By July 2014, the song sold more than 820,000 copies in the United Kingdom,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-pop-gem-63-the-killers-mr-brightside__4815/|title=Official Charts Pop Gem #63: The Killers – Mr Brightside|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=July 5, 2014|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 12, 2024}} making it the UK's No. 12 most downloaded rock track of all time.

{{As of|2021|4}}, "Mr. Brightside" has spent 260 non-consecutive weeks, or five years, on the UK Singles Chart, the most out of any song.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-killers-mr-brightside-claims-record-breaking-260th-week-exactly-five-years-on-the-official-singles-chart-top-100__32800/|title=The Killers' Mr Brightside claims record-breaking 260th week – exactly five years – on the Official Singles Chart Top 100|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=April 1, 2021|access-date=April 2, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-killers-set-new-uk-chart-record-with-mr-brightside-2912306|title=The Killers set new UK chart record with 'Mr. Brightside'|last=Moore|first=Sam|website=NME|date=April 1, 2021|access-date=April 2, 2021}} {{As of|2017}}, it had charted on the UK Singles Chart in 11 of the last 13 years,{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/06/04/530079710/mr-brightside-will-never-die-and-heres-why |title='Mr. Brightside' Will Never Die, And Here's Why |first=Stephen |last=Thompson |date=June 4, 2017 |work=NPR Music}} including a 35-week run peaking at number 49 in 2016–2017.{{cite web |last1=Westbrook |first1=Caroline |title=Mr Brightside by The Killers has been in the UK charts every year since 2004 |url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/20/mr-brightside-by-the-killers-has-been-in-the-uk-charts-every-year-since-2004-6650448/ |work=Metro |date=May 20, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2017}} On January 5, 2024, the song re-entered the UK Official Singles Chart Top 40 exactly ten years after its last week on this part of the chart. According to the data from the Official Charts website, there have now been three periods when the song has been in the Top 40 chart. It was the UK's most streamed pre-2010 song, until it was surpassed by Oasis' "Wonderwall" in late 2018,{{citation |title=(What's The Story) Morning Glory? [Remastered] |date=October 2, 1995 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1VW1MFNstaJuygaoTPkdCk |language=en |access-date=November 16, 2018}}{{Failed verification|date=March 2024|reason=Says nothing about the UK's most streamed pre-2010 songs in 2018 or Mr Brightside. The most it says is how popular Wonderwall is on Spotify worldwide compared to songs from the same album.}} and continued to be purchased for download hundreds of times a week by 2017. In March 2018, the song reached the milestone of staying in the Top 100 of the UK Singles Chart for 200 weeks.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/why-the-killers-mr-brightside-refuses-to-leave-the-official-singles-chart-top-100__19190/ |title=Why The Killers' Mr Brightside refuses to leave the Official Singles Chart Top 100 |date=March 16, 2018 |first=Rob|last=Copsey |work=Official Charts Company}} Explanations have included the song's popularity at parties, its popularity on streaming services, and the continued presence of the Killers as a popular live band in the UK. According to the Official Charts Company, the song has been streamed 281 million times in the UK and has sold 3,520,000 copies there as of April 2021.

In January 2025 "Mr. Brightside" reached 350 weeks in total on Ireland's singles charts, despite never having been in the Irish top forty.{{Cite web|url=https://irishnumberones.com/2023/10/01/mr-brightside/|title='Mr Brightside' in Ireland|first=Aidan|last=Curran|date=October 1, 2023}}

In May 2024, "Mr. Brightside" overtook Oasis' "Wonderwall" to become the UK's most successful song of all time that had not reached number one.{{cite web |last1=Dunworth |first1=Liberty |title=The Killers' 'Mr Brightside' overtakes Oasis' 'Wonderwall' to smash huge UK singles record |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-killers-mr-brightside-overtakes-oasis-wonderwall-for-uk-singles-record-3754740 |website=NME |access-date=20 May 2024 |date=9 May 2024}}

There are two videos for Mr. Brightside: the first version (also known as the UK version) was filmed in Staten Island, New York, and was directed by Brad and Brian Palmer under their studio Surround. Later on in the year and following the success of debut single "Somebody Told Me", their label Island Records decided to create a higher budget video for the US market: the second video (also known as the US version) was filmed in Los Angeles, California. Directed by Sophie Muller, the video stars Flowers, Izabella Miko, and Eric Roberts in a love triangle, occurring within the context of a burlesque show.

