'Mamma Mia!' is U.K.'s top-grossing film

LONDON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The bubbly movie musical "Mamma Mia!" has become the highest grossing British film of all time in the United Kingdom.

With $110 million in British box-office receipts, the star-studded romantic romp set to the ABBA song book beat the previous British champion "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the Daily Telegraph said. "Mamma Mia!" has earned $500 million worldwide.

"Casino Royale" dropped to third place and the rest of the box office all-time top 10 was comprised of the four other installments in the "Potter" franchise, "The Full Monty," "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Love Actually."

British heartthrob Colin Firth starred in three of the top-grossing British films -- "Mamma Mia!," "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Love Actually."

The Telegraph said the Hollywood epic "Titanic" is the only movie to have made more money in Britain than "Mamma Mia!" It took in $113 million at the British box office and is the current worldwide box office topper

Phil Clapp, chief executive of the Cinema Exhibitors' Association, told the newspaper the release of "Mamma Mia!" couldn't have come at a better time.

"In times of economic gloom, people seek affordable and escapist entertainment," Clapp said. "'Mamma Mia!' has really tapped into the public's desire for feelgood escapism. An absolute phenomenon."