Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2025
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Products	Romantic comedy film
Parent	Working Title Films, Miramax, StudioCanal, Universal Pictures

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a 2025 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Morris, featuring a screenplay crafted by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, and Abi Morgan. Serving as the fourth chapter in the Bridget Jones franchise and a follow-up to Bridget Jones's Baby (2016), this installment adapts Fielding's 2013 novel. The cast reprises key roles with Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, and Emma Thompson returning, alongside new additions such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Isla Fisher, Josette Simon, Nico Parker, and Leila Farzad.

The story centers on Bridget Jones (Zellweger), now a widowed mother juggling the demands of raising children, advancing her career, and navigating the complexities of contemporary dating. With support from friends, family, and her former partner Daniel Cleaver (Grant), she explores relationships involving a younger man (Woodall) and her son's science teacher (Ejiofor).

The movie premiered in France on 12 February 2025 through StudioCanal and launched in the United Kingdom on 13 February via Universal Pictures. It became available on the American streaming service Peacock also on 13 February.

Plot

Bridget Jones, mother to school-aged children Billy and Mabel, prepares for an evening out after years of focusing on family life. While Daniel Cleaver watches the kids, Bridget attends a memorial event honoring her late husband Mark Darcy, who passed away four years prior during humanitarian work in Sudan. She faces both sympathy and encouragement to re-enter the dating scene.

Upon returning home, Billy and Mabel remain awake. Mabel spots a white owl outside their window each night. Bridget reminisces about Mark singing to their children and contemplates conflicting advice from loved ones. Inspired by her deceased father Colin’s wish for her to embrace life fully and Dr. Rawlings’s recommendation to resume working, Bridget reaches out to Richard and steps into a role as a television producer.

As Bridget begins dating again, she encounters Roxster, a 29-year-old park ranger, through Tinder. After exchanging messages, they set up a date with friends offering guidance. Their relationship develops over summer; Mabel quickly dubs Roxster their "new daddy," whereas Billy struggles with his grief over his father's absence.

Invited to speak at Billy’s school about her profession, Bridget demonstrates producing skills by interviewing Scott Walliker, the science teacher. What starts as a basic discussion about insect life cycles evolves into deeper conversations about the existence of souls.

At a colleague’s birthday celebration, Roxster makes an impressive entrance but then disappears without explanation the following morning after mentioning his wish for a time machine. Meanwhile, Daniel suffers a heart scare and reaches out to Bridget feeling lonely and distanced from his son. With Bridget’s encouragement, he attempts to mend their relationship.

Roxster returns to offer an apology and expresses commitment to Bridget and her children. She declines his advances but pens a moving letter to Mark on his birthday. Together they release balloons carrying messages for Mark in a local park.

During a school excursion to the Lake District, Bridget converses with Scott, who reveals he has never had children. Billy shares his fear of forgetting his father; Scott comforts him by affirming that Mark lives on within him.

At the school’s winter pageant, Billy performs "I'd Do Anything" as a tribute to Mark. Grateful for Scott’s support in helping her family heal, Bridget invites him out with friends. Outside the pub, Scott confesses his feelings for her before they share a kiss.

One year later, Bridget hosts a New Year’s Eve gathering attended by family and friends including Scott and Daniel—who has reconciled with his son Enzo. After the festivities, as the children watch the owl take flight once more, Scott assists Bridget with unzipping her dress and they share another kiss.

Cast

Cameo appearances in a news montage feature UK broadcast journalists Gillian Joseph, Gamal Fahnbulleh, Daniel Heard, and Maryam Moshiri.

Production

In October 2022, author Helen Fielding announced plans for a fourth installment in the Bridget Jones film series. By April 2024, the project was officially launched, adapting Fielding's third novel, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2013). The main cast includes returning stars Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Emma Thompson, alongside new additions such as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall. Direction is helmed by Michael Morris, working from a screenplay by Fielding with input from Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer. The production is managed by producers Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Jo Wallett under the Working Title Films banner, with co-financing provided by Miramax.

Additional cast members—Isla Fisher, Josette Simon, Nico Parker, and Leila Farzad—were announced in May 2024, with several original actors returning to their roles. Filming began on 10 May 2024 at Sky Studios Elstree in London and concluded on 8 August. The trailer released in November 2024 disclosed that Mark Darcy (portrayed by Colin Firth) has passed away offscreen, establishing Bridget as a widow; nevertheless, Firth appears in flashbacks and fantasy sequences.

Soundtrack

The musical score for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy was composed by American pianist Dustin O'Halloran. This original soundtrack was made available on 14 February 2025 through Back Lot Music, a Universal Studios Music division. Concurrently, Universal Music Recordings released Bridget Jones's Diary: The Mixtape, a curated collection spanning the franchise’s films, produced with music executive producer Nick Angel. This compilation features songs from the first three movies as well as selections from Mad About the Boy, including contributions from artists such as Jessie Ware, Al Green, Raye, and Dinah Washington. It also highlights Olivia Dean’s original track "It Isn't Perfect, But It Might Be," which plays during the film’s ending credits and served as the lead single. The single reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart, while the soundtrack peaked at number 64 on the UK Albums Chart.

Release

The international release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy commenced on 12 February 2025 across countries including Belgium, France, and Switzerland, with distribution in France handled by StudioCanal. On 13 February, the film premiered in cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland via Universal Pictures, while in the United States it became available exclusively on the streaming platform Peacock.

Box office

During its opening weekend across 71 territories, the film generated $35.5 million internationally. The UK and Ireland led with $14.8 million, followed by Australia and France each contributing $3.3 million. By its second weekend, worldwide earnings reached $67.6 million, including $34.5 million from the UK, $6 million from Australia, $4.2 million from Poland, $3.3 million from the Netherlands, and $1.9 million from Spain.

Awards and nominations

Honors awarded to Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Award	Ceremony date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome	References
Gotham TV Awards	June 2, 2025	Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast, or Streaming	Michael Morris, director; Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jo Wallett, producers	Template:Nom
		Outstanding Performance in an Original Film	Renée Zellweger	Template:Nom
Astra TV Awards	June 11, 2025	Best TV Movie	Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy	Template:Nom
		Best Cast Ensemble in a Limited Series or TV Movie		Template:Nom
		Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie	Renée Zellweger	Template:Nom
		Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie	Hugh Grant	Template:Nom
Gold Derby TV Awards	August 18, 2025	Best TV Movie	Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy	Template:Pending
		Best Limited Series or TV Movie Actress	Renée Zellweger	Template:Pending
		Best Limited Series or TV Movie Supporting Actor	Hugh Grant	Template:Pending
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	September 7, 2025	Outstanding Television Movie	Helen Fielding, Renée Zellweger, Amelia Granger, Sarah-Jane Wright, executive producers; Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jo Wallett, producers	Template:Pending