Bridget Jones has made box office history, smashing the UK and Ireland's all-time romantic comedy record with a stunning £12.3 million opening weekend.
The fourth instalment in the beloved British franchise, Mad About the Boy, outperformed Marvel's latest superhero offering, Captain America: Brave New World, in a remarkable victory for British cinema.
The film, starring Renée Zellweger in her iconic role, handily beat the previous record held by Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, which took £10 million in 2004.
The triumph follows impressive pre-sales that surpassed even last year's blockbuster Barbie, cementing Bridget's enduring appeal with British audiences.
Renee Zellweger at the Mad About the Boy premiere in London
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Working Title, the production company behind other British hits like Love Actually and Notting Hill, celebrated their highest-ever opening with the latest Jones adventure.
The film's success extended well beyond British shores, topping the weekend box office rankings in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
However, American audiences won't be seeing Bridget on the big screen, with the film going straight to streaming via Peacock in the United States.
The Telegraph's film critic Robbie Collin told BBC Radio 4's Front Row this was because Americans "don't care about Bridget" and that the character remains "an extremely local concern".
Leo Woodall plays Bridget's love interest in the new film
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The character, created by British writer Helen Fielding, first appeared in 1995 as anonymous columns in The Independent before becoming a literary and cinematic phenomenon.
Despite not reaching the heights of 2024's major blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine, Wicked and Moana 2, it marks the biggest UK opening of the year thus far.
The latest chapter finds Bridget as a widowed single mother, navigating the challenges of parenthood, work and modern dating in London.
Four years after the death of Mark Darcy, Bridget finds herself re-entering the dating world with two potential suitors.
Leo Woodall stars as Roxster, a younger love interest, whilst acclaimed actor Chiwetel Ejiofor appears as her son's science teacher.
Series favourites Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson both make welcome returns to the franchise.
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The film has resonated strongly with audiences, earning an impressive 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from viewers.
Young actors Casper Knopf and Mila Jankovic have also earned praise for their performances as Bridget's children Billy and Mabel.
