Netflix adds ‘one of the greatest films ever’ and ‘even better’ sequel | Films | Entertainment

Two beloved musical films have landed on Netflix this week, arriving at just the right moment as warmer days begin to beckon.

Both productions raked in enormous figures at the box office and continue to command an incredibly dedicated fanbase of millions, who’ll be delighted to find them back on the streaming platform.

Boasting a stellar A-list cast of international talent, including several much-loved British icons, and a soundtrack packed with some of the greatest pop anthems ever recorded, this irresistible double bill is absolutely not to be missed.

We are, naturally, referring to the ABBA-inspired musical Mamma Mia! and its 2018 follow-up Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, both of which landed on Netflix UK from Tuesday, 24th February.

The original film features Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as Donna and Sophie, a mother and daughter running a charming but slightly faded hotel on a picturesque Greek island.

With her wedding fast approaching, Sophie secretly invites three potential fathers — Sam (played by Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) — after uncovering her mother’s diary and discovering she had a whirlwind romance with each of them the summer before Sophie was born.

The sun-drenched sequel transports viewers back to 1979 to reveal the story of that fateful summer, with Lily James portraying a young Donna, whilst in the present timeline, Sophie prepares to reopen the family hotel following a heartbreaking loss. Also featuring the talents of Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper, Andy García, and pop legend Cher, this magnificent double bill is essential viewing for any dancing queens seeking a guaranteed mood-lifter after a long day at work.

Devotees have been singing the praises of both films for years, with one Letterboxd user declaring the original Mamma Mia is “the most rewatchable movie of all time and it makes me so happy. all i want to do is live on a greek island and sing abba songs.

“Talented. Brilliant. Incredible. Amazing. Show stopping. Spectacular. Never the same. Totally unique. Completely not ever ever been done before,” someone else gushed.

“Genuinely one of the greatest films of all time,” another said, and another reviewer admitted: “probably my most watched movie ever.”

Film enthusiasts who doubted the sequel could possibly match the dizzying heights of the original Mamma Mia were swiftly proved mistaken.

One IMDb user said: “When I read that there will be another film for mamma Mia, i was worried that it will not be fun and exciting as the original and what else they can add or what songs will they play.

“Until I watched it today, the film is really wonderful, even better than the first one in a weird way. I didn’t expect that at all I was laughing and singing all the time.”

Another agreed: “One of the best films i have ever watched. It’s so rare a sequel is good, let alone possibly better than the first.”

A further fan declared it represents a “rare case of [a] sequel better than [the] original.”

Fresh confirmation from NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley has established that Mamma Mia 3 is undoubtedly in development, making this an ideal moment to rediscover these captivating contemporary favourites.

Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again are available to stream on Netflix.

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