Mamma Mia!, promoted as
Mamma Mia! The Movie, is a 2008
romantic comedy film adapted from the 1999
West End musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful
pop group
ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member
Benny Andersson. Produced by
Universal Pictures in partnership with
Tom Hanks' and
Rita Wilson's
Playtone and Littlestar,
it became the highest-grossing film musical of all time breaking the 30-year-old record of
Grease. The title originates from ABBA's 1975 chart-topper "
Mamma Mia".
Meryl Streep heads the cast, playing the role of single mother Donna Sheridan.
Pierce Brosnan,
Colin Firth, and
Stellan Skarsgård play the three possible fathers to Donna's daughter, Sophie (
Amanda Seyfried).
On 29 August 2008,
Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition, with lyrics to the songs highlighted on the screen, was released in selected cinemas.
["Universal Unleashes Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition on Unsuspecting World", New York, August 20, 2008] Mamma Mia! became the highest-grossing film of all time in the
United Kingdom, surpassing
Titanic until
Avatar toppled
Mamma Mia!.
[Mamma Mia! becomes biggest-ever hit at British box office - Telegraph][Mamma Mia is UK's highest grossing film | Film | guardian.co.uk][Avatar overtakes Mamma Mia! as highest-grossing UK film of all time | Film | inthenews.co.uk]
Plot
On a Greek island called Kalokairi, 20-year-old bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan (
Amanda Seyfried) posts three wedding invitations ("
I Have A Dream") to three different men. From across the globe, the men set off for the wedding.