MAMMA MIA! - WHAT A FILM
I SAW MAMMA MIA (PG) today - and predict it will be a monster hit throughout the summer with ABBA fans going back time and again to see it.
The whole movie is so deliciously silly and funny from start to finish it will brighten up everyone's holidays.
Assuming, of course, you can't stand ABBA. In which case, you should run a mile. Or see a psychiatrist - preferably in Scotland where they think Rod Stewart is a good singer.
According to figures from the Film Distributors' Association, here's the top ten UK films of all time.
1 Titanic 20th Century Fox £69,025,646
2 Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone Warner Bros. £66,096,060
3 Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring Entertainment £63,009,288
4 Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King Entertainment £61,062,348
5 Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers Entertainment £57,600,094
6 Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets Warner Bros. £54,780,731
7 Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (BVI) UK £52,515,550
8 The Full Monty 20th Century Fox £52,232,058
9 Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Twentieth Century Fox £51,063,811
10 Casino Royale Sony Pictures £50,734,856
Depending on the weather and the economy, I reckon Mamma Mia! could gatecrash the top ten. And it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't challenge Titanic.
Especially as the financial downturn might even work in its favour.
Two reasons. ABBA fans - and there's plenty of them - could see it five times each and still have change from £30 (outside of London). What a bargain!
Moreover, we're all in need of cheering up... and this is the best film medicine in years, far more rewatchable than the Harry Potter and Star Wars nonsense that's hogging three of the top ten places.
Mamma Mia! stars our very own Julie Walters on top form alongside Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth (whose Bridget Jones's Diary is 17th with £42 million).
It's released on Thursday, July 10 so book your tickets for the opening weekend now - and don't miss our full review in the What's On section of the Birmingham Mail on Friday, July 11.
Older/Newer
« DON'T MISS OUR MIST COMPETITION | JACKIE CHAN'S MONKEY BUSINESS »
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Graham Young
The world loves ABBA The music is reaching a whole new generation. The harmony and melody that is an ABBA song is enjoyed by millions of people. Those critics of the band have been silenced by the obvious popularity of the majority. Amazing that thirty years after the band ended as a playing touring unit this is no surprise.
Benny and Bjorn are genius whe it comes to music and their hits and musical productions with Chess and Kristina are also testament to this fact. The blend of Agnetha and Frida singing has not been seen again on the same level of sound and that is why ABBA are so loved the world over.
So the Movie Mama Mia is a huge hit and in the biggest top 6 films ever in the UK
ABBA GOLD is the fourth biggest UK album of all time.
ABBA are selling more music around the world now than they did back in the 70s and 80s. Good luck to them!
Hi Nic
You've clearly got a brain.
Unlike the people who slag Abba for no reason.
Just watching Mamma Mia illustrates how the whole back catalogue just about sums up everyone's life.
What a carefully-crafted library in retrospect, but maybe reaching that point sucked the life out of the band.
Then again, there are so many minorities these days – especially sexual – maybe there's still time for a comeback.
Meanwhile, it's good to see the movie is still taking pots of cash, week in and week out.
If I were a betting man, I could have made a few bob at the bookies - and that would have been better than leaving it at risk in a bank.
And, remember, Ladbrokes reckoned my Oscar tips this year would have given you odds of almost 40-1.