Nearly a decade after the latest sequel to Bridget Jones’s Diary hit theaters, the beloved romantic comedy series continues with Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Based on the eponymous Helen Fielding novel and released in 2001, Bridget Jones’s Diary concerns 30-something Bridget (Renée Zellweger) who decides to take control of her life and journals the entire experience. Itself a send-up to Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’s Diary quickly became a classic of the cinematic romance genre, and it didn’t take long for the blockbuster to receive a sequel.

2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason again drew inspiration from Helen Fielding’s book and continued Bridget’s journey. It would take over a decade for 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby to arrive, but the threequel not only brought fans back in droves but also earned high marks from critics compared to its immediate predecessor. Besides being some of Renée Zellweger’s best movies, the trilogy has been a financial juggernaut. This made a fourth Bridget Jones movie seem inevitable, though fans had to wait until February 2025 for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy to finally arrive.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Critical Reception

A Much-Needed Return For Zellweger’s Beloved Heroine

Though it hardly had the triumphant arrival of its predecessors (at least in the United States), Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy delivered another classic Bridget Jones chapter. Scoring a Rotten Tomatoes rating in the 80s, the film has gotten a bevy of high marks from critics across the board. Though NPR was somewhat off-put by the movie’s more somber aspects, the reviewer admitted that the new tone was fitting for the fourquel. The Guardian specifically mentioned Zellweger’s excellent performance, and even sprinkled praise on newcomers like Chiwetel Ejiofor.

All in all, the sequel delivered exactly what long-time fans were hoping for, while also adding new wrinkles to Bridget’s life. The darker moments didn’t seem to detract from the tongue-in-cheek humor, and general audiences have been eating it up. Though the film is a streaming exclusive in the US, it has become the biggest rom-com opening in UK cinematic history (via BBC).

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Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Cast

Renée Zellweger Returns Alongside New & Old Faces

All of the Bridget Jones movies have something in common, and that common denominator is lead actor Renée Zellweger, who rocketed to fame in the eponymous role. Fortunately, Zellweger is back to play the quirky and lovable Bridget Jones once again, and she isn’t the only legacy character in the ensemble. Hugh Grant returned to play Daniel Cleaver after a two-decade absence. Also, Emma Thompson reprised her role as Bridget’s doctor, Dr. Rawlings. Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy is sadly deceased in the movie’s story, but he appears in flashbacks.

Bridget is rejoining the dating pool, and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Doctor Strange) plays the handsome teacher, Mr. Wallaker who catches her eye. Meanwhile, Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) plays 20-something hunk, Roxster, who becomes Bridget’s love interest. Isla Fisher was cast in the sequel, and is Bridget’s new neighbor, Rebecca. A host of other returning actors came back for the fourquel, including Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent as Bridget’s parents, alongside the likes of Sarah Solemani, Sally Phillips, and Shirley Henderson who all reprised their roles from earlier installments.

The cast of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy includes:

Actor	Bridget Jones Role
Renée Zellweger	Bridget Jones
Hugh Grant	Daniel Cleaver
Colin Firth	Mark Darcy
Emma Thompson	Dr. Rawlings
Jim Broadbent	Bridget’s Dad
Gemma Jones	Bridget’s Mom
Sarah Solemani	Miranda
Sally Phillips	Shazzer
Shirley Henderson	Jude
James Callis	Tom
Neil Pearson	Richard Finch
Joanna Scanlan	Cathy
Celia Imrie	Una
Chiwetel Ejiofor	Mr. Wallaker
Leo Woodall	Roxster
Isla Fisher	Rebecca
Nico Parker	Chloe
Leila Farzad	Nicolette

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Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Trailer

Watch The Full Trailer Below

To advertise the movie’s release in early 2025, Peacock dropped the full trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. It catches up with Bridget, widowed several years hence, as she is spurred back into dating by her friends and family. A single mom, Bridget chafes against the modern constraints of romance, but soon catches the eye of a handsome teacher, Mr. Wallaker, and a rugged 20-something, Roxster. Meanwhile, former beau Daniel Cleaver rejoins the mix, and Bridget is suddenly a H๏τ commodity once again.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Ending & Spoilers

Bridget Has To Make Another Tough Choice

At its heart, the Bridget Jones film series is about the loves and foibles of its тιтle character, and it that respect, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy hits the nail on the head. Bridget’s choice to get back out into the dating scene immediately presents her with challenges, but the ending of the fourth installment has a bit more weight considering all the things she’s learned about herself over the years. With kids to consider, Bridget ultimately makes the more logical choice for herself and her family, and it shows that she can have a happy ending without sacrificing what’s best for her specifically.

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