Mamma Mia!and its sequel,Mamma Mia! Here We Go Againare remembered for being a fun, campy capture of ABBA’s joyous songs. The plot is thin at best, but theMamma Mia!movies pulled together some of the greatest actors of their generations to bring the story to life. HopefullyMamma Mia 3will be pulled out of development hellfollowing the future success ofWicked: For Good.
From Oscar-winning performances to iconic villain roles to James Bond himself,the cast of theMamma Mia!movies have made their indelible marks on the history of cinema.It’s fun to see actors known for serious, weighty performances cut loose on the beautiful beaches ofDonna’s Greek island, singing and dancing in a way their more dramatic roles don’t afford them. Here are the best movies the cast ofMamma Mia!have starred in over the years when they aren’t singing ABBA.
10Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Julie Walters As Molly Weasley
TheHarry Potterfilm series was a true cultural phenomenon, capturing a generation’s imagination as the books came to life on screen just as internet film discourse was beginning to take shape.The movies became a shared coming-of-age experience, with audiences growing alongside the characters. Julie Walters, beloved asthe ultimate mom, Molly Weasley, showed incredible range playing Rosie Mulligan inMamma Mia!, where she embraced a fun-loving, free-spirited persona, a sharp contrast to Molly’s heavy responsibilities as a mother of seven during a rising political crisis.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Cast
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix follows Harry’s return to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where he finds himself disbelieved about Lord Voldemort’s return. As a result, Harry takes initiative, forming a group of students to master defense against dark forces, facing opposition from the Ministry of Magic.
Order of the Phoenixmarked a turning point for theHarry Potterfilms, introducing director David Yates, who steered the franchise to its end. Yates’ approach brought a tighter, more mature focus, cutting subplots like Hermione’s S.P.E.W. campaign to make the film sharper and more emotionally direct.Order of the Phoenixalso featured some of the most emotionally resonant material for Molly Weasley, including her husband’s attack and her fight with Sirius over Harry’s best interests.
9Cruel Intentions (1999)
Christine Baranski As Bunny Caldwell
Cruel Intentionswas a provocative movie that captured the late ’90s zeitgeist.The movie launched or cemented the movie star status ofthe young cast ofCruel Intentions, including Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, and Selma Blair. Christine Baranski played Bunny Caldwell, Blair’s controlling, class-obsessed mother, fixated on maintaining her family’s social standing at any cost.
Cruel Intentions
With a screenplay and direction by Roger Kumble, Cruel Intentions is a Romance and Teen Drama film that stars Selma Blair, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe. The plot revolves around a group of teens, with a man betting one of them that he can seduce a girl successfully.
WhileCruel Intentionsis far darker in tone, there’s a clear throughline to Baranski’s later role as Tanya Chesham-Leigh inMamma Mia!, a thrice-divorced socialite who, if not for the comedic framing, could easily be a lighter version of Bunny. Both characters wield wit, snobbery, and social maneuvering as weapons, but Tanya’s antics are softened byMamma Mia!’s sunny, musical world, allowing Baranski’s sharp comedic timing to shine just as brightly.
8Bridget Jones’s Diary (2004)
Colin Firth As Mark Darcy
Bridget Jones’s Diarylaunched a new wave of chick flicks that balanced self-empowerment with romance, showing that a woman’s journey to love could be just as much about personal growth. Renée Zellweger’s Bridget was a messy, lovable, and deeply relatable character who redefined what a rom-com heroine could look like. The movie’s impact has been so enduring that it continues to make sequels in 2025 withBridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Based on the novel by Helen Fielding, the rom-com Bridget Jones’s Diary revolves around a 32-year-old single woman who keeps a diary of her life and romantic encounters. Starring Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant, the 2001 movie was a massive commercial and critical success.
Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy brought a fresh take on the classic romantic hero, directly inspired byPride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy. Firth embodied a new type of male lead: bumbling, awkward, yet deeply sincere and charming, proving that vulnerability could be just as attractive as the traditional, polished leading man, a skill he brings to the nebbish Harry Bright inMamma Mia!.
7Mean Girls (2004)
Amanda Seyfried As Karen Smith
Mean Girlswas a true cultural moment, the defining teen comedyfor a generation that came of age in the aughts.Written bySNL’s Tina Fey, the film delivered a script so sharp and endlessly quotable that nearly every scene spawned a line still referenced today. Its impact was so massive that even the2024Mean Girlsmusical remake(also penned by Fey) couldn’t quite capture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of the original.
Mean Girls
Mean Girls tells the story of Cady (Lindsay Lohan), a teen girl who falls in with the wrong crowd. After returning to the USA after spending her childhood in Africa, Cady infiltrates her school’s group of mean girls, befriending the conniving Regina George (Rachel McAdams) and her cronies. However, Cady finds the high school hierarchy to be far more complicated than she had imagined, drawing her into a game of manipulation and deceit that threatens her reputation.
Amanda Seyfried was initially considered for the role of Regina George but wasperfectly cast as Karen Smith instead, bringing a sweet, hilarious charm to the ditzy best friend. Her performance proved her comedic timing, which she would bring to the role of Sophie Sheridan inMamma Mia!, where she balanced humor, heart, and musical energy with effortless charm.
6Baby Driver (2017)
Lily James As Debora
Baby Drivermade a huge impact as a completely original concept from auteur director Edgar Wright, blending high-octane action with a meticulously curated soundtrack that acted as the film’s heartbeat. With an incredible ensemble cast and a fresh approach to storytelling,it earned three Oscar nominations and solidified Wright’s reputation as one of the most inventive filmmakers of his generation.
Baby Driver
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, getaway driver Baby is determined to escape his life of thievery and violence to make a life with his girlfriend Debora, However, when he finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail, things start looking desperate.
