---
title: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret"
fi1m_id: "are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret"
imdb_id: "tt9185206"
tmdb_id: 555285
wikidata_id: "Q106448550"
fi1m_score: 75
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:06.378382+00:00"
region: "CH"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)

Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig · 1h 46m · Comedy, Drama

## Identity

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

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret
- **IMDb ID:** tt9185206
- **TMDB ID:** 555285
- **Wikidata ID:** Q106448550
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9185206/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/555285, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106448550

**Fi1m score: 75** · Critics 78 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* Four girls chanting at their chests in a suburban bedroom, and it is the most serious thing anyone in the film does

> Kelly Fremon Craig films Judy Blume’s novel with patience and a cast who never talk down to a twelve-year-old. It is warmer and gentler than the book, and the grown-ups get the better story; that is a small complaint about a good film.

## Synopsis

Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) is eleven, nearly twelve, when her parents Barbara (Rachel McAdams) and Herb (Benny Safdie) move her from New York to a house in the New Jersey suburbs, leaving her grandmother Sylvia (Kathy Bates) behind in the city. It is 1970. Her mother was raised Christian and her father Jewish, and they have decided Margaret will choose for herself, so her nightly conversations with God are addressed to nobody in particular. Over the road, Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham) recruits her into a secret club with Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), where the subjects are bras, periods and boys. Kelly Fremon Craig writes and directs, from Judy Blume’s novel.

## Review

Judy Blume’s novel came out in 1970 and has been read under the covers ever since. Kelly Fremon Craig, who wrote and directed, has kept it in its own decade, and she has kept the book’s habit of treating a twelve-year-old’s worries as exactly as important as the twelve-year-old thinks they are. The result is warm, funny and carefully made, and we liked it a good deal. It is also gentler than the book, and the adults end up with the better story, which we suspect was not the plan.

Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) is eleven, nearly twelve, and living in New York when her parents announce a move to a house in the New Jersey suburbs. Her grandmother Sylvia (Kathy Bates) takes this as a personal injury. Her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams) was raised Christian and her father Herb (Benny Safdie) is Jewish, and they have decided to raise her with no religion at all, so that when Margaret talks to God, as she does most nights, she is not sure who she is addressing. Within a day of arriving she is recruited by Nancy Wheeler (Elle Graham), the confident girl over the road, into a club of four whose business is bras, periods and boys.

Fortson is the reason the club scenes work. She plays Margaret as a girl who is watching everyone else for clues and is sure she is the only one without them, and she never asks to be found adorable. The bra-shopping scene, in a department store with McAdams and a saleswoman who has seen it all, is the funniest thing in the film, and we laughed out loud; then Fortson’s face in the mirror, wanting this and dreading it at once, took the laugh back. Elle Graham’s Nancy is a small tyrant played without malice, and Amari Alexis Price and Katherine Mallen Kupferer, as Janie and Gretchen, make the other two feel like girls who go on existing when Margaret is not looking.

McAdams gives the performance we kept thinking about afterwards. Barbara has moved to the suburbs to become the sort of mother she thinks she is supposed to be, and McAdams plays the effort: the committees, the bright voice on the doorstep, the moments alone in the kitchen when the voice drops. Kathy Bates plays Sylvia as a woman who regards New Jersey as a foreign country and her granddaughter as the only reason to cross the border. There is a scene between McAdams and Fortson in the second half, which we will not describe, that moved us more than a PG comedy about training bras had any right to. The two of them simply stop pretending for a minute, and nobody underlines it.

Tim Ives shoots the house and the school in soft daylight and the browns and mustards of the period, and keeps the camera at Margaret’s height often enough that the adults loom a little. Steve Saklad’s production design puts a great deal of wood veneer and shag carpet on screen and never winks at it. Ann Roth dresses Nancy in clothes that match and Margaret in clothes that nearly do, which tells you the friendship. Hans Zimmer wrote the music, and it is mostly quiet piano that stays out of the way, which is not what his name usually promises. Nick Moore and Oona Flaherty cut it to 106 minutes and are content to hold on a face while it decides what to feel.

The gentleness is the problem, where there is one. Blume’s Margaret can be petty and, on one occasion, cruel about a classmate the others have decided to despise. The film keeps the incident but hurries through it, and forgives Margaret before we have quite registered what she did. Her questions about God are asked with real seriousness and then answered with a hug. Barbara’s story, which Craig has expanded well beyond the book, has an adult sadness the children’s story cannot match, and there were stretches where we caught ourselves waiting for the mother to come back.

Craig’s previous film, *The Edge of Seventeen*, had a heroine who was rude and funny and hard to like, and it was better for it. This one is kinder and a little less sharp. Watch it with a daughter of about the right age, or with whoever lent you the book. The girls do their chest exercises with total conviction, and so, to its credit, does the film.

