Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (film)

'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a 2023 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Judy Blume. The film stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the title character, along with Rachel McAdams, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, and Kathy Bates.

The film had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 23, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on April 28, 2023, by Lionsgate. It received positive reviews and grossed $21 million worldwide.

Plot
In 1970, eleven-year-old Margaret Simon is informed by her parents Barbara and Herb that the family is moving from New York City to a New Jersey suburb, as Herb has received a promotion. Margaret is upset about leaving her friends and her paternal grandmother, Sylvia, and begins to communicate with God about her concerns, anxieties, and hopes.

Upon moving to New Jersey, Margaret is quickly befriended by her neighbor and soon-to-be classmate Nancy Wheeler. Nancy welcomes Margaret into her friend group with two other girls, Gretchen Potter and Janie Loomis.

At the beginning of the school year, Margaret's teacher, Mr. Benedict, gives the class a year-long research assignment. When he wonders why Margaret dislikes religious holidays, she explains that since her mother is a Christian and her father is Jewish, her family does not observe the holidays and has left it up to Margaret to decide on her own religious identity as she grows older.

Margaret asks her mother why she has never met her maternal grandparents. Barbara reveals she is estranged from her devoutly Christian parents Paul and Mary, who disowned Barbara when she married a Jew. On a weekend visit to New York, Margaret asks Sylvia to take her to temple, which Sylvia gladly does. Meanwhile, Barbara attempts to fit in with the PTA and signs up for multiple committees, which draws her away from her love of painting and teaching art.

Margaret and her new friends anticipate the milestones of puberty, such as wearing a bra and having their first kisses. At classmate Norman Fischer's birthday party, Margaret enjoys her first kiss with Philip Leroy, a popular boy in her class, during a game of spin the bottle. Margaret also attends respective church services with Janie and Nancy.

After viewing a video about menstruation at school, the girls become excited about starting their periods. Margaret grows impatient when other girls get their periods before her, including Gretchen and Nancy. One night while Margaret is in New York with Nancy and her family, Nancy gets her period for the first time, and Margaret realizes she had fibbed about getting her period earlier.

At school, Margaret is assigned a group project with Laura Danker, a classmate ostracized by her peers (including Nancy) for being taller and more developed. While working together in the library, Margaret brings up rumors about Laura letting boys "feel her up", upsetting Laura and causing her to storm out. Following Laura to a Catholic church where she enters a confessional, Margaret admits her guilt over how she treated Laura.

For spring break, Margaret wants to join Sylvia on a trip to Florida, but these plans are interrupted when Paul and Mary reach out to Barbara and say they want to visit and meet Margaret. Upon learning of the cancelation, Sylvia arrives at the Simon house with a friend from Florida on the day of Paul and Mary's visit. After dinner, the evening becomes awkward when Paul and Mary question Margaret about possibly attending Sunday school. Sylvia retorts that Margaret had already chosen to become Jewish when they went to the temple together, sparking an argument between the parents and grandparents over what religion Margaret should follow. Margaret yells at the adults to stop fighting, proclaiming she does not care about religion and does not even believe in God.

Margaret hands in her research paper to Mr. Benedict, wherein she expresses her disillusionment with religion. Soon, she reconciles with her parents and Sylvia. At the end of the school year, Margaret thanks Mr. Benedict for being a good teacher. She also befriends Laura and asks her to dance, with Janie joining them shortly afterward. Barbara, who has since returned to teaching painting, tells Nancy's mother Jan, the PTA president, that she will no longer volunteer for PTA committees.

Before leaving for summer camp, Margaret talks to Moose Freed, a friend of Nancy's older brother. Margaret secretly has a crush on Moose, and they agree to spend time together when she returns. At home, she discovers her first period has arrived and excitedly tells her mother, who is thrilled for her. Margaret then resumes her communication with God, thanking him.

Production
After rejecting several offers to adapt her book in the 49 years since its publication, author Judy Blume sold the film rights to James L. Brooks and Kelly Fremon Craig, who worked together on The Edge of Seventeen (2016), with Craig set to write and direct. A studio bidding war over the distribution rights was won by Lionsgate.

In February 2021, it was announced that Abby Ryder Fortson would star as the titular Margaret, with Rachel McAdams cast as her mother. Kathy Bates was added to the cast in March. In April, Benny Safdie joined the cast.

Principal photography began on April 1, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Filming also took place in Concord, North Carolina late in May, and wrapped in June 2021. Hans Zimmer composed the film's score.

Release
''Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'' had its world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 23, 2023, and was released on April 28, 2023, by Lionsgate Films. It was originally scheduled to be released on September 16, 2022.

The film was released on VOD on June 6, 2023, with a Blu-ray and DVD release that followed on July 11, 2023.

Box office
''Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'' grossed $20.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $1.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $21.5 million.

In the United States and Canada, ''Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. was released alongside Big George Foreman and Sisu'', and was projected to gross $7–9 million from 3,334 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $2.3 million on its first day, including $600,000 from early previews. It went on to debut to $6.8 million, finishing third behind holdovers The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Evil Dead Rise. In its second weekend the film made $3.2 million, finishing in fourth.

Critical response
Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 88% positive score (with an average 4.5 out of 5 stars).

Critics praised the film for being a faithful adaptation of the book while also fleshing out its adult characters. Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood described the film as a "rip-roaring, funny, human, wonderful studio movie comedy you might have forgotten Hollywood knew how to make any more", and praised the film's cast, Craig's direction, and the decision to leave the story set in the 1970s, as the original novel did. Hammond pointed out how "every character in this film is finding there is much to learn in life at whatever point you happen to be." Time called Fortson "marvelous" and said she "[captures] all of Margaret's eager earnestness". Writing for Jezebel, Rodlyn-mae Banting said the "film adaptation comes as a gift—one that fiercely advocates for the beauty of girlhood in all of its agonizing, terrifying, but absolutely exhilarating glory." Amy Nicholson of Variety said "There’s plenty in [the film] to treasure" and "the [girls'] friendship scenes are standouts", but opined the film also "seems uneasy putting funny, flawed and all-too-realistic Margaret on screen exactly as she is."