Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Sharon Maguire from a screenplay by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, and Richard Curtis. It is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Fielding, which was itself a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The film stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, a 32-year-old British single woman who writes a diary, which focuses on the things she wishes to happen in her life. However, her life changes when two men vie for her affection, portrayed by Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones appear in supporting roles. Principal photography began in August 2000 and ended in November, and took place largely on location in London and the home counties. Bridget Jones's Diary premiered at the Empire in London on 10 March 2001 and was released on 13 April simultaneously in the United Kingdom and in the United States. It grossed $282 million worldwide against a production budget of $25 million and received generally positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Zellweger's titular performance, which garnered her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 74th Academy Awards. It has been hailed as part of the English pop culture, with Bridget Jones being cited as a British cultural icon. The success of the film spawned a Bridget Jones film series, with three sequels being released, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Bridget Jones's Baby (2016) and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025).