*Fi1m score 75, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews for Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel are warm and closely bunched, with most critics landing on four stars or thereabouts and none turning against it. The praise gathers around Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, whose performance is described again and again as open-hearted, expressive and raw, and around Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates as the mother and grandmother. Critics also credit the film with treating puberty and religious doubt frankly and without condescension, and several say it feels as relevant now as the 1970 book did.

The reservations come from a small minority and are about caution rather than craft. Variety finds the film sanitised beside Blume’s candid original, turning Margaret into a role model rather than a flawed twelve-year-old, and Vulture thinks the parents’ stories are more compelling than the daughter’s. The Guardian, more mildly, calls it sweet-natured but a little dated and inconsequential.

## Straight answers

**Is Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. worth watching?**

*Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.* is worth watching for anyone who read the book or has a daughter of about the right age, and we scored it 75. Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams are both excellent, and the bra-shopping scene is properly funny. It is gentler than Judy Blume's novel, and the mother ends up with the better story.

**How long is Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret., and what is it rated?**

*Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.* runs 1h 46m. It is a comedy and drama film.

**Where can I watch Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. in Switzerland?**

*Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.* is available to rent from Apple TV from CHF 4.50. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. compare to Eighth Grade?**

*Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.* is the kinder and more comfortable of the two films, set in a 1970 suburb where the terrors are bras and periods rather than phones. [*Eighth Grade*](https://film.one/film/eighth-grade) is sharper and more painful about being that age, though it leans harder on the audience's sympathy. Watch Margaret with a child; watch Eighth Grade to remember being one.

**What should I watch after Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.?**

After *Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.*, try [*Eighth Grade*](https://film.one/film/eighth-grade) (2018, Fi1m 84): The same age, the same terror, with phones instead of chest exercises. Then [*Petite Maman*](https://film.one/film/petite-maman) (2021, Fi1m 88): A French girl meets her mother as a child; short, quiet and quietly devastating.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film as lovely, heartfelt, and radical as the original novel, crediting director Kelly Fremon Craig for capturing the nuances of adolescence, family, religion, and sexuality. It singles out the lived-in performances and the story’s enduring relevance amid contemporary debates over bodily autonomy. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-04-26/movie-review-are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-judy-blume)
- **The AV Club**, Leigh Monson (B+): The review calls it a charming, funny, and heartfelt adaptation that captures the essence of the novel with excellent performances, especially from the young lead and supporting cast. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/are-you-there-god-it-s-me-margaret-movie-review-1850327066)
- **Little White Lies**, Weiting Liu (4/4/4): Craig delivers a sweet, humane take on the classic novel that expands the source while staying true to its themes of identity and belonging. The intergenerational bonds among Margaret, her mother and grandmother stand out for their warmth and insight. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret)
- **Radio Times**, Emma Simmonds (4/5): Blume’s novel is adapted with affection and wit into a big, warm hug of a film that feels relevant despite its 1970s setting. The performances, particularly the young lead and supporting turns from McAdams and Bates, are singled out for bringing kindness and understanding to the story. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-qhcv2g/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Lovia Gyarkye (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the charming, heartwarming adaptation as a respectful love letter to fans of the book, highlighting the strong cast and emotional depth in portraying puberty and family life. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review-rachel-mcadams-judy-blume-1235392350/)
- **The Telegraph**, Ed Power (4/5): This affectionate adaptation is a delightful, sweet coming-of-age story and valentine to innocent 1970s adolescence that modern teens will never experience, with strong performances and Seventies nostalgia. It has an inevitably sad edge but avoids being cloying. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): The film is a life-enhancing, candid coming-of-age delight that captures the joys and pains of growing up with heart and humour. It singles out the strong performances, especially Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s mother, for particular praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-2023)
- **Slant Magazine**, Eric Henderson (75/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as an affectionate, minor-key triumph and a heartening adaptation that feels like a rare mass entertainment, praising its generous spirit and strong performances. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/)
- **Vulture** (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film sweet but overly cautious and mild-mannered, noting that the parents' stories are more compelling than Margaret's, and it lacks the boldness of the source material. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/judy-blumes-classic-book-is-now-a-totally-fine-movie.html)
- **Variety**, Amy Nicholson (50/100, inferred): The review finds the adaptation appealing but overly sanitized and edgeless compared to the candid book, turning Margaret into an idealized role model rather than a flawed preteen. It praises the friendship scenes and some authentic details but criticizes added subplots and a lack of the novel’s honest edge. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review-1235588335/)
- **Empire**, Beth Webb: Kelly Fremon Craig delivers a touching and tender adaptation that does justice to the beloved source material. Webb highlights the raw, expressive central performance by Abby Ryder Fortson and the film's blend of humour, vitality and empathy in exploring family and growing-up issues. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan: The film is a lovely, faithful adaptation of the book that handles its themes of puberty and religion deftly and without condescension. O'Sullivan praises the perfect casting, especially Abby Ryder Fortson as the impatient heroine Margaret and the warm performances from the adult cast. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-movie-review-rachel-mcadams-judy-blume-b1075598.html)
- **Screen Daily**: The coming-of-age tale is rendered with humour, sensitivity and intelligence as a marvellous look at adolescence. It singles out the terrific cast, led by Abby Ryder Fortson’s openhearted portrayal of Margaret, for bringing bracing realism to the material. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/5181084.article)
- **Sight and Sound**: The film is a witty and sensitive adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel about an 11-year-old navigating puberty and religion. Craig’s direction matches Blume’s empathy while drawing parallels between the rules of faith and womanhood. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-offers-witty-adaptation-judy-blumes-beloved-teen-novel)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: The film is a sweet-natured, undemanding adaptation of the 1970 novel set in that era, focusing on a smart 12-year-old dealing with puberty, family moves, and religious questions. It is engaging but feels a little dated and inconsequential, with strong performances but no dramatic divine revelation. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/17/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review-judy-blumes-classic-pre-teen-tale-retold)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele: The warm and wonderful film is worth the 53-year wait and feels just as relevant today as the book. Steele singles out the compassionate, non-judgmental portrayal of adolescent girls' experiences and the strong ensemble performances, particularly from the young lead. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review-judy-blume-worth-wait-2344599)
- **The New York Times**, Lisa Kennedy (NYT Critic’s Pick): The critic praises the pitch-perfect adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel about a girl navigating puberty, family moves, and questions of faith. It highlights the strong cast, especially young lead Abby Ryder Fortson, and the film’s tender, thoughtful handling of its material. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/movies/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review.html)
- **Total Film**, Kim Taylor-Foster: The film is a welcome nostalgic throwback to simpler times that captures the innocent rites of passage of pre-teen girls with sincerity. Taylor-Foster praises the endearing lead performance and the quietly feminist tone that serves as an antidote to noisier contemporary films. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (9.5/10): The critic hails it as the first great film of 2023, praising its tender, intelligent adaptation that treats characters with care and captures the relatability of puberty, family, and religion. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1256666/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review-great-film/)
- **Collider**, Carly Lane (A-): The critic praises the loving adaptation that captures the essence of the book, singling out the performances especially Abby Ryder Fortson's portrayal of Margaret. [Read](https://collider.com/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-movie-review/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond: The critic calls the film a perfect adaptation of the beloved book and a rip-roaring, funny, human studio comedy. He singles out the ideal casting, particularly Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, for bringing the story to life with heart and humor. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/04/are-you-there-god-its-memargaret-review-judy-blumes-classic-book-noq-movie-1235332190/)
- **Paste**, Aurora Amidon (8.4): The film delivers nearly flawlessly on the coming-of-age story, with praise for the lead performance and balance of tone. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/judy-blume/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review)
- **The Wrap**: The critic finds the film a heartfelt, compassionate, funny and frank adaptation that wears its nostalgic heart on its sleeve. She singles out newcomer Abby Ryder Fortson’s perfect performance as Margaret and the strong ensemble of young girls for making the coming-of-age story feel authentic and relatable. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Kelly Fremon Craig
- **Director:** Kelly Fremon Craig
- **Writer:** Kelly Fremon Craig
- **Cinematography:** Tim Ives
- **Editor:** Nick Moore, Oona Flaherty
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Steve Saklad
- **Costume design:** Ann Roth
- **Producer:** Amy Brooks, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume
- **Cast:** Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon; Rachel McAdams as Barbara Simon; Kathy Bates as Sylvia Simon; Elle Graham as Nancy Wheeler; Benny Safdie as Herbert Simon; Amari Alexis Price as Janie Loomis; Katherine Mallen Kupferer as Gretchen Potter; Kate MacCluggage as Mrs. Jan Wheeler
- **Runtime:** 1h 46m
- **First release (the US):** 24 March 2023
- **Genres:** Comedy, Drama
- **Budget:** $30 million
- **Box office:** $22 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzRzojHC3iE

## Where to watch in Switzerland

- Apple TV: rent CHF 4.50, hd
- Apple TV: buy CHF 14.00, hd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Edge of Seventeen* (2016): Craig’s first film, with a heroine who is far ruder and just as lost
- *Eighth Grade* (2018), Fi1m 84: The same age, the same terror, with phones instead of chest exercises — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/eighth-grade.md)
- *Petite Maman* (2021), Fi1m 88: A French girl meets her mother as a child; short, quiet and quietly devastating — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/petite-maman.md)
- *Turning Red* (2022): Puberty as a giant red panda, and a mother who cannot let go
- *My Girl* (1991): A seventies childhood, a first bra and a summer that ends badly

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret