The Right Order To Watch Both ‘Mamma Mia!’ Movies
‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ is a 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Catherine Johnson, adapted from the 1999 musical. The film is based on the songs of ABBA, with additional music by Benny Andersson. It boasts an ensemble cast including Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Meryl Streep, and Julie Walters. The original movie received somewhat mixed reviews, but despite somewhat poor critical reception, ‘ Mamma Mia!’ turned out to be the highest-grossing live-action musical of all time. Due to this, 10 years later a sequel was released and since fans are confused how both are connected, we’re here to tell you how to watch them in proper order.
Both ‘Mamma Mia!’ movies in release date order
The ‘Mamma Mia!’ franchise currently has two installments, with both movies being released 10 years apart. The first installment was a huge commercial success, and even though the sequel earned less than its predecessor, earning $402.3 million against a $75 million budget, it was enough to secure a safe future for the franchise.
- ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ (2008)
- ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ (2018)
Are both ‘Mamma Mia!’ movies connected? What’s the best way to watch them?
Both ‘Mamma Mia!’ movies are connected and set within the same continuity. Both movies are based on the musical of the same name and use music made by ABBA, a popular music group. The best way to watch the movies is in their release date order; however, despite the second movie being full of flashbacks, ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ is both a prequel and the sequel to the first movie.
‘Mamma Mia!’ movies in chronological order
As we’ve said, the release date of the movies follows the chronological timeline of both movies with the ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ being set five years after the events of ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie.’ But, due to the flashbacks in the second movie, it’s considered also a prequel to the first movie. Still, the best chronological timeline to follow is to watch the 2008 and then to watch the 2018 production.
1. ‘Mamma Mia!: The Movie’ (2008)
On the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, bride-to-be Sophie secretly invites three men—Sam Carmichael, Bill Anderson, and Harry Bright—to her wedding, suspecting that one of them is her father. She hopes to figure it out by spending time with them. When the men arrive, Sophie conceals her intentions but reveals she sent the invitations. They agree to keep it a surprise. Donna, Sophie’s mother, discovers the men and demands they leave. Confused and unsure which of the three is Sophie’s father, Donna confides in her friends Tanya and Rosie.
2. ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ (2018)
The storyline serves as both a prequel and sequel, following after the events of the previous film and incorporating flashbacks to Donna’s youth in 1979. Donna, along with friends Rosie and Tanya, graduates from Oxford in a flashback, dreaming of the Greek island Kalokairi. Unhappy with her famous singer mother’s constant absence, Donna sets off to Kalokairi to find her destiny. In the present, Sophie is in Kalokairi preparing for the reopening of Hotel Bella Donna to honor her recently deceased mother. However, challenges arise as some key figures, like Harry and Bill, can’t attend, and Sophie feels distant from Sky, who has a job offer in NYC.
Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?
The first movie, ‘Mamma Mia!’ (2008), can be streamed on Netflix or rented on Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, or Apple TV store. ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ can be streamed on Netflix, Fubo or rented on the aforementioned platforms.
Will there be more ‘Mamma Mia’ movies?
There will be a third ‘Mamma Mia’ movie. In June 2020, Judy Craymer announced the development of a third film, incorporating new ABBA songs written for the band’s reunion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, but ABBA released their album ‘Voyage’ in November 2021. In a May 2023 interview, Andersson expressed skepticism about a sequel, stating it was “wishful thinking” and wouldn’t support it without substantial changes. However, in October 2023, Craymer confirmed the production of the third film.
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