‘God, It’s Me, Margaret’ Flopped, Not Due to Wokeness.

“Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret” Struggles at the Box Office

Judy Blume’s beloved coming-of-age novel, “Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret,” has been adapted into a film with a star-studded cast, a fun retro vibe, and glowing reviews from both critics and fans. However, the movie has failed to meet financial expectations, bringing in only $6.8 million on its opening weekend.

The Problem with “Are You There God”

One fan review on Rotten Tomatoes summed up the likely problem best: “Not sure who the audience for this movie is,” they said. On the surface, the movie could be perfect for the same aged prepubescent girls who loved the book when it first came out. It turns out modern audiences are a little trickier, though.

The Plot of “Are You There God”

“Are You There God” follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) when she moves with her parents from New York City to the New Jersey suburbs. Margaret experiences a lot of confusion while going through puberty, including learning about her period and her developing body, having crushes, and being part of an interfaith family. The comedy/drama also stars Rachel McAdams as Maragret’s mom, Barbara Simon, and Kathy Bates as her grandmother.

The Authenticity of “Are You There God”

The movie is set in the 1970s and stays true to the time period. Director Kelly Fremon Craig spoke with real fifth and sixth graders to make sure she got it all right. She also encouraged the young actors to ad lib when they wanted, which led to some funny candid moments.

The Rating of “Are You There God”

Penis drawings and breast pics aside, Common Sense Media gave the PG-13 film a vote of approval for children ages 11 and up. Compared to other movies with the same rating, “Are You There God” is free from sexually suggestive situations and over-the-top leftist propaganda.

The Audience of “Are You There God”

Despite a subject matter that should appeal to both sides of the political spectrum, “Are You There God” seemed to rely too much on drawing in an audience of middle-aged women eager to relive their childhoods. Deadline reported that 55% of the film’s ticket buyers were women over the age of 45, of which 70% were Caucasian. There’s a good chance they were the ones with fond memories of reading Blume’s books during their youth.

The Future of “Are You There God”

It’s too early to give up on “Are You There God,” however. The movie currently has a 98% critic score and 94% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. More would-be moviegoers may read the glowing reviews from both critics and fans, which could entice more women and teens to check it out.

“‘Are You There God?’ stays true to Blume’s book in ways that should connect it to future generations of confused teens. Its minor flaws hardly matter in the big picture,” Toto concludes in his review. “[The movie] understands the value, and cultural heft, of the source material and proceeds accordingly. Thank goodness!” 

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases