Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
95%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret has finally made its way to the big screen, and it’s a delightful and heartwarming adaptation of Judy Blume’s iconic novel. The film captures the essence of the 70s with its Polaroid-style haze and nostalgic tone, transporting viewers to a simpler time. The performances are precise and careful, with Rachel McAdams delivering a standout performance as Margaret’s mother. While some critics may find the film to be a bland fantasy, it strikes a universal chord and remains a radical act of kindness, tackling timely issues such as reproductive health and sex education. Overall, this charming and atmospheric movie is an utter delight and a minor miracle in its faithful adaptation of such an interior life onto the screen.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is like a warm hug from your childhood best friend. The movie perfectly captures the essence of Judy Blume’s iconic novel, with a Seventies vibe that will make you want to break out your bell-bottoms and platform shoes. The performances are spot-on, especially Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s mother, who delivers a heart-wrenching monologue that will leave you reaching for the tissues. And while the film deals with serious topics like reproductive health and sex education, it never loses its sense of humor or its ability to transport you back to a time when the biggest worry in your life was getting your first bra. Overall, this movie is an utter delight and a must-see for anyone who grew up reading Judy Blume.
Production Company(ies)
Gracie Films, Lionsgate
Distributor
Lionsgate
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
SHOOT LOCATION(S):
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States; North Carolina, United States; York, South Carolina, United States; New York, New York, United States; New Jersey, United States
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2023
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Kathy Bates, Amari Alexis Price, directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, written by Kelly Fremon Craig, produced by Julie Ansell, James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Judy Blume, Amy Brooks, Aldric La’Auli Porter, genre: Comedy, Drama, box office: $16.5M, MPAA rating: PG-13, reviewed by Ed Power, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Deborah Ross, Leaf Arbuthnot, Clarisse Loughrey, Danny Leigh, Josh Larsen, Markie Robson-Scott, Matt Conway, Dann Gire, Eileen Jones, produced by Gracie Films.
Worldwide gross: $17,370,250
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $17,370,250
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): REPORTED BUDGET:
$30,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Abby Ryder Fortson – Margaret Simon
Elle Graham – Nancy
Director – Kelly Fremon Craig
Producers – Julie Ansell, James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume, Amy Brooks, Aldric La’Auli Porter
Writer – Kelly Fremon Craig
Production Company – Gracie Films
Sound Mix – Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio – Flat (1.85:1)
Director(s)
NA
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (166) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (164) | Rotten (2)
Framed in a Polaroid-style Seventies haze, the mood is Classic Coke ad meets the Wonder Years, a sugary concoction that goes down perfectly.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Power
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This lovely film strikes a universal chord.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
Metro Newspaper (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This is a wonderfully charming, warm, tender, pitch-perfect film, much better than anything else I’ve seen recently.
May 18, 2023
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
The novel that Blume long prevented from being made into a film has finally received the big-screen treatment. The result, thank goodness, is lovely: tender, funny, at points very moving, and full of precise and careful performances.
May 18, 2023
Leaf Arbuthnot
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Much has changed since Blume first published her work. And, also, very little… Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret remains a radical act of kindness.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
lume’s widescreen social context remains, with timely-once-more subplots about reproductive health and sex education.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A minor miracle…
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig’s charming, atmospheric movie is mainly faithful to Judy Blume’s iconic novel, fans will be relieved to know, though transferring such an interior life on to the screen is by definition problematic.
May 18, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Markie Robson-Scott
The Arts Desk
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is an utter delight.
May 17, 2023
Matt Conway
Battle Royale With Cheese
McAdams, in what clearly qualifies as the personal best of her career, tells Margaret the unpleasant family history in a clear, deliberate voice, but her eyes betray the lingering pain and sadness that she refuses to express.
May 17, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dann Gire
Chicago Daily Herald
It comes off as a bland fantasy film about a land peopled by smiling denizens in sunny dreamscapes who have such mild problems that they aren’t actually problems.
May 17, 2023
Eileen Jones
The Jacobin
It’s hard to watch Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and not be transported to a certain point in your own life.
May 17, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
Amelia Harvey
Frame Rated…
Plot
In Lionsgate’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic novel, 11-year-old Margaret navigates the challenges of puberty and adjusting to life in the suburbs after moving from New York City with her mother and grandmother.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t provide any goofy, funny, or odd comments about the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
NA.jpg
