Hunting High and Low at 15 in the U.S., according to "Billboard" music charts and has sold about 1.8 million copies in the U.S. It peaked at 2 on the UK charts (re-enter at number 83 in 2015), and hit 1 in Norway. The album has been certified platinum in the United States and 3x platinum in UK. On the "Billboard" 200, "Hunting High and Low" held the record for the highest-charting album by a Norwegian artist until "Do It Again" by Norwegian duo Röyksopp and Swedish singer Robyn (which peaked at number 14). Beginning with the single "Take On Me", A-ha's debut album
Hunting High and Low drew inspiration from Patterson's animated film "Commuter" and the film "Altered States". The innovative video for "Take On Me" was first broadcast on local Boston music video station V-66, and soon after given heavy rotation on MTV. The single debuted in "Billboard" the week of 13 July 1985, and was heading into the U.S. top twenty when it was given an international release, including a second release in Norway and a third shot at the UK market. It hit number one on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in the United States, spending 27 weeks on the charts and becoming the tenth-biggest