Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Name: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: April 28, 2023
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Abby Ryder Fortson, Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, Ben Safdie, Elle Graham, Ethan McDowell

2023

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 49 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

See All

7.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.2	Your Score
7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Now Playing: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: April 28, 2023

Starring: Abby Ryder Fortson, Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, Ben Safdie, Elle Graham, Ethan McDowell, Gary Houston, Isol Young, Jecobi Swain, Kathy Bates, Mia Dillon, Rachel McAdams, Shelby Lynn Bramlett, Wilbur Fitzgerald, Zackary Brooks

Summary: 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets. Based on Judy Blume’s classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.… Expand

Director: Kelly Fremon Craig

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Runtime: 106

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Tara Brady

May 19, 2023

Trust Kelly Fremon Craig, the writer-director of The Edge of Seventeen, the best teen movie of the past decade, to translate Blume’s seminal novel into a funny, exhilarating coming-of-age movie that will charm all genders. Read full review

100

The Guardian Lauren Mechling

Apr 25, 2023

The film is an entertaining comedy that also happens to be a stunning evocation of the fear and yearning that come with standing on the precipice of adulthood. Read full review

Peter Travers

Apr 28, 2023

Hollywood does gloriously right by Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1970 novel about a pre-teen girl (a stellar Abby Ryder Fortson) in a tug-of-war with puberty and religion. Costars McAdams and Bates exemplify Blume’s refreshing candor. Call it totally irresistible. Read full review

Aurora Amidon

Apr 27, 2023

Margaret’s journey of self-discovery is a fascinating and satisfying watch. Read full review

The Telegraph Ed Power

May 19, 2023

It is a valentine to the kind of innocent adolescence that modern teenagers will never have a chance to experience. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Apr 27, 2023

Directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, it’s a charmer: sensitive, funny and grounded. It’s also a kind of rebuttal to many woeful cinematic trends, foremost among which is dishonesty, or lack of verisimilitude. Read full review

Amy Nicholson

Apr 20, 2023

This adaptation, written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (“The Edge of Seventeen”), seems uneasy putting funny, flawed and all-too-realistic Margaret on screen exactly as she is. Read full review

SEE ALL 49 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Choreogeo

May 20, 2023

Beautiful movie, wonderful cast and heartfelt story that should resonate with everyone. Loved every second.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

linten234

May 14, 2023

A truly wonderful heartfelt movie. I am not a girl but it brought me back to my pre-teen years. The specifics may be different, but the feelings are universal. I laughed out loud many times throughout the movie. The movie was hilarious and touching at various times. The child playingA truly wonderful heartfelt movie. I am not a girl but it brought me back to my pre-teen years. The specifics may be different, but the feelings are universal. I laughed out loud many times throughout the movie. The movie was hilarious and touching at various times. The child playing Margaret should get an academy award. Yes, she was that good. I cannot rave enough about this movie. Go see it!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

julienet12

May 2, 2023

Excellent, fun, relatable to everyone! This is a must-see movie, especially for me who sadly did not read the book!

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

jakeyjake

May 4, 2023

A fun, enjoyable, light-hearted movie about a pre-teen's transition to womanhood as our main character Margaret embarks on a quite humorous struggle through the tribulations of puberty, boys, fitting in and finding oneself through the concept of organized religion. With stellar performances,A fun, enjoyable, light-hearted movie about a pre-teen's transition to womanhood as our main character Margaret embarks on a quite humorous struggle through the tribulations of puberty, boys, fitting in and finding oneself through the concept of organized religion. With stellar performances, writing, late 60's pop/rock needle drops and solid source material, this Judy Blume adaptation becomes one of the most joyful experiences of 2023 so far.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

May 3, 2023

I've heard about the book on which this movie is based, though I've never read it, so while I've heard that there were substantial changes in the plot, I can't really talk about them.

I will mention one of those changes because it has a relevance in the plot, and from what I read,I've heard about the book on which this movie is based, though I've never read it, so while I've heard that there were substantial changes in the plot, I can't really talk about them.

I will mention one of those changes because it has a relevance in the plot, and from what I read, apparently that change is that while the Margaret of the title is still the main character in this story, she doesn't have all the spotlight but rather the character of her mother, played by Rachel McAdams, is given more weight.

From what I saw neither steals the other's limelight, but clearly McAdams is the pro here and it's one of the best achievements of this film.

As for the coming of age narrative, there's not much to explore that feels different from so many other films in the genre, but this time around director Kelly Fremon Craig
succeeds in making it feel more organic and realistic than what she did in The Edge of Seventeen and considering it's her second film on the subject she evidently learned and made a better film.

Definitely recommended.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

royalguy07

May 1, 2023

Enjoyable and heartfelt coming of age story. The three female leads all shine and perform very well.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

netflic

May 6, 2023

To tell you the truth, I only lasted about half an hour into the movie.
From the very beginning if felt fake and phony, way off key, to say in musical terms. I never read the book so I decided to give it some more time, and after half an hour I gave up. The book might be good but acting andTo tell you the truth, I only lasted about half an hour into the movie.
From the very beginning if felt fake and phony, way off key, to say in musical terms. I never read the book so I decided to give it some more time, and after half an hour I gave up. The book might be good but acting and directing...
I believe it is ultimately the director's fault that all acting across the board is so drastically poor. Even a wonderful Kathy Bates is barely mediocre there.
Do not waste your time and money.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

13	#13 Best Movie of 2023
38	#38 Most Discussed Movie of 2023