MAMMA MIA! The Movie Becomes Highest Grossing Film in UK

Variety is reporting that "Mamma Mia! The Movie" has become the largest grossing picture of all time in the United Kingdom. The film has a running gross of $109 million, passing "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" which took in $107.6 million dollars. The film could be well on its way to becoming the greatest grossing film of all time, trailing only James Cameron's "Titanic" which grossed $112.5 million.

Variety reports that "U.K. bookers attribute the sensational perf to the enduring popularity of all things Abba, auds' appetite for feel-good fare (possibly to alleviate the misery of the depressing state of the economy), a strong maintaining campaign by Universal and the attractiveness of the British-Irish heavy cast, which includes Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters and fast-rising thesp Dominic Cooper."

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 170 cities and eight languages around the world. Bringing the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to movie audiences, summer 2008 is the season for MAMMA MIA!

The feature film adaptation of the global stage hit production brings the magic of ABBA's music to the silver screen. With rising star Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skasgârd, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, the film features the stars' versions of 17 ABBA classics in this celebration of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads.

The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit—global producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd—repeat their roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen. The MAMMA MIA! film is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)—from her one-time backing band, Donna & the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

For more information visit www.mammamiamovie.com

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.