The film features an ensemble cast, including Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Andy García, Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Cher, Meryl Streep, Alexa Davies, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Josh Dylan, Jeremy Irvine, and Hugh Skinner.

Both a prequel and a sequel, the plot is set after the events of the previous film, and is intersected with flashbacks to Donna's youth in 1979, with some scenes from the two time periods mirroring each other.

Filming took place from August to December 2017 in Croatia (most prominently Vis), Bordeaux, Stockholm, Oxford, Hampton and at Shepperton Studios.

A British and American joint venture, the film was co-produced by Playtone, Littlestar Productions, Perfect World Pictures, and Legendary Entertainment.

[5] The film was a box office success, grossing $402 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews, as an improvement over its predecessor with critics praising the performances and musical numbers.

In a flashback to 1979, a young Donna Sheridan graduates from Oxford's New College with her best friends, Rosie and Tanya ("When I Kissed the Teacher"), and dreams of the Greek island Kalokairi.

Fed up with her mother's constant absence and determined to spend her life making memories, Donna travels to Kalokairi to find her destiny.

Harry and Bill can't attend due to overseas obligations and Sophie also feels estranged from her husband, Sky, who has been offered a job in New York City ("One of Us").

In Paris, Donna meets the sweet, awkward Harry Bright, who instantly falls in love with her ("Waterloo").

On the way, they help a stranded fisherman named Alexio to go back to shore in time to save the love of his life from marrying someone else.

A heavy storm then breaks out and Donna discovers a trapped horse, and soothes it with the assistance of Sam Carmichael.

Before Sophie was born, Donna and Sam were enjoying a whirlwind romance ("The Name of the Game") which ended badly when she discovered he was engaged.

Meanwhile, Bill, Harry, and Sky leave their ventures abroad to support Sophie but are told there are no boats to Kalokairi.

When the guests arrive ("Dancing Queen"), Bill and Rosie soon reunite over their mutual grief over Donna's death, and Sophie tells Sky she is pregnant and never feeling closer to her mother.

[11] On 27 September 2017, Benny Andersson confirmed 3 ABBA songs that would be featured in the film: "When I Kissed the Teacher", "I Wonder (Departure)", and "Angeleyes".

[13] Later that month, Dominic Cooper confirmed that he would return for the sequel, along with Streep, Firth and Brosnan as Sky, Donna, Harry, and Sam, respectively.

[21][22][23][24] In October 2017, the cast gathered at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England, to film song and dance numbers with Cher.

[29] Universal sponsored YouTube stars the Merrell Twins to perform a cover version of the song "Mamma Mia" to promote the film.

He described his reaction to the first film as "a combination of hives and bubonic plague", but concedes that this time, the relentlessness and greater self-aware comedy made him smile.

"[48] Mark Kermode of The Observer gave the film five stars and commented, "This slick sequel delivers sharp one-liners, joyously contrived plot twists and an emotional punch that left our critic reeling.

"[49] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone awarded the film two and a half stars out of five, noting the absence of Streep for the majority of the film hindered his enjoyment, and saying, "her absence is deeply felt since the three-time Oscar winner sang and danced her heart out as Donna Sheridan".

[50] Lindsay Bahr of Associated Press awarded the film three out of four stars, calling it "wholly ridiculous", but complimenting its self-awareness.

[51] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the sequel a mixed review, awarding it two stars out of four, criticizing the reprises of "Dancing Queen" and "Super Trouper" as uninspired, and feeling that some of the musical numbers dragged the pacing.