<P> Mamma Mia! (promoted as Mamma Mia! The Movie) is a 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy film based on the 1999 musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson . An international co-production between Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and distributed by Universal Pictures in partnership with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's Playtone and Littlestar, and the title originates from ABBA's 1975 chart - topper "Mamma Mia". Meryl Streep plays the lead role of single mother Donna Sheridan . Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård play the three possible fathers to Donna's daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). </P> <P> The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was widely acclaimed with audiences, grossing $615 million on a $52 million budget, becoming the fifth highest - grossing film of 2008 . A sequel, titled Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, is scheduled for a July 20, 2018 release in North America and the United Kingdom with most of the cast returning . </P> <P> On the Greek island of Kalokairi, 20 - year - old bride - to - be Sophie Sheridan reveals to her bridesmaids, Ali and Lisa, that she has secretly invited three men to her wedding without telling her mother, Donna . They are the men that her mother's diary reveals could have been her father: Irish - American architect Sam Carmichael, Swedish adventurer and writer Bill Anderson, and British banker Harry Bright . She dreams of being given away by her father at her wedding, and believes that after she spends time with them she will know which is her father . </P> <P> Sophie's mother Donna, who owns a villa, is ecstatic to reunite with her former Dynamos bandmates, wisecracking author Rosie Mulligan and wealthy multiple divorcée Tanya Chesham - Leigh, and reveals her bafflement at her daughter's desire to get married . Donna shows off the villa to Rosie and Tanya . The three men arrive and Sophie smuggles them to their room . She doesn't reveal that she believes one of them is her father, but does explain that she and not her mother sent the invitations . She begs them to hide so Donna will be surprised by the old friends of whom she "so often" favorably speaks . They overhear Donna working and swear not to reveal Sophie's secret . </P>

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