In 1989, "Rolling Stone" ranked "1999" 16th on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. In 2003, VH1 placed "1999" number 48 in its list of the 100 Greatest Albums. The album was also part of "Slant Magazine"s list The 50 Most Essential Pop Albums and the magazine listed the album at number 8 on its list of Best Albums of the 1980s. In 2003, the album was ranked number 163 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It maintained the rating in a 2012 revised list, and was re-ranked number 130 in 2020. The album was also included in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.