Mamma Mia! Harry Potter No Longer Top Box Office Record Holder in UK
Movies
Posted by: Sue
October 31, 2008, 10:06 AM
New figures released today show that Mamma Mia has now become the highest-grossing British film at the UK box office, taking over the spot long held by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone film. According to the BBC, after 16 weeks of release the film has taken in £67.2m (British Pounds), beating Sorcerer's/Philosopher's record earning £66.1m.
Of the Mamma Mia film, the BBC states "Sing-along versions of the film in cinemas have also helped boost the film's success.
"What is interesting is the speed at which it has gotten to this
level," David Kosse, president of Universal Pictures International told
industry paper Screen International.We are ahead of Harry Potter and continue to be ahead of Titanic at this stage, and we think it still has some life in it.
"One driver is the multiple viewings with people going back to
see it again and again. It really is happening on a scale that we
haven't seen before."
The Harry Potter films still hold many spots on the list as noted below:
TOP BRITISH FILMS AT UK BOX OFFICE
1. Mamma Mia! - £67.2m
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - £61.1m
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - £54.8
4. The Full Monty - £52.2m
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - £49.4m
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - £48.8m
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - £46.1m
8. Bridget Jones's Diary - £42m
9. Love Actually - £36.9m
10. Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason - £36m
The reason Mamma Mia does well is just because of Abba. It doesn’t surprise me. Abba was really popular in Europe (?maybe not in US? I don’t know). I still have their music on my ipod (alongside much more modern stuff I hasten to add!)
Mind you, I didn’t go to see the film as the trailer looked cringeworthy and I didn’t want to see Colin Firth sink even lower in my estimation than he’s managed so far!
@Celia, the one that surprises me is Full Monty. I know it was a big hit in the UK but the fact it made this list I think is remarkable. It was a very low budget film. It’s a pity Hot Fuzz didn’t get as much exposure in our cinemas because that was miles better. I never saw Love Actually (a slushy romantic comedy?)
Thats just wrong! What does that say for the Brits….Abba people? Huh?