The New ‘Bridget Jones’ Sequel Just Blew Up the Streaming Charts

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy celebrates Valentine’s Day by ranking No. 1 on Peacock. Renée Zellweger returns to the small screen as the romantic comedy’s titular character for the first time since Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016) and discovers the “casual cruelty” of being ghosted by a new lover. However, despite nearly a decade having passed, the latest sequel in the franchise is scoring with both critics and audiences, even though the film has killed off Bridget’s husband and fan-favorite Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Book lovers know that Mark also died in author Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel of the same name.

Peacock’s Mad About the Boy currently registers a “Certified Fresh” 85% on the Tomatometer against 80 reviews posted by the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans are also enjoying Mrs. Darcy’s return to the dating world, as evidenced by the rom-com’s Popcornmeter rating (formerly the RT audience score) of 83%. This time around, the “tragic widow” first sets her romantic sights on someone “who might be slightly younger,” the 29-year-old Roxter (Leo Woodall).

Then there is also Mr. Wallaker, a science teacher portrayed by the MCU’s own Chiwetel Ejiofor of Doctor Strange fame. However, several beloved actors from the original Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) reprise their roles in Mad About the Boy, along with Zellweger, including the aforementioned Firth and, of course, Hugh Grant, who is now the proud “uncle” of Bridget’s children. Although, he still brings up Bridget’s skirt.

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Posts Renée Zellweger “Was Heartbroken” by Mark Darcy’s Death Close

In Mad About the Boy, Bridget Jones still has the comfort and company of her three best friends, Shazzer (Sally Phillips), Jude (Shirley Henderson), and Tom (James Callis). However, the absence of Mark Darcy has left holes in the hearts of both the character and the actress portraying the single mother who rom-com fans so adore, and Renée Zellweger revealed why she is “heartbroken” about the death of Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy in an interview with Empire, saying:

“It’s so peculiar because of the connection to this character I’ve come to love. I love him. I love this person that Colin plays when we get together again. And I was heartbroken. It was such a peculiar thing to be heartbroken that a fictional character is gone from your life, [but I’ve] gotten to know him since 2000. And of course, Colin, he’s an integral part of that experience, and to not share it with him. I won’t lie. I shed some tears. It’s just, I guess, like life. Part of the magic just disappears.”

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Speaking of love, Zellweger gushed about her own character during the same sit-down by saying:

“I love this character. It’s such a unique experience to have the opportunity to revisit a character, to get to know her, in a different stage of her life as she evolves and grows. I feel great warmth for her. I’m also really protective over her, and so the quality of the project is always at the forefront.”

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is now streaming exclusively on Peacock. However, for those who haven’t seen the other installments in the must-see romantic comedy series, viewers will have to subscribe to one more platform to watch the entire heartwarming saga. Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and Bridget Jones’s Baby are all available to stream and/or binge-watch on Max through the link below:

Watch Bridget Jones

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Comedy Drama Romance Release Date February 13, 2025 Director Michael Morris Writers Helen Fielding Cast See All Renée Zellweger Hugh Grant Emma Thompson Chiwetel Ejiofor

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