The US version won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in a Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, beating other nominees such as John Legend ("Ordinary People"), Ciara ("1, 2 Step"), The Game ("Dreams"), and My Chemical Romance ("Helena").Bernard, Audrey. "Invigorating Diddy Hosts Amazing 2005 MTV Video Music Awards." Proquest. N.p., September 2005. Web. September 27, 2016.

The photos featured on the inner sleeve of the album Hot Fuss were shot on set during the filming of the UK version music video and were inspired by the black and white look of that video.

In 2005, Stuart Price released a remix of the song under his pseudonym Jacques Lu Cont. Reviewers were generally negative: for example, Michael Paoletta said this version "depletes the song of its energy and intensity". That same year, this song as well as two others by the Killers ("Smile Like You Mean It" and "Somebody Told Me") reached the Billboard Top 20 single chart.Sculley, Alan. "Killers on a Rampage ** Frontman Brandon Flowers Makes a Fuss over the Band's Debut Album: [MERGE Edition]." Proquest. N.p., June 8, 2005. Web. September 27, 2016.Paoella, Michael. "Music: "Billboard" Picks – Singles: Dance – The Killers." Billboard – International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment March 5, 2005: n. pag. Print. An extended version of the Stuart Price remix of the song was featured on the Killers' 2007 B-side and rarities compilation, Sawdust.Carlsson, V. (August 28, 2008). The Killers-Mr. Brightside (LYRICS). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/Reen, C. (March 8, 2011). The Killers-Mr. Brightside (Thin White Duke Remix). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/ During the Flamingo Road Tour for Brandon Flowers' solo record Flamingo in 2010, he performed the remix version with Stuart Price during his show at Brixton Academy and has since performed it on his tour as the show closer, again in the remix form.

An early demo of the song featured Dave Keuning on bass and Matt Norcross on drums, before Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci were members of the band. The original demo was officially released on the 2013 compilation album Direct Hits. On the Killers' 2012 album Battle Born, they released "Miss Atomic Bomb", which is considered a companion song to "Mr. Brightside" lyrically.

The song has been covered in a swing/jazz style by Paul Anka on his 2007 covers album Classic Songs, My Way. Crossover rock-jazz artist ELEW created a piano version for his 2010 ELEW Rockjazz Vol. 1. English pop-rock band McFly covered the song as a B-side to their 2005 single "I Wanna Hold You" which was featured on the deluxe edition of their album Wonderland. Texan artist Playradioplay! covered the song on his 2007 EP The Frequency as well. An acoustic bluegrass cover was recorded for CMH Records' Bluegrass Tribute to The Killers.{{cite web |title=The Killers' Mr. Brightside: 10 of the Weirdest Covers |website=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-killers-mr-brightside-10-of-the-weirdest-covers/375348/page/1}} Abi Sampa from The Voice UK series 2 recorded a mashup of "Mr. Brightside" and M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes". Many other artists have performed live covers of the song, including American rock band Fall Out Boy, Chris Daughtry on The Masked Singer season 2 , Isa Raja on X Factor Indonesia season 1 and Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald.

The song has also been covered by the Vitamin String Quartet, Boyce Avenue and on the UK television show Orange UnsignedAct by contestant Tommy Reilly. Additionally, a cappella versions have been produced by groups including Wheaton College's Gentlemen Callers, MIT's Resonance and Boston-based Overboard. Flowers performed the song during his solo tour in 2010. Indonesian hardcore band Thirteen also covered this song. The Wanted covered the song as part of a medley of the Killers songs during their summer 2013 live shows.{{cite web|title=The Killers medley – The Wanted in Scarborough|date=June 14, 2013 |via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QstD9v8dmLs|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QstD9v8dmLs|archive-date=December 21, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} Kelly Clarkson covered the version live on The Kelly Clarkson Show.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9477950/kelly-clarkson-covers-the-killers-mr-brightside-video/ |title = Kelly Clarkson Covers The Killers' 'Mr Brightside' – Billboard| magazine=Billboard }} An acoustic version of the song covered by British singer-songwriter Charlotte Campbell was played during Love Island series 7 in 2021.{{cite tweet|number=1415042856922796034|user=Ccampbellmusic|title=My cover of Mr. Brightside was...|date=July 13, 2021}}

Jimmy Fallon covered the song with Jonas Brothers at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/jimmy-fallon-jonas-brothers-concert-sings-mr-brightside-onstage-7642950|title=Jimmy Fallon Shows Up at Jonas Brothers' Concert and Sings 'Mr. Brightside' Onstage|website=Peoplemag}}

