Mamma Mia! Film Opens Strong with $27.6 Million at Box Office

In spite of stiff competition from the newest Batman film, the film version of Mamma Mia! enjoyed a strong opening weekend at the box office, taking in a solid $27.6 million. Although that total didn't approach The Dark Knight's record-breaking $155.4 million, it narrowly beat the opening total of last year's feature film transfer of Hairspray. Universal Studios' decision to release Mamma Mia! as a counter-programming move to the dark sequel to Batman Begins paid off.

Together, the two films created the biggest opening weekend ever in terms of total grosses, according to Variety. Overseas, where Mamma Mia! opened a week ahead of its U.S. premiere, the movie grossed $26.8 million in its second week for an impressive total of $72.6 million.

Mamma Mia! stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Starsgard, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper. It was adapted for the big screen by book writer Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the hit stage show.