It took fifty years. Five decades of waiting, countless rejected scripts, and a legendary author who just wasn't ready to let go of her most famous character. When people talk about judy blume the movie, they’re usually talking about the 2023 masterpiece Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. But honestly? The story of how this movie finally made it to the screen is just as messy and human as the book itself.
The Long Wait for Margaret
For the longest time, Judy Blume said no. Everyone wanted a piece of Margaret Simon. Every big-name producer in Hollywood called her. She turned them all down. She was protective. She knew how much that book meant to girls who were hiding it under their pillows or reading the "period parts" in the back of the library.
Then came Kelly Fremon Craig.
She’s the director who made The Edge of Seventeen, and she did something different. She didn't just ask for the rights; she told Judy how the book helped her survive her own adolescence. It worked. Suddenly, the project wasn't just another Hollywood adaptation. It was personal.
Why 2023 was the perfect moment
The film arrived at a weird time for the world but a perfect time for Blume. Book bans were (and are) spiking. The frankness of the 1970 novel—discussing periods, training bras, and the confusing search for a religious identity—felt radical all over again.
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The movie stars Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret. She’s incredible. She has this way of looking at the camera that feels like she’s sharing a secret. And Rachel McAdams? She plays the mom, Barbara, and brings this soft, aching vulnerability to the role that wasn't even fully in the book.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Adaptation
A lot of folks expected a "modern" version. You know the type: Margaret with an iPhone, TikTok dances in the hallway, the whole 2020s aesthetic. Thankfully, they kept it in 1970.
- The Setting: It’s all wood paneling and shag carpets.
- The Vibe: It feels like a memory, not a history lesson.
- The Soundtrack: Hans Zimmer did the music, which sounds crazy for a "small" movie, but it works.
Keeping it in the 70s was a genius move. It proves that the "cringe" of growing up is universal. It doesn't matter if you're waiting for a text or a landline call; the anxiety of "I must, I must, I must increase my bust" stays the same.
The Other Judy Blume Projects You Missed
While Margaret grabbed the headlines, it’s not the only judy blume the movie or show worth your time. There’s been a bit of a Blume-aissance lately.
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- Judy Blume Forever (2023): This is a documentary on Prime Video. If you want to cry, watch this. It features real letters kids wrote to Judy over the years. Some are funny; some are heartbreaking. It shows why she became the "confessor" for a generation of lonely kids.
- Tiger Eyes (2012): This one was actually directed by her son, Lawrence Blume. It stars Willa Holland and deals with much heavier themes—grief and the aftermath of a violent death. It’s quiet and beautiful.
- Forever... (2025): This is the big new one on Netflix. Mara Brock Akil reimagined the controversial 1975 novel for a new generation. It follows two Black teens in Los Angeles. It’s a "reimagining," so it’s not a beat-for-beat copy of the book, but it captures that same intense, first-love heat.
Honestly, the Netflix Forever series is probably the boldest thing done with her work yet. It takes the "scandalous" parts of the original book—the frank talk about birth control and sex—and puts them in a modern context where those conversations are still, somehow, considered taboo by some.
Why the 2023 Movie Still Matters in 2026
Even now, a few years after its release, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is the gold standard. It didn't make a billion dollars at the box office. It didn't have superheroes. But it did something harder: it made people feel seen.
I remember sitting in a theater and hearing grown women gasp during the scene where Margaret buys her first pads. It’s such a small, mundane thing. But in a movie, it felt huge. That’s the "Blume Magic." She takes the tiny, "embarrassing" moments of life and gives them the respect they deserve.
The Rachel McAdams Factor
We have to talk about Rachel McAdams. She was nominated for an Oscar for this for a reason. In the book, Barbara is a bit of a background character. In the movie, she’s a woman trying to find her own identity after moving to the suburbs. She’s dealing with her own "Are you there, God?" moments regarding her estranged parents. It adds a layer of maturity that makes the movie work for adults just as much as it does for kids.
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Final Insights for the Blume Fan
If you're looking to dive into the world of judy blume the movie, don't just stop at the trailers. There is a depth here that most coming-of-age films lack.
- Start with the Documentary: Watch Judy Blume Forever first. It gives you the context of her life and why she fought so hard against censorship.
- Watch Margaret with someone you love: Whether it's your mom, your daughter, or a friend, this movie is built for conversation.
- Check out the Netflix series: If you want something that feels more contemporary but keeps the emotional honesty, Forever (2025) is the move.
The reality is that Judy Blume didn't just write books; she wrote a map for getting through the hardest years of our lives. These movies are finally catching up to that legacy. They aren't just "kids' movies." They are human stories.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, try to find the original 1970 edition of Margaret and read it before watching the 2023 film. You’ll be shocked by how much of the dialogue made it onto the screen word-for-word. After that, stream the documentary on Prime Video to see the real-life letters that inspired the characters you just watched. It turns the whole experience into a deep dive into how we grow up and, eventually, how we learn to be okay with ourselves.