{{trivia|date=May 2024}}

In the season 2 episode "The New Era" of the teen drama series The O.C., which aired on December 2, 2004, the Killers play various songs from Hot Fuss, including "Mr. Brightside", "Everything Will Be Alright", and "Smile Like You Mean It" during a scene involving a double-date in the Bait Shop.{{Cite web |date=21 June 2021 |orig-date=May 9, 2020 |title=Remember when The Killers played in the bar on The OC? |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/the-killers/remember-when-the-killers-played-on-the-oc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814095658/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/the-killers/remember-when-the-killers-played-on-the-oc/ |archive-date=14 August 2022 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Radio X |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gerber |first=Jamie |date=2020-09-13 |title=The OC: Every Real-Life Band That Played At The Bait Shop |url=https://screenrant.com/oc-show-bait-shop-real-bands-play/#the-killers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817103851/https://screenrant.com/oc-show-bait-shop-real-bands-play/ |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=2017-07-11 |title=Remember when The Killers were on The OC? |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/remembering-when-the-killers-on-the-oc-2108076 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411022129/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/remembering-when-the-killers-on-the-oc-2108076 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

• The song is the opening theme to the 2005 TV documentary Jamie's School Dinners.
• In the 2006 romantic comedy The Holiday, Amanda Woods (portrayed by Cameron Diaz) sets the CD player to play the song, then ironically dances to it and shout-screams the chorus while drunk and holding a glass of red wine, to avoid remembering the infidelity of her boyfriend Ethan (Edward Burns).{{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Sam |date=2018-03-07 |title=Coming Out of Our Cage: A look inside the 'Mr. Brightside' phenomenon / Behind 'Mr. Brightside,' a fan-favorite at UMich Football's Big House stadium |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/arts/coming-out-of-our-cage-a-look-inside-the-mr-brightside-phenomenon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924061338/https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/coming-out-of-our-cage-a-look-inside-the-mr-brightside-phenomenon/ |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Michigan Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Nicole |date=2020-06-15 |title='Mr. Brightside' by The Killers hits different now: Has she been calling "ACAB" all along? |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-killers-mr-brightside-acab-quarantine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113071210/https://mashable.com/article/the-killers-mr-brightside-acab-quarantine |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Mashable |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=2021-04-01 |title=Mr Brightside: The hit that just won't die |language=en-GB |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56601090 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124174041/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56601090 |archive-date=November 24, 2023}}{{Cite web |title=The Holiday Soundtrack (2006) {{!}} List of Songs |url=https://www.what-song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/133/The-Holiday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510140056/https://www.what-song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/133/The-Holiday |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=WhatSong |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Newstead |first=Al |date=2021-09-30 |title=Mr. Brightside: The Killers' enduring hit that might live forever |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/the-killers-mr-brightside-feature-hit-that-lives-forever/13564986 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119054128/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/the-killers-mr-brightside-feature-hit-that-lives-forever/13564986 |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=triple j |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en-AU}}
• The song played during a montage of Chantelle Houghton's best moments on series 4 of Celebrity Big Brother UK (2006).
• "Mr. Brightside" is also briefly featured in the 2007 romantic comedy Rabbit Without Ears.
• The song is also briefly featured in the 2013 film About Time.
• "Mr. Brightside" is the opening theme to the 2020 BBC Wales mini-documentary A Special School.
• In the British TV sitcom Bloods, the lead characters sing along to "Mr. Brightside" in the car in the opening episode of series 2.{{Cite web |title=Bloods season 2 interview: Jane Horrocks and Nathan Bryon discuss the return of the series |url=https://www.nationalworld.com/culture/television/bloods-season-2-interview-jane-horrocks-and-nathan-bryon-discuss-the-return-of-the-series-3610726 |work=NationalWorld}}
• In the 2023 film Saltburn, the song is briefly featured in a scene where Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) and Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) are driving.{{Cite web |title="Mr. Brightside" is the most-searched song from the Saltburn soundtrack |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/mr-brightside-is-the-most-searched-song-from-the-saltburn-soundtrack |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}
• In December 2023, the song was released as a purchasable track in the video game Fortnite.{{Cite web |title=Fortnite Festival songs: Full set list and line-up explained |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/technology/gaming/fortnite-festival-songs/ |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}

