Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)
In a nostalgic flashback to 1979, we find a young and spirited Donna Sheridan graduating with pride from New College, Oxford, alongside her two inseparable best friends, Rosie and Tanya. The trio’s bond is as radiant as their dreams, and they celebrate this pivotal moment in their lives with joy and youthful defiance, bursting into a triumphant performance of “When I Kissed the Teacher.” As confetti rains down and the crowd erupts, it's clear that Donna is not only stepping into adulthood, but also preparing to chart a course toward a life less ordinary.
Despite the jubilance, there is a bittersweet undertone to the day. Donna’s mother, Ruby Sheridan, a legendary singer known across the globe, is noticeably absent from the ceremony. Her glamorous but distant lifestyle has always kept her at arm’s length from Donna, and the emotional distance has worn thin over the years. The sting of Ruby’s absence at such a landmark event deepens Donna’s resolve. She is determined not to follow in her mother’s footsteps, not in fame, but in absence. She yearns to live a life filled with authenticity, adventure, and unforgettable memories. That desire leads her to the sun-drenched Greek island of Kalokairi—a place that has always lingered in her dreams.
Fast forward to the present day. Donna’s daughter, Sophie, is in Kalokairi herself, lovingly preparing for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna. Once a rundown farmhouse, it’s now a stunning homage to her mother’s vision and legacy. The hotel has been renovated in Donna’s memory, and Sophie is determined to make it a success. However, she’s weighed down by emotional and logistical burdens. Her husband, Sky, has been offered a job in New York City and is considering accepting it. The distance between them—both literal and emotional—is growing, and Sophie feels increasingly isolated. Meanwhile, two of her three father figures, Harry and Bill, can’t attend the reopening due to overseas obligations. In her solitude, Sophie reflects on her mother’s strength and wonders if she has inherited any of it.
Back in 1979, Donna’s journey takes her first to Paris, where she meets Harry Bright, a sweet, awkward young man who is immediately smitten by her free spirit and charm. Their connection is instantaneous, and they fall into a whirlwind romance, dancing and laughing their way through the Parisian night to the tune of “Waterloo.” But Donna’s heart remains set on Greece, and she quietly slips away before Harry wakes, leaving only a memory in her place.
Donna continues her journey south and, after missing her ferry to Kalokairi, meets Bill Anderson, a rugged and spontaneous sailor who offers her a ride on his boat. The chemistry between them is playful and magnetic. As they dance and flirt to “Why Did It Have to Be Me?” they rescue a local fisherman named Alexio, who’s desperately trying to stop the love of his life from marrying someone else. The detour is chaotic but magical, reinforcing Donna’s belief that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
Meanwhile, Harry, determined and romantic, has followed Donna to Greece. But he’s too late—Donna has already sailed off with Bill, and his chance to win her heart slips away like the tide.
In the present, Sophie welcomes Rosie and Tanya to Kalokairi. The vibrant duo brings much-needed joy and comfort to Sophie, who shows them around the newly restored hotel. As they explore the grounds, it echoes Donna’s own first moments at the abandoned farmhouse decades earlier. A sudden, powerful storm strikes the island, mirroring one from the past. In 1979, during a similar storm, Donna discovers a trapped horse and manages to calm it with the help of a kind stranger—Sam Carmichael. Their connection is instant and profound.
Sam lives on the island and is everything Donna never knew she needed. Their romance burns fast and bright, encapsulated in their tender duet, “The Name of the Game.” But when Donna discovers that Sam is already engaged, her world shatters. Betrayed and heartbroken, she sends him away, and watches as he disappears from her life in sorrowful resignation (“Knowing Me, Knowing You”).
Soon after, Tanya and Rosie return to Kalokairi to support their friend. They rally Donna’s spirits with an energetic, heartwarming performance as Donna and the Dynamos (“Mamma Mia”), bringing back the light to her life. Bill also returns, and Donna joins him on his boat, much to the quiet heartbreak of Rosie, who has secretly fallen for Bill. Unaware of Sam’s return and his decision to call off his engagement, Donna finds herself caught between three fleeting loves and a new, uncertain future.
Not long after, Donna discovers she is pregnant. With no idea who the father is, she chooses to embrace motherhood alone. Fate steps in when Bill’s great-aunt Sofia offers her the farmhouse she’s been staying in. With gratitude and hope, Donna accepts and decides to make Kalokairi her home. It’s here that she gives birth to Sophie, beginning the next chapter of her life.
Back in the present, Sophie confides in Rosie and Tanya about her rocky relationship with Sky. Rosie shares her own heartbreak over Bill, adding to the emotional honesty of the moment (“Angel Eyes”). Meanwhile, Bill, Harry, and Sky—determined to be there for Sophie—find themselves stranded due to the storm. But fate intervenes again when Alexio, the fisherman Bill once helped, recognizes him and offers safe passage to the island in gratitude. Moved by the gesture, the trio brings along others to attend Sophie’s celebration. Their arrival—set to the euphoric anthem “Dancing Queen”—turns the gloomy day into a festive, joyous occasion. Bill and Rosie reconnect, united in their grief and love for Donna. Sophie, full of emotion, reveals to Sky that she’s pregnant, and they rekindle their bond, feeling Donna’s presence stronger than ever.
The party is interrupted by an unexpected guest—Ruby Sheridan. Though not invited, she arrives in full diva fashion, having been tracked down by Sky. She expresses her desire to build a relationship with her granddaughter and acknowledges, with a rare display of emotion, the pain of losing Donna. Sophie, touched by Ruby’s sincerity, performs with Tanya and Rosie in a heartfelt tribute to her mother (“I’ve Been Waiting for You”). Moved by the moment, Ruby reconnects with Señor Fernando Cienfuegos, the hotel manager—who turns out to be her long-lost love from 1959. Their passionate reunion sparks joy among all the guests (“Fernando”).
Nine months later, Sophie gives birth to a baby boy, Donny. Surrounded by her loved ones, Sophie hosts a christening at the church on the island. In a tender, otherworldly moment, Donna’s spirit appears, watching with pride and love as Sophie holds her child. Mother and daughter share one final, silent goodbye as Donna’s presence fades into the ether (“My Love, My Life”).
The story concludes in joyous harmony. During the credits, we return to the Hotel Bella Donna, where characters from the past and present—Donna and her younger self included—join together in one last spirited performance of “Super Trouper,” celebrating love, family, and the enduring legacy of Donna Sheridan.
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