Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Bridget Jones is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

Director:

Sharon Maguire

Writers:

Helen Fielding (novel), Helen Fielding (screenplay)

Stars:

Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Zellweger	...	Bridget Jones
Gemma Jones	...	Bridget's Mum
Celia Imrie	...	Una Alconbury
James Faulkner	...	Uncle Geoffrey
Jim Broadbent	...	Bridget's Dad
Colin Firth	...	Mark Darcy
Charmian May	...	Mrs. Darcy
Hugh Grant	...	Daniel Cleaver
Paul Brooke	...	Mr. Fitzherbert
Felicity Montagu	...	Perpetua
Shirley Henderson	...	Jude
Sally Phillips	...	Shazza
James Callis	...	Tom
Charlie Caine	...	Handsome Stranger
Gareth Marks	...	Simon in Marketing

Storyline

Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance into whom Bridget cannot seem to stop running or help finding quietly attractive.

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Plot Keywords:

unfaithfulness | employer employee relationship | opposites attract | love triangle | book publishing | 

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Taglines:

NOW Vote Bridget - A True Party Girl. I Pledge To: - Introduce tax relief for singletons - Make it law that men must call the next day - Cut the price of Chardonnay by 50 pence a litre [During 2001 UK General Election]

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some strong sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2008, the Bridget Jones character was accused for the decline in sale of chardonnay. Oz Clarke, one of Britain's best-selling wine writers, said the character's association with the wine had hurt its reputation; "Until Bridget Jones, chardonnay was really sexy. After, people said, 'God, not in my bar'."

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Goofs

When we first see Bridget writing in her diary, listing the type of person she's not going to get involved with (with narration), she is writing on the left-hand page. In the next shot, she is at the bottom of the right-hand page.

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Quotes

[On Bridget]
Natasha: Bizarre what some men find attractive.

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Crazy Credits

The European and Australian version of Bridget Jones's Diary does not contain footage of the birthday party during the credits. Instead, it has interviews with Daniel Cleaver (twice), Mark Darcy's parents, and the boss at 'Sit up Britain'.

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Alternate Versions

The songs that play over the second half of the end credits are different. In the UK the first Robbie Williams song is followed by Dina Carroll singing "Someone Like You", and then Williams again, singing "Not Of This Earth". The US version replaces Carroll with Shelby Lynne singing "Killin' Kind", then concludes with the same Williams track.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 20 Opposites Attract Movie Couples (2020)

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Soundtracks

I'm Every Woman
Written by Nick Ashford (as Ashford) and Valerie Simpson (as Simpson)
Performed by Chaka Khan
By Arrangement with Warner Bros Records Inc
Courtesy of Warner Special Products/Warner Special Marketing (UK)

User Reviews

Quality!

What made this film work? What made this film break the usual British romantic conventional route? One actress! Her name is Renee Zellwegger, seriously, if the actress was British, this film would've been -'been there, done that'. Instead, this clever casting has made Bridget Jones a wonderful little picture.

Renee Zellwegger is an actress who changed to suit the screenplay, now that is ACTING! Her mannerisms, her weight, her enthusiasm and cutesy style are a wonder to behold.

Colin Firth does a great job, he plays his role well, a future James Bond perhaps? Hugh Grant finally gives us something different, he was actually quite funny at times.

Maguire as the director handles the proceedings extremely well, this is her debut and I think she will become quite successful with small films. The Super35 wide-screen frame is used well, bravo! The screenplay is lightweight, but written well, plenty of ad-lib and spontaneity transcend the script.

As a male, sit back and have a laugh. Quality!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bridget Jones's Diary

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,733,933, 15 April 2001

Gross USA:

$71,543,427

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$281,931,601

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1