• The song has become a crowd favorite among Michigan Wolverines football fans at Michigan Stadium, where fans in excess of 110,000 sing along to the tune when it is played in the fourth quarter.{{cite web |last=James |first=Jordan |date=October 8, 2017 |title=Watch: Michigan Stadium sings 'Mr. Brightside' in rainstorm |url=https://247sports.com/article/video-michigan-stadium-sings-mr-brightside-in-rainstorm--108648148/ |access-date=February 2, 2018 |publisher=247Sports}}{{cite web |last=Champion |first=Brandon |date=October 9, 2017 |title=Michigan students sing 'Mr. Brightside' as rain blasts the Big House |url=http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2017/10/michigan_students_sing_mr_brig.html |access-date=February 2, 2018 |publisher=MLive.com}} While the track was first played in an October 2016 game against Wisconsin,{{cite web |last=Kahn |first=Andrew |date=October 21, 2021 |title=How ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers became a Michigan Stadium tradition |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/10/how-mr-brightside-by-the-killers-became-a-michigan-stadium-tradition.html |access-date=January 3, 2025 |publisher=MLive.com}} the tradition rose to prominence in 2017 when the crowd sang the second half of the chorus a cappella during a rain-soaked Michigan State game. It rose to further prominence during the resurgence in fortunes of the program in the early 2020s, including during the team's run to the 2023 national championship, their first since 1997. The ritual has inspired "Mr. Brightside" Michigan-themed merchandise.{{cite web |last1=Goldstein |first1=Jessica M. |title=How 'Mr. Brightside' Became a Generation's Anthem |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/arts/music/mr-brightside-killers.html |website=The New York Times |date=2023-12-06 |access-date=December 9, 2023}}
• After an upset against Florida State Seminoles football in October 2017, Boston College Eagles football fans began to sing the song at Alumni Stadium,{{cite web |last=Gravellese |first=Joseph |date=September 30, 2021 |title=My Top Ten Favorite Games at Alumni Stadium|url=https://www.bcinterruption.com/2021/9/30/22702030/my-top-ten-favorite-games-at-alumni-stadium|access-date=January 3, 2025 |publisher=BC Interruption}} and the song has become the unofficial go-to song for Boston College fans during sporting events.
• At the University of Missouri, Tiger fans add an obscene chant directed at their traditional rival, the University of Kansas, after the chorus.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVGjkDeG4k | title=Missouri Tigers vs Kansas Jayhawks 12/10/22 pre game intros and mr.brightside | website=YouTube | date=December 10, 2022 }}
• It was also a memorable feature of the 2017 AFL premiership celebrations by Jack Riewoldt of the Richmond Tigers, who sang the song in its entirety live alongside the Killers.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2017 |title=Jack Riewoldt sings entirety of 'Mr. Brightside' with the Killers at 2017 Premiership Party |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jack-riewoldt-sings-entirety-of-mr-brightside-with-the-killers-at-2017-premiership-party/news-story/682a14f10b93ab5fbfc66b3bda80e455}}
• English darts player Nathan Aspinall uses the song as his walk-on music, often resulting in raucous sing-a-longs with the usually energetic audiences.{{Cite web |last=Sternik |first=Seb |date=2024-02-05 |title=Nathan Aspinall opens up on Mr. Brightside walk-on and reveals biggest problem with epic entrance |url=https://www.planetsport.com/darts/news/exclusive-nathan-aspinall-opens-mr-brightside-walk-reveals-biggest-problem-epic-entrance |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=PlanetSportcom |language=en}}
• The Buffalo Bills play the song in the fourth quarter of home games accompanied by a lyric video, leading an energizing sing-along as players jam out on the field and sidelines, riling up the legendary Bills Mafia. The Bills started playing the song in the 2024 playoffs. It continued the following season and grew to prominence during a blowout win against the Jaguars where videos of the team rocking out went viral. The song also became further connected in the summer of 2024 when videos were posted of the song and the team's reaction at Bills tight end Dawson Knox's wedding to Alex Seefeldt.{{cite web |last1=Feldman |first1=AJ |title=How 'Mr. Brightside' became the Buffalo Bills' new anthem |url=https://www.rochesterfirst.com/sports/buffalo-bills/how-mr-brightside-became-the-buffalo-bills-new-anthem/ |website=RochesterFirst.com |publisher=WROC |access-date=18 January 2025}}
• The Killers paused a concert during the Rebel Diamonds Tour in London in July 2024 to allow the fans to watch the end of the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final match between England and the Netherlands. As the match ended, a series of red and white streamers were fired from cannons, with the band immediately launching into a rendition of Mr. Brightside.{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Hannah |date=2024-07-10 |title=The Killers play Mr Brightside after screening England's Euros semi win at O2 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/england-london-dortmund-brandon-flowers-netherlands-b1169977.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} The band later posted on their Twitter account that they "played for England",{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Watch epic moment The Killers hit fans with Mr Brightside during England win |url=https://talksport.com/football/1958136/the-killers-england-fans-mr-brightside-euro-2024/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=talkSPORT |language=en-gb}} with some referring in jest to the song as now being the "alternate England National Anthem".{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Incredible moment England win live at The Killers show then goes straight into Mr Brightside |url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/music/killers-england-euros-mr-brightside-video-592352-20240711 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=LADbible |language=en}}

