Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Discover Donna's (Meryl Streep, Lily James) young life, experiencing the fun she had with the three possible dads of Sophie (Amanda Seyfriend). As she reflects on her mom's journey, Sophie finds herself to be more like her mother than she ever even realized.
Despite a substantial budget of $75.0M, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again became a solid performer, earning $395.6M worldwide—a 427% return.
1 win & 13 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Ol Parker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Sophie Sheridan
Young Donna Sheridan
Sky
Sam Carmichael
Young Sam Carmichael
Tanya Chesham-Leigh
Young Tanya
Rosie Mulligan
Young Rosie
Ruby Sheridan
Bill Anderson
Young Bill Anderson
Harry Bright
Young Harry Bright
Main Cast & Characters
Sophie Sheridan
Played by Amanda Seyfried
Young woman reopening her mother's hotel while pregnant, seeking to understand Donna's past and connect with her legacy.
Young Donna Sheridan
Played by Lily James
Free-spirited college graduate in 1979 who travels to Greece, meets three men, and discovers her dream of running a hotel.
Sky
Played by Dominic Cooper
Sophie's supportive husband who encourages her dreams while navigating their relationship and impending parenthood.
Sam Carmichael
Played by Pierce Brosnan
One of Sophie's three possible fathers, an architect who was Donna's great love and eventual partner.
Young Sam Carmichael
Played by Jeremy Irvine
Ambitious young architect in 1979 who falls deeply in love with Donna during a chance encounter in Greece.
Tanya Chesham-Leigh
Played by Christine Baranski
Donna's wealthy, thrice-divorced best friend who provides comic relief and worldly wisdom.
Young Tanya
Played by Jessica Keenan Wynn
Donna's confident Oxford classmate in 1979 who encourages her adventures and romantic pursuits.
Rosie Mulligan
Played by Julie Walters
Donna's down-to-earth best friend, a warm-hearted woman who finds unexpected romance.
Young Rosie
Played by Alexa Davies
Donna's loyal Oxford friend in 1979 who joins her adventures and provides grounded support.
Ruby Sheridan
Played by Cher
Donna's estranged mother, a glamorous former singer who arrives to support Sophie and reconcile with her past.
Bill Anderson
Played by Stellan Skarsgård
One of Sophie's three possible fathers, a Swedish sailor and adventurer with a kind heart.
Young Bill Anderson
Played by Josh Dylan
Free-spirited Swedish sailor in 1979 who brings spontaneity and passion to Donna's summer.
Harry Bright
Played by Colin Firth
One of Sophie's three possible fathers, a British banker who overcame his reserved nature to embrace family.
Young Harry Bright
Played by Hugh Skinner
Shy British writer in 1979 who breaks out of his shell during a transformative Greek adventure with Donna.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Sophie prepares to reopen Hotel Bella Donna on Kalokairi, one year after her mother Donna's death. Parallel timeline shows young Donna graduating Oxford in 1979, ready to see the world.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Sophie discovers she's pregnant and Sky is in New York pursuing a job opportunity. Storm warnings threaten the hotel reopening. Young Donna meets Harry for the first time on the island.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Sophie decides to push forward with the hotel reopening despite challenges, inviting everyone to the grand opening. Young Donna chooses to stay on Kalokairi and make it her home., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Sky arrives but announces he's been offered the job in New York permanently. Sophie realizes their visions for the future don't align. Young Donna discovers she's pregnant and all three men leave the island. False defeat in both timelines., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sophie breaks down, believing she's failed her mother's legacy. The storm hits in full force. She feels completely alone. Metaphorical death of her confidence and the dream of honoring Donna properly., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ruby Sheridan (Cher), Donna's mother, arrives unexpectedly. Her presence and reconciliation with the past gives Sophie the breakthrough - she doesn't have to be alone, and Donna's spirit lives on through love and community., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again against these established plot points, we can identify how Ol Parker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sophie prepares to reopen Hotel Bella Donna on Kalokairi, one year after her mother Donna's death. Parallel timeline shows young Donna graduating Oxford in 1979, ready to see the world.
Theme
Tanya tells Sophie "Your mother would want you to be happy" - establishing the film's theme about honoring the past while embracing life and joy.
Worldbuilding
Dual timelines establish Sophie's struggle organizing the hotel reopening while pregnant and uncertain, intercut with young Donna's journey to Paris and arrival at Kalokairi. Sophie feels alone without her mother's guidance.
Disruption
Sophie discovers she's pregnant and Sky is in New York pursuing a job opportunity. Storm warnings threaten the hotel reopening. Young Donna meets Harry for the first time on the island.
Resistance
Sophie debates whether she can handle the hotel and motherhood without Donna. The Dynamos arrive to support her. Parallel story shows young Donna navigating romance with Harry and the pain of her mother's rejection.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sophie decides to push forward with the hotel reopening despite challenges, inviting everyone to the grand opening. Young Donna chooses to stay on Kalokairi and make it her home.
Mirror World
Young Donna's relationship with Bill begins, showing the joy and freedom of falling in love. This mirrors and illuminates what Sophie needs - to embrace life despite fear and loss.
Premise
The promise of the premise: musical numbers, romance, and island joy. Sophie works on hotel preparations while young Donna's love triangle with Harry, Bill, and Sam unfolds. Multiple musical performances celebrate love and life.
Midpoint
Sky arrives but announces he's been offered the job in New York permanently. Sophie realizes their visions for the future don't align. Young Donna discovers she's pregnant and all three men leave the island. False defeat in both timelines.
Opposition
Sophie and Sky's relationship strains. Weather worsens, threatening the reopening. Young Donna faces pregnancy alone, building the hotel from nothing. The parallel struggles intensify as both women face their fears of abandonment and inadequacy.
Collapse
Sophie breaks down, believing she's failed her mother's legacy. The storm hits in full force. She feels completely alone. Metaphorical death of her confidence and the dream of honoring Donna properly.
Crisis
Sophie processes her grief and fear in the darkness of the storm and her self-doubt. Young Donna faces her own dark night giving birth to Sophie alone, before Sam returns.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ruby Sheridan (Cher), Donna's mother, arrives unexpectedly. Her presence and reconciliation with the past gives Sophie the breakthrough - she doesn't have to be alone, and Donna's spirit lives on through love and community.
Synthesis
The hotel reopening becomes a celebration of Donna's life. Sophie and Sky reconcile, choosing love over logistics. The baptism of Sophie's baby merges past and present. Everyone comes together in "Super Trouper" finale honoring Donna.
Transformation
Sophie cradles her baby surrounded by family and friends, at peace with her mother's legacy and her own future. Donna appears in spirit form, watching over them. The closing mirrors the opening but shows Sophie has found joy and confidence through embracing her mother's spirit of resilience and love.