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Best Selling Broadway Shows

Last updated Sept. 26, 2023 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 September 24, 2023. 

  SHOW
1 The Lion King
2 Hamilton
3 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
4 MJ The Musical
5 Wicked
6 Merrily We Roll Along
7 Aladdin
8 Moulin Rouge! The Musical
9 Back to the Future
10 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
11 & Juliet
12 The Book of Mormon
13 A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
14 Six
15 Gutenberg! The Musical
16 Some Like It Hot
17 Chicago
18 Shucked
19 Here Lies Love
20 Hadestown
21 Kimberly Akimbo
22 The Cottage
23 Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
24 The Shark Is Broken
25 Melissa Etheridge: My Window - A Journey Through Life
26 Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

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 September 24, 2023.

  SHOW
1 The Lion King
2 Hamilton
3 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
4 MJ The Musical
5 Wicked
6 Merrily We Roll Along
7 Aladdin
8 Moulin Rouge! The Musical
9 Back to the Future
10 & Juliet
11 The Book of Mormon
12 A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical
13 Six
14 Gutenberg! The Musical
15 Some Like It Hot
16 Chicago
17 Shucked
18 Here Lies Love
19 Hadestown
20 Kimberly Akimbo
21 Melissa Etheridge: My Window - A Journey Through Life

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 September 24, 2023.

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  SHOW
1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
2 The Cottage
3 Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
4 The Shark Is Broken
5 Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

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 September 24, 2023.

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