Lily James played Deborah, a diner waitress who becomes the hopeful, grounding force for Ansel Elgort’s character, Baby.Her role required a warmth, sweetness, and quiet strength that she later expanded upon when playing a young Donna inMamma Mia!Here We Go Again. Both characters offer a sense of freedom and escape, with James bringing an openhearted spirit and emotional depth that makes her effortlessly magnetic on screen, stepping in to fill the void left byMeryl Streep’s character’s death.
5Moonstruck (1987)
Cher As Loretta Castorini
Moonstruckwas a triumph critically and commercially, beloved for its rich characters, heartfelt humor, and exploration of love’s messy realities.The movie earned six Oscar nominations and won three, including Best Actress for Cher, who played Loretta Castorini, a pragmatic woman swept up in a wildly unexpected romance. Cher was already a major pop culture figure, butMoonstruckcemented her credibility as a serious actress.
Moonstruck
Moonstruck follows 37-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini, who accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny despite not loving him. Complications arise when she meets Johnny’s estranged brother Ronny, igniting unforeseen romantic tensions amidst family secrets and personal revelations.
While she continued acting in select projects afterward, likeBurlesque, the win ultimately steered her back toward music, where she enjoyed even greater longevity.Decades later, Cher returned to the big screen inMamma Mia! Here We Go Again, stealing the showwith one unforgettable musical number, “Fernando,” and reminding audiences of her singular, larger-than-life star power.
4The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Meryl Streep As Miranda Priestly
The Devil Wears Pradashattered expectations of what a chick flick could be, both a box office win, and a movie critics adored, delivering sharp wit, emotional complexity, and stunning performances.At the heart of its success is Meryl Streep’s iconic turn as Miranda Priestly,a character so icy and ruthless yet layered with fleeting glimpses of vulnerability that she became instantly unforgettable.
The Devil Wears Prada
Based on Lauren Weisberger’s novel, The Devil Wears Prada stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an aspiring journalist who, after landing a job with top New York fashion designer Miranda Priestly, gets drawn deeper and deeper into the cutthroat world of the fashion industry. Meryl Streep stars alongside Hathaway as Miranda Priestly, with a further cast that includes Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Simon Baker.
Though Streep’s career spans every genre and style, Miranda remains one of her signature roles, so much so that she’s set to reprise the character inthe confirmedDevil Wears Pradasequel. Her influence even slipped intoMamma Mia!, where, during a fantasy sequence,Streep’s Donna wears the same pair of sunglasses that Miranda wore, blending her two iconic performances and showcasing the lasting cultural imprint ofThe Devil Wears Prada.
3GoldenEye (1995)
Pierce Brosnan As James Bond
GoldenEyemarked a major revival for theJames Bondfranchise, introducing Pierce Brosnan as a sleeker, more emotionally accessible Bond for a new era.While still carrying the suave charm and sharp wit of previous Bonds, Brosnan’s portrayal added a vulnerability that helped modernize the character without losing his iconic edge.GoldenEyereestablished Bond as a cultural force after a six-year hiatus and set the tone for action films of the late ’90s.
GoldenEye
The seventeenth installment in Eon Productions' James Bond movie franchise, Goldeneye marks Pierce Brosnan’s first time playing MI6 agent James Bond. Goldeneye follows 007 as he works to prevent a former fellow agent from using a satellite weapon to attack London in order to cause a global financial crisis. Also stars Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming, and Judi Dench.
In some ways, Brosnan’s casting inMamma Mia!was the most surprising of the ensemble, asno one expected a former Bond star to step into an ABBA-filled jukebox musical. He might have been off-key, but his earnestness and willingness to embrace the role’s joyful silliness made him a beloved part of the film’s heart and humor.
2The Godfather Part III (1990)
Andy García As Vincent Mancini
The Godfather Part IIIserves as the somber, reflective conclusion to Michael Corleone’s story, capturing the heavy toll his choices have taken over the years.Set decades after the first two films, it explores Michael’s desperate attempt at redemption and legacy. The movie also introduces Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini, the fiery, impulsive son of Michael’s late brother Sonny. Vincent’s blend of loyalty, ambition, and temper makes him a natural, if complicated, heir to the Corleone legacy.
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III: Released on July 21, 2025, this third installment in Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy follows Michael Corleone’s efforts to legitimize his crime family’s interests in 1979 while dealing with his past sins and mentoring a young protege in both New York and Italy.
Garcia’s powerful performance earned him an Oscar nomination and solidified his status as a leading man after rising to prominence in 1987’sThe Untouchables.Garcia’s small but memorable role inMamma Mia! Here We Go Againis a delightful surprisefor fans, especially when it’s revealed he’s the long-lost love interest of Cher’s character, adding an extra layer of fun and nostalgia.
1Good Will Hunting (1997)
Stellan Skarsgård As Professor Gerald Lambeau
Good Will Huntingwas a landmark film that launched Ben Affleck and Matt Damoninto stardom, winning them an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and setting the tone for their careers.While much of the attention rightfully goes to Damon’s sensitive performance and Robin Williams’s Oscar-winning turn as the empathetic therapist, Stellan Skarsgård plays a crucial role as Professor Lambeau, the math professor who first recognizes Will’s extraordinary potential.
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting centers around a gifted janitor, Will Hunting, whose mathematical genius is recognized by professors. As he navigates his complex personal life and inner struggles, he is guided by a therapist who helps him confront his past and realize his potential.
Skarsgård, often known for portraying intense, morally complex characters in films likeBreaking the Wavesand laterPirates of the Caribbean, brought gravitas and nuance to the part. This is why it’s so much fun to see him playing against type inMamma Mia!as Bill Anderson, the good-natured, carefree adventurer, showcasing a lighter, more charming side rarely seen in his earlier work.
