Musicals have graced the stage and screen for many years now, and are a beloved part of the entertainment industry as a whole. Case in point: all the movie musicals that have won the Best Picture Oscar. The star of these productions is obviously the music, and there have been some beautiful pieces about love. And as a theater person myself, there are some romantic lyrics from musicals that stand out among the rest. 

Some of the best musicals have yet to make it to the big screen, but that doesn't make the music any less glorious, especially where romantic lyrics are concerned. In no particular order, here are 32 especially great romantic lines from musicals. Although since we'll be talking about the plot of these shows, a spoiler alert is in order. 

'Come out of hiding I’m right here beside you, and I’ll stay there as long as you’ll let me', Waitress

Waitress is a Broadway musical based off the 2007 movie of the same name, with music written by Sara Bareilles. A filmed version of Waitress starring Bareilles includes the love song "You Matter to Me." The lyrics are simple and sweet, where Dr. Pomatter tells Jenna that he's willing to be there for her. 

'To love another person is to see the face of God', Les Miserables 

This lyric isn't actually from a love song, but it's in the finale of Les Miserables, both the movie and original stage musical. It's been years since Les Miz was in movie theaters, where Fantine and Eponine sing about the power of love to Jean Valjean as he finally dies. 

'Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be in love with you?', The Last Five Years

Jason Robert Brown is one of the most beloved contemporary musical theater composers in the game. His two-person show The Last Five Years is wildly popular, including the movie version starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. At the end of the funny variety number "The Schmuel Song", Jamie tells Cathy in plan but touching words exactly how much he adores her. 

'I can’t promise fair sky above, I can’t promise kind road below, but I’ll walk beside you, love, any way the wind blows', Hadestown

Hadestown is a hit Broadway musical based off the greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. There are a number of great songs about love as a result, including "All I've Ever Known" and "Promises." The latter track features Orpheus professing his affection for Euridyce, even though he can't make any promises for the future.  

'Who would I be If I had not loved you? How would I know what love is?', Falsettos

Falsettos is started as two different one-act musicals by composer William Finn. We follow protagonist Marvin, who is trying to keep a nuclear family despite leaving his wife and child for his male lover Whizzer. Whizzer ends up dying from AIDS, but returns for one more love song with Marvin, where the protagonist muses about how he never really knew love before. 

'All my wildest dreams multiplied by two, they were you.' The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks debuted back in 1960, and has never really been far from the New York theater scene. In it we follow lovers Matt and Luisa, who realize by the end of the show (and specifically, the song "They Were You") that they were each other's heart desire all along. 

'Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good', The Sound of Music 

The Sound of Music is classic Broadway, and the film adaptation is a beloved piece of film history. Both version of the story follow as the stern Captain Von Trapp and nun/governess Maria as they fight their attraction toward each other. In "Something Good" they finally share their love, and blame karma for them being able to find love. 

'Loving you is is not a choice, it’s who I am', Passion

Given his prolific work in the musical theater space, there are a number of entries on this list that come from the late composer Stephen Sondheim. While his musical Passion isn't quite as popular as West Side Story or Into The Woods, it has some gorgeous lyrics. Case in point: the song "Loving You", where Fosca reveals that her love for Giorgio is something thats inherently part of her. 

'Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Let me lead you from your solitude', The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera was the longest running show on Broadway prior to its closing, running on the Great White Way for 35 years. It features a number of beloved musical numbers, including the romantic duet "All I Ask Of You." In it, Raoul de Chagny pleads for Christine to let him take her out of the darkness she's become accustomed to thanks to the Opera Ghost. 

'We are tied, we are locked, we are bound. This will not be reversed or unwound', Bridges of Madison County

The novel The Bridges of Madison County has been adapted for a variety of media over the years, including the Meryl Streep movie and (you guessed it) a Broadway musical. During the show's second act, the song "One Second a Million Miles" follows the leads as they debate running away together, with lyrics that show how connected they are. 

'First time I heard your voice, moonlight burst into the room. And I saw your eyes and I saw your smile. And the world opened wide', Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Love at first sight is a concept that's been covered in countless movies, books, and musicals over the years. In Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, which is an adaptation of War and Peace, Natasha recalls how instantly she fell in love with her betrothed in her first solo song "The Moon."