• British singer James Blunt has said that "Mr. Brightside" is his favorite song of all time."Charts: My List-James Blunt". Proquest. N.p., March 23, 2006.{{full citation needed|reason=Supposedly a web source, but where is the URL???|date=October 2023}}

• BPI Pop Gem Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)
• Vevo Certified Over 200 Million Views (2017){{cite web|url=http://www.vevo.com/watch/the-killers/Mr-Brightside/USIV30500091|title=Mr. Brightside – The Killers|work=VEVO}}

The song was nominated for a Grammy in 2006 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, but lost to a live version of "This Love" by Maroon 5.

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UK 7-inch white vinyl single (2003){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2003|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Lizard King Records|id=LIZARD007X}}

:A. "Mr Brightside"

:B. "Smile Like You Mean It"

UK limited-edition CD single (2003){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2003|type=UK limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Lizard King Records|id=LIZARD007}}

1. "Mr Brightside"
2. "Smile Like You Mean It"
3. "On Top"
4. "Who Let You Go?"

UK limited-edition 7-inch red vinyl single (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=UK limited 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Lizard King Records|id=LIZARD010X}}

:A. "Mr Brightside"

:B. "Who Let You Go?"

UK CD1 (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Lizard King Records|id=LIZARD010CD1}}

1. "Mr Brightside" (radio edit)
2. "Change Your Mind"

UK CD2 (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Lizard King Records|id=LIZARD010CD2}}

1. "Mr Brightside" (album version)
2. "Somebody Told Me" (Insider remix)
3. "Midnight Show" (SBN live session)
4. "Mr Brightside" (enhanced video section)

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Australian limited-edition CD single (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=Australian limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=2103362}}

1. "Mr Brightside"
2. "Somebody Told Me" (Josh Harris remix radio edit)
3. "Who Let You Go?"
4. "Mr Brightside" (video)

European CD single (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=0602498804193}}

1. "Mr Brightside" – 3:42
2. "Somebody Told Me" (Insider remix) – 5:00

European maxi-CD single (2004){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2004|type=European maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=0602498804186}}

1. "Mr Brightside" – 3:42
2. "Somebody Told Me" (Insider remix) – 5:00
3. "Mr Brightside" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke mix) – 8:48
4. "Mr Brightside" (original version video)

US 2×12-inch single (2005){{cite AV media notes|title=Mr. Brightside|others=The Killers|year=2005|type=US 2×12-inch single vinyl discs|publisher=Island Records|id=B0004170-11}}

:A. "Mr. Brightside" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke remix)

:B. "Mr. Brightside" (The Lindbergh Palace club remix)

:C. "Mr. Brightside" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke dub)

:D1. "Mr. Brightside" (The Lindbergh Palace radio remix)

:D2. "Mr. Brightside" (The Lindbergh Palace dub)

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Mr. Brightside"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=22|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=December 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=July 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Diamond|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|access-date=February 26, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|access-date=May 17, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=September 23, 2024|id=13240}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Platinum|number=10|relyear=2004|access-date=January 11, 2025|certyear=2025|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|access-date=September 30, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Killers|title=Mr Brightside|award=Platinum|number=10|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=8583-921-1|access-date=November 22, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Killers|title=Mr. Brightside|award=Diamond|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=January 12, 2024}}

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• List of best-selling singles in Australia

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|LsHC8Hwnh30|Watch "Mr. Brightside" (Alternate Version)}}

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Category:2003 songs

Category:2003 debut singles

Category:2004 singles

Category:The Killers songs

Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller

Category:Songs written by Brandon Flowers

Category:Songs written by Dave Keuning

Category:Black-and-white music videos

Category:Island Records singles

Category:Songs about infidelity

Category:Songs about jealousy

Category:Synth rock songs

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles

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