Did you hear there is a newBridget Jonesmovie out? While even asking that sounds stupid given the franchise’s 20 years of success, there’s a reason you could’ve missed the fourth installment:Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boypremiered exclusively on Peacock. It is unclear why Universal decided to forgo a US theatrical release, especially considering it wasreleased in theatersinternationally— already hitting$73 million after its second weekend. Perhaps it is becausePeacock is only available in the USor Universal feared turnout would be worse than theprevious Bridget Jonesinstallment,which grossed a mere $25 millionin the US, but $187 million internationally. There hasn’t been much comment on the matter apart from the book series’s author,Helen Fielding,telling Variety that she"completely respect[s] what Universal decided to do," and “people watchBridget— all three movies are still streaming — so they will watch this one at home. It’s a good movie to watch on the sofa, I think.” With all due respect to Ms. Fielding,Universal should have treated Bridget better.
The Time is Right for ‘Bridget Jones’ Nostalgia and Its Stars
It is easy to fault Hollywood for mining old movies and cashing in on nostalgia for an easy hit… but when it works, it works. Last year,TwistersandBeetlejuice Beetlejuicewere huge box office successesdespite being sequels to movies that were 28 and 36 years old,respectively. Audiences like familiarity, but too much of the same thing only goes so far. Audiences were ready forGhostbusters: Afterlife,which became a hit, but two and a half years later,Ghostbusters: Frozen Empirefailed to surpassAfterlife’s numbers despite coming out when more people were going to theaters. There hasn’t been a Bridget Jonesmovie since 2016, so it’s not unreasonable to think audiences might want to check in on one of their favorite Brits. Not only is the character familiar, but this movie stars actors audiences still adore.
The last movieRenée Zellwegerstarred in won her theAcademy Award for Best Actress.Zellweger may be more selective with her projects, but if her Oscar win proved anything, it’s that in the right role, audiences will still pay attention when she stars in a movie. While the power of movie stars is fading, there are some people who have maintained a name that will always attract an audience. Zellweger is not unlikeDemi Moore,who might win an Oscarfor her first major role in years. They’re like long-distance friends: you may not see them for a while, but when you do, it’s like no time has passed.
‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ — Who’s Joining Renée Zellweger in Her Fourth Outing as the Iconic Character
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall star as Bridget Jones’ new love interests.
Bridget JonesMad About the Boyalso benefits from another movie star:Hugh Grant! Grant has been on a roll since charming the entire planet as Phoenix Buchanan inPaddington 2. He has continued stealing the show with supporting roles in films likeDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among ThievesandWonka,not to mention a delightfully surprising appearance inGlass Onion! He alsojustreceivedmajor critical acclaim and some awards attentionfor last fall’sHeretic. One would think a studio would want to coast off these two legitimate stars at new heights to open their next film, but bolstering a US-only streaming service was clearly more important. It’s a shame becauseBridget Jones: Mad About the Boywould directly appeal to an underserved audience: women.
News Flash: Women Like to See Movies Too!
The top performers at the box office the past two years have been female-centric narratives (while the year prior, 2022,was Na’vi-centric). BothInside Out 2andBarbiewere huge successes at the global box office and featured an ensemble of women at the center. Arguably their success could be chalked up to brand familiarity, but consider another hit from last year:It Ends With Us. While it was based on a popular book,It Ends With Usundeniablysurpassed box office expectationsby grossing nearly $150 million domestically and $202 million internationally.
In a healthier movie market, there would be more options for people than just comic, action, superhero, or supercharged films focused on men. There seems to be a fear of releasing anything too small or anything without broad appeal, but a movie likeIt Ends With Usshows playing to a niche or underserved audience will bring in crowds. Sometimes people want to see movies about a woman going through stuff that isn’tliterallythe end of the world (even if it feels like it is).
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boyshould have been in theaters and it probably would have been at least a modest hit if it was. It would have been the perfect date movie for Valentine’s Day weekend for couples too squeamish forHeart Eyes, too adult forPaddington in Peru,and wanting something more romantic thanCaptain America: Brave New World. The proof is in the pudding asBridget Jones: Mad About the Boyhas been a hit in theaters across the pond! People want to see movies in theaters, but when not offered the kinds of movies they want to see, people are happy to stay in. Theaters need more options, and Bridget Joneswould have been a great one.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boyis available to stream on Peacock.
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy
