'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again': 3 Reasons Why Musicals Are Box Office Gold
While “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” (Universal) may not open better than the eleven sequels so far this summer– well, it may beat “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” and “The First Purge”– it continues to build on the renewed interest in musicals created by 2008 surprise global smash “Mamma Mia!”
Phyllida Lloyd’s stage musical adaptation turned into the biggest domestic musical hit since “Chicago” (2002), grossing $175 million in the U.S./Canada (all figures are adjusted to 2018 ticket prices). That was less than “Chicago” at $259 million. But its success was notable enough to encourage other musicals in the years since.
In a season of non-stop sequels and franchise entries, here’s why musicals are making a comeback:
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”
Universal
1. Sequels reign
Musical sequels are not common. Of all the genres that have been traditional staples of successful sequels, musicals have seen the fewest. (A musical is a film with singing actors, including numbers that aren’t just stage performances.)
We have seen several big-level musical successes in the last two years, including major hits “Beauty and the Beast,” “La La Land,” and “The Greatest Showman,” preceded by “Les Miserables.” But none spawned a sequel.