**Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Breaks UK and Ireland Romcom Opening Records**
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has set a new record for the highest opening weekend for a romantic comedy in the UK and Ireland, as reported by Universal. The fourth installment of the franchise, centered around the hapless heroine, garnered $14.9 million (£11 million) in its debut weekend, surpassing the opening of Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World.
This latest film has outperformed the previous record holder, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. While less recognized in the US, the new Bridget Jones film did not receive a theatrical release there, opting instead for a direct launch on Universal’s streaming service, Peacock.
The film’s success in the UK follows strong pre-sales, which exceeded those of the record-breaking Margot Robbie film, Barbie, part of last year’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon. Produced by Working Title, known for British classics like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, and Notting Hill, Bridget Jones 4 has achieved the highest opening in the company’s history. It also marked the franchise’s biggest debut in Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences have responded positively, giving the film an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The character of Bridget Jones first emerged in 1995 through anonymous columns in The Independent, penned by journalist Helen Fielding. Fielding’s four subsequent books about Bridget became bestsellers.
Ahead of the film’s release, Renée Zellweger, who stars as Bridget, expressed her enthusiasm, stating that playing the character is “the best job in the world.” Alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall, Zellweger shared her affection for Bridget, highlighting her humor, vulnerability, and imperfections. The first film earned Zellweger an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the beloved character.