Notable for its opening guitar riff, the song was written as a tribute to the band's former singer Bon Scott, who died suddenly in February 1980.

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", which listed the "most Australian" songs of all time, "Back in Black" was ranked number 22.

[4] The song is featured in the movies Iron Man, Megamind, The Muppets, The Smurfs, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Family Guy, Supernatural, and other films and TV shows.

His replacement Brian Johnson recalled to Mojo magazine in 2009 that when the band asked him to write a lyric for this song, "they said, 'it can't be morbid – it has to be for Bon and it has to be a celebration.'"

"[5] Record World said the song has "everything that's made the band one of the hottest sellers around: powerhouse rhythm grind, guitar raunch & vocal mania.

Then there is Back in Black – a rock and metal song that appeals to everybody, from dads to dudes, to little old ladies beating noisy kids over the heads with their sticks – and it all hangs on that monumental, no-nonsense, three-chord monster of a riff.

"[8] Will Byers from The Guardian said "AC/DC's judicious use of space" in the song helped make it a "classic metal anthem".

[17] In 1984, the Beastie Boys sampled "Back in Black"[12] without permission for their song "Rock Hard".

In 1999, when they wished to include it on an upcoming CD compilation release, they sought permission but AC/DC refused.

Mike D of the Beastie Boys quoted Malcolm Young's reason for refusing as: "'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.