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Best Selling Broadway Shows

Last updated May 14, 2024 by Broadway.com Staff
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Illustration: Jillian Goeler

Our customer service team is often asked, "What are the most popular shows playing?" Our answer is "it depends"; popularity can change over time as new shows emerge and audience tastes evolve. Some people enjoy musicals, some prefer plays, and some are looking for the best kid-friendly shows.

However, Broadway does have a long-standing tradition of reporting just how much each show sells every week. Below is a list of the "literal" best-selling shows by category.

Pro tip: Shows play in small, medium, and large Broadway theaters that physically hold different amounts of patrons. Consider that when comparing a large musical playing in an 1,800-seat theater to a small play housed in an 850-seat theater.

What You'll Learn About

Overall Best Selling Shows on Broadway

Broadway's best-selling productions have attracted large global audiences due to their high-quality performances and production values. When we refer to "best-selling" Broadway shows, we mean those productions that have sold the highest number of tickets, indicating their immense popularity and appeal. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending May 12, 2024. 

SHOW
1The Lion King
2Cabaret
3Hamilton
4Wicked
5MJ The Musical
6The Wiz
7Moulin Rouge! The Musical
8Merrily We Roll Along
9Hell's Kitchen
10Aladdin
11The Great Gatsby
12Water For Elephants
13An Enemy of the People
14The Outsiders
15The Who's Tommy
16Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
17& Juliet
18A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
19Uncle Vanya
20The Book of Mormon
21Back to the Future
22Six
23Hadestown
24Suffs
25The Notebook
26Chicago
27Appropriate
28Stereophonic
29Illinoise
30Mother Play
31Mary Jane
32Lempicka
33Patriots
34The Heart of Rock and Roll

Best Selling Musicals on Broadway

"Best-selling" Broadway musicals refer to those shows that have achieved the highest ticket sales, showcasing their widespread popularity and the enduring appeal of their music and storytelling. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending May 12, 2024. 

SHOW
1The Lion King
2Cabaret
3Hamilton
4Wicked
5MJ The Musical
6The Wiz
7Moulin Rouge! The Musical
8Merrily We Roll Along
9Hell's Kitchen
10Aladdin
11The Great Gatsby
12Water For Elephants
13The Outsiders
14The Who's Tommy
15& Juliet
16A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
17The Book of Mormon
18Back to the Future
19Six
20Hadestown
21Suffs
22The Notebook
23Chicago
24Illinoise
25Lempicka
26The Heart of Rock and Roll

Best Selling Plays on Broadway

"Best-selling" Broadway plays, refers to those shows whose dramatic productions that have drawn the largest audiences, as evidenced by their highest ticket sales, reflecting their widespread acclaim and popularity. Below are results based on gross sales for the performance week ending May 12, 2024. 

SHOW
1An Enemy of the People
2Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
3Uncle Vanya
4Appropriate
5Stereophonic
6Mary Jane
7Patriots

Best Selling Kid-Friendly Shows on Broadway

"Best-selling" kid-friendly Broadway shows are those productions that have sold the most tickets in this category, indicating their success in capturing the imaginations of children and their families, and reinforcing Broadway's broad appeal to audiences of all ages. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending May 12, 2024. 

SHOW
1The Lion King
2Wicked
3MJ The Musical
4The Wiz
5Aladdin
6Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
7Back to the Future
8Six
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