Mamma Mia!

On a sun drenched Greek island, a soon to be married woman shares a house with her single mother and dreams of a perfect wedding. To uncover who her real father might be, Sophie secretly invites three of Donna's former loves to visit without her mother knowing. The plan is simple in its impulse: invite the men, see if one could walk her down the aisle, and keep the whole scheme from bursting into scandal. As the invitations land and the guests arrive, the island hums with music and memory, sparking a collision of past romances, friendship, and the delicate balance of family bonds in the shadow of a big day. Music swirls as old loves collide with nerves tonight.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the film adapts the long running stage musical built on ABBA songs, with a screenplay by Catherine Johnson and the ABBA writers Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The production captures sunlit locations and energetic song numbers.

It earned roughly 609,841,637 worldwide, a strong return on its 52 million budget, with audiences around the globe drawn to its sunny musical numbers and lighthearted romance. The film's success helped popularize the stage musical and its breezy mood worldwide.

On a cultural level the movie helped restore ABBA's music to new audiences, turning familiar songs into feel good moments and bolstering a global stage musical, merchandise, and a sunny Mediterranean vibe that lingered in pop culture. The soundtrack dominated charts and inspired new productions and tours for years ahead.

Reception tended to be upbeat, highlighting the movie's gleeful energy and catchy ABBA tunes rather than its narrative depth. Critics praised strong performances by Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, and the film foregrounds friendship, family ties, and the liberating pull of love. Its energy echoed in weddings and film soundtracks.