HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 - THE VERDICT

TONIGHT I had the privilege of introducing the High School Musical 3: Senior Year at Cineworld Broad Street.

The packed audience, including Birmingham Mail competition winners, were able to watch a live satellite feed from the UK premiere in London's Leicester Square before settling down to see the adventures of Troy and Gabriella.

Not forgetting Sharpay, Chad and the rest of the gang.

I really enjoyed it, and so, too, did many other dads who'd been roped into taking their nippers along for the night out they'll never forget.

I sat next to Birmingham pop queen Jamelia and her family during the screening and her two daughters loved it as much as she did.

Read all about Jamelia's views in Wednesday's Birmingham Mail and don't miss my first review of the film that everyone is dying to see.

Trouble is, it doesn't open until October 22, which makes it even more phenomenal that some performances have already sold out thanks to a record-breaking bout of advance booking by fans.

The big question now is whether or not it can mount any sort of challenge to Mamma Mia.

It will have to go some...

The ABBA musical is still going strong and has now taken an astonishing £64.147m at the UK box office which means it's overtaken all three Lord of the Rings movies.

Only Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (£66.096m) and Titanic (£69.025m) have ever taken more in the UK.

Just in case you overlooked it (how could you) here's a repeat of my blog from July 1. And it's all come true... just like you could have odds of nearly 40-1 at Ladbrokes in February for my Oscar tips.

I SAW MAMMA MIA (PG) today (JUL 1) - 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.