'There were bells on a hill. But I never heard them ringing. No, I never heard them at all till there was you', The Music Man

The Music Man is a legendary piece from the Golden Age of Broadway. There are lots of memorable songs in the show, including the sweet duet "Till There Was You." In it, both Marian and Harold Hill sing about how their entire worldview has been changed thanks to their romance.

'Sure as you breathe I am there Inside You', The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is a musical adaptation of the 1911 novel of the same name, and features some truly beautiful music throughout its two acts. Chief among them is "How Could I Ever Know?", the 11 o'clock number where Archibald and Lily's ghost sing about their eternal love for each other. 

'You and me. That's all that we need it to be. And the rest of the world falls away', Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen was a Tony-winning hit on Broadway, which was adapted for film in 2021. While a few songs were cut for the film, the duet "Only Us" remained. In it Evan and Zoe profess their love for each other, and their hope to let all of the outside world's stressors fade away. 

'I dim the lights and think about you, spend sleepless nights and think about you', Follies

Stephen Sondheim's Follies is just one part of the legendary composer's catalogue, and contains some of his most well-known songs. That definitely includes "Losing My Mind", where Sally sings about her the way she constantly loves and thinks about Ben... even to the point of obsession. 

'And I could be enough. And we could be enough. That would enough', Hamilton

Hamilton's songs have remained a vital part of pop culture since Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical took the stage by storm. That includes Eliza's solo "That Would Be Enough", where she urges her husband to be content with their life together, even if he never moves up in the world. 

'In these dreams I’ve loved you so that by now I think I know what it’s like to be loved by you. I will love being loved by you.' The King And I

The King and I first debuted on Broadway back in 1951, and has been adapted for film and stage revivals a number of times in the decades that have passed. One of the most romantic songs is "I Have Dreamed", where young lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha express their love and intentions to run away together. 

'And oh, my dearest love. If you will take my love, then all my dreams are truly begun', Pippin

Long before Wicked became a megahit on Broadway, writer Stephen Schwartz brought us Pippin. There are plenty of gorgeous songs, including the track"Love Song". But my favorite lyrics come from "With You", with lyrical words standing in juxtaposition with the title character's sexual exploits. 

'Someone to crowd you with love. Someone to force you to care. Someone to make you come through, who'll always be there as frightened as you of being alive', Company

Company is one of Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, telling the tale of eternal bachelor Bobby and various married friends. The 11 O'clock number "Being Alive" (which was featured in Netflix's Marriage Story) has some gorgeous lyrics about the power of having a companion, with Bobby realizing at the end of the show that he's ready for a partner of his own. 

'I don't want the world. Only you', Aida

The great Elton John has written a handful of acclaimed Broadway musicals, including Billy Elliot and Aida. The latter is based off the opera of the same name, and follows a Nubian princess turned slave, and her star crossed lover Radames. In the song "Radames' Letter", he professes his love, and how he wants to be with her over exploring the world. 

'When I need a lift, time brings a gift - another day with you', Hairspray

Hairspray is a Tony-winning musical that was eventually got a film adaptation in 2007. While there are a number of love songs in the show, my favorite lyrics actually come from "Timeless To Me", which is a duet for Tracy's parents Wilbur and Edna. Her father sings about his ongoing love, and the gift it's been to spend their years together. 

'Only you, you're the only thing I'll see forever' West Side Story

The musical West Side Story is an updated take on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, focusing on gang war in New York between the Sharks and Jets. Despite this, ill-fated lovers Tony and Maria fall in love, and their duet "Tonight" features stunning lyrics about how they've been changed since meeting. 

'I could talk to you for hours, but the hours go like minutes', The Outsiders

The Outsiders is based off the novel of the same name. It opened on Broadway in 2024 and won the Tony award for Best Musical. In the song "I Could Talk To You All Night", Ponyboy and Cherry connect, and reflect on how easily they're able to speak with each other despite the class war happening all around them. 

'I will never understand what I did to deserve you', Parade

Jason Robert Brown's musical Parade tells the tragic true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was lynched in Georgia in 1913 after being accused of a number of crimes. He's incarcerated for much of the show's story, and in the ballad "All The Wasted Time" he muses about how lucky he is to have his wife Lucille, who stood by his side and fought for his release until the end. 

