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Best Selling Broadway Shows

Last updated Dec. 17, 2024 by Broadway.com Staff
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Illustration: Jillian Goeler

Our customer service team is often asked, "What are the most popular shows playing?" Our answer is "it depends"; popularity can change over time as new shows emerge and audience tastes evolve. Some people enjoy musicals, some prefer plays, and some are looking for the best kid-friendly shows.

However, Broadway does have a long-standing tradition of reporting just how much each show sells every week. Below is a list of the "literal" best-selling shows by category.

Pro tip: Shows play in small, medium, and large Broadway theaters that physically hold different amounts of patrons. Consider that when comparing a large musical playing in an 1,800-seat theater to a small play housed in an 850-seat theater.

What You'll Learn About

Overall Best Selling Shows on Broadway

Broadway's best-selling productions have attracted large global audiences due to their high-quality performances and production values. When we refer to "best-selling" Broadway shows, we mean those productions that have sold the highest number of tickets, indicating their immense popularity and appeal. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending December 15, 2024. 

SHOW
1Wicked
2The Lion King
3Hamilton
4Elf the Musical
5Sunset Boulevard
6The Outsiders
7Aladdin
8MJ The Musical
9Gypsy
10The Great Gatsby
11Hell's Kitchen
12Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
13Moulin Rouge! The Musical
14Death Becomes Her
15Back to the Future
16Oh, Mary!
17Cabaret
18& Juliet
19The Book of Mormon
20Romeo + Juliet
21Six
22Suffs
23Hadestown
24Stereophonic
25Water For Elephants
26Chicago
27The Notebook
28Our Town
29Maybe Happy Ending
30A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
31Once Upon a Mattress
32Swept Away
33Left on Tenth
34The Hills of California
35The Roommate
36Tammy Faye
37Cult of Love
38Eureka Day

Best Selling Musicals on Broadway

"Best-selling" Broadway musicals refer to those shows that have achieved the highest ticket sales, showcasing their widespread popularity and the enduring appeal of their music and storytelling. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending December 15, 2024. 

SHOW
1Wicked
2The Lion King
3Hamilton
4Elf the Musical
5Sunset Boulevard
6The Outsiders
7Aladdin
8MJ The Musical
9Gypsy
10The Great Gatsby
11Hell's Kitchen
12Moulin Rouge! The Musical
13Death Becomes Her
14Back to the Future
15Cabaret
16& Juliet
17The Book of Mormon
18Six
19Suffs
20Hadestown
21Water For Elephants
22Chicago
23The Notebook
24Maybe Happy Ending
25A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
26Once Upon a Mattress
27Swept Away
28Tammy Faye

Best Selling Plays on Broadway

"Best-selling" Broadway plays, refers to those shows whose dramatic productions that have drawn the largest audiences, as evidenced by their highest ticket sales, reflecting their widespread acclaim and popularity. Below are results based on gross sales for the performance week ending December 15, 2024. 

SHOW
1Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
2Oh, Mary!
3Romeo + Juliet
4Stereophonic
5Our Town
6Left on Tenth
7The Hills of California
8The Roommate
9Cult of Love
10Eureka Day

Best Selling Kid-Friendly Shows on Broadway

"Best-selling" kid-friendly Broadway shows are those productions that have sold the most tickets in this category, indicating their success in capturing the imaginations of children and their families, and reinforcing Broadway's broad appeal to audiences of all ages. Below are the results based on gross sales for the performance week ending December 15, 2024. 

SHOW
1Wicked
2The Lion King
3Elf the Musical
4Aladdin
5MJ The Musical
6Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
7Back to the Future
8Six
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