Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy outselling Barbie in UK advance tickets

The upcoming Bridget Jones movie, 'Mad About The Boy,' is experiencing strong pre-release ticket sales in the UK, outselling the blockbuster 'Barbie' by significant margins, with Odeon reporting around 70,000 tickets sold. The film is set to be the biggest British film of the year and aims to surpass previous installments of the franchise, despite forecasts indicating it may not match 'Barbie's' total box office success. Its release is strategically timed for Valentine's Day, attracting audiences looking for light-hearted entertainment amid more serious Oscar contenders. The film sees Renée Zellweger return as Bridget, navigating life as a widowed mother while also featuring familiar characters played by Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. Analysts predict it could finish with a box office haul exceeding £50 million, ranking third in the year's overall box office behind major upcoming releases. Despite its success in pre-sales, 'Mad About The Boy' will go directly to streaming in the US, limiting its box office potential there.