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.
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 5, 2024.
| SHOW | |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Lion King |
| 2 | Cabaret |
| 3 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| 4 | Hamilton |
| 5 | Wicked |
| 6 | The Wiz |
| 7 | MJ The Musical |
| 8 | Merrily We Roll Along |
| 9 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical |
| 10 | Hell's Kitchen |
| 11 | Aladdin |
| 12 | The Great Gatsby |
| 13 | An Enemy of the People |
| 14 | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |
| 15 | Water For Elephants |
| 16 | Uncle Vanya |
| 17 | The Who's Tommy |
| 18 | The Outsiders |
| 19 | Back to the Future |
| 20 | & Juliet |
| 21 | The Book of Mormon |
| 22 | Six |
| 23 | A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical |
| 24 | Hadestown |
| 25 | Illinoise |
| 26 | The Notebook |
| 27 | Appropriate |
| 28 | Chicago |
| 29 | Suffs |
| 30 | Stereophonic |
| 31 | Mother Play |
| 32 | Mary Jane |
| 33 | Patriots |
| 34 | The Heart of Rock and Roll |
| 35 | Lempicka |
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 5, 2024.
| SHOW | |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Lion King |
| 2 | Cabaret |
| 3 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
| 4 | Hamilton |
| 5 | Wicked |
| 6 | The Wiz |
| 7 | MJ The Musical |
| 8 | Merrily We Roll Along |
| 9 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical |
| 10 | Hell's Kitchen |
| 11 | Aladdin |
| 12 | The Great Gatsby |
| 13 | Water For Elephants |
| 14 | The Who's Tommy |
| 15 | The Outsiders |
| 16 | Back to the Future |
| 17 | & Juliet |
| 18 | The Book of Mormon |
| 19 | Six |
| 20 | A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical |
| 21 | Hadestown |
| 22 | Illinoise |
| 23 | The Notebook |
| 24 | Chicago |
| 25 | Suffs |
| 26 | The Heart of Rock and Roll |
| 27 | Lempicka |
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 5, 2024.
| SHOW | |
|---|---|
| 1 | An Enemy of the People |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |
| 3 | Uncle Vanya |
| 4 | Appropriate |
| 5 | Stereophonic |
| 6 | Mary Jane |
| 7 | Patriots |
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 5, 2024.
| SHOW | |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Lion King |
| 2 | Wicked |
| 3 | The Wiz |
| 4 | MJ The Musical |
| 5 | Aladdin |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |
| 7 | Back to the Future |
| 8 | Six |