'You're my single best decision in a life of many awful ones. My one big yes, my one embrace', If/Then

Broadway superstar Idina Menzel returned to the Great White Way in 2014 with the musical If/Then. We follow her character Elizabeth in two different realities, akin to the movie Sliding Doors. In the song "I Hate You" she sings about how marrying her husband was the one truly right thing she did in her life, shortly before learning he had died while serving as an Army doctor. 

'Nothing about us was perfect or clear, but when paradise calls me I’d rather be here' Songs For A New World

There are a number of Jason Robert Brown songs on this list, and one of his most beloved musicals is Songs For A New World. The show is a song cycle of different stories, and the track "I'd Give It All For You" features beautiful lyrics about a couple coming back together after separating. 

'What about tears when I'm happy? What about wings when I fall? I want you to be a story for me that I can believe in forever', The Color Purple

Based on the novel and movie of the same name, The Color Purple is a celebrated piece of musical theater which also got a film adaptation starring Fantasia Barrino. The duet "What About Love?" featured Celie and Shug sining about their love for each other in a time where same-sex relationships simply weren't accepted. 

'Some day I’ll meet someone whose heart joins with mine. Aortas and arteries all intertwined' Urinetown

Urinetown is a campy and bonkers musical set in a dystopian world facing a never ending drought, where people need to pay to use the restroom in an attempt to save water. Stay with me here. Lovers Bobby and Hope sing the duet "Follow Your Heart", where they fall in love while singing about the specific part of the human heart. It's both sweet and hilarious.

'And now I see that what I’d always dreamed of was meant to be, you and me, me and you', Avenue Q

Avenue Q is a musical based in an R-rated spoof of Sesame Street, where monster puppets and humans hilariously interact with each other. Despite being an adult comedy, the song "Fantasies Come True" features adorable lyrics, where Rod and Kate Monster profess their love for Nicky and Princeton respectively. 

'And if it turns out it's over too fast, I’ll make every last moment last', Wicked

Wicked has been a beloved blockbuster musical for years. The Act 2 duet "As Long As You're Mine" featured Elphaba and Fiyero finally spending a night together, vowing to treasure every moment before more drama inevitably occurs. 

'But I could swear by your expression That the pain down in your soul was the same as the one down in mine', Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig and the Angry Inch came from the brain of John Cameron Mitchell, who will forever be synonymous with playing the title role on stage and film. In the song "The Origin of Love" she offers her own take on mythology and gender, including touching lyrics about finding connection with shared pain.

'Live in my house, I’ll be your shelter. Just pay me back with 1000 kisses', RENT

Jonathan Larson's RENT became a sensation upon hitting Broadway, and got even more fans once the 2005 movie adaptation hit theaters. The show follows three couples, including fan favorites Angel and Collins. Their love song "I'll Cover You" features sweet lyrics, as each of them vow to be the other's home. 

For starters, I am not necessarily saying that any of these movie characters are outright “bad,” nor am I trying to make a case against any of the films they lead. However, I personally believe that these characters are deeply flawed for one reason or another — either because of the way they are written, the way their respective actors portray them, or even just their moral weaknesses — and what makes matters worse is that they are supposed to the protagonists of their stories. Please bear with me as I explain my reasoning for why these characters make the movies they lead just a bit more of a struggle to follow.

Rick Deckard (Blade Runner)

One of my all-time favorite actors is Harrison Ford who has played some of the most charming characters in cinematic history, but I do not believe Rick Deckard is one of them. Ford does not give a bad performance at all in Blade Runner, but his role — a cop assigned to “retire” artificial humans in a dystopian future — is the least interesting and likable character in Ridley Scott's 1982 film, the real hero of which is Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), if you ask me.

Rose (Titanic)

On The Ringer podcast, The Rewatchables, Bill Simmons and Van Lathan spend more than 10 minutes discussing why Rose (Kate Winslet) is the worst character from James Cameron's Titanic. The spoiled socialite's unimpressed reaction to first seeing the titular ship, her reluctance to immediately explain Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) saved her life as he is being arrested, and her hogging the makeshift lifeboat (a door) that likely could have prevented Jack's death are just a few reasons.

Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)

Michael Cera's title character from Edgar Wright's hilarious and visually stunning 2010 comic book movie is a smug, selfish, and lazy oaf whose troubles — notably having two unassuming girlfriends at once — are no one's fault but his own. I will say, however, that a main point of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is that the protagonist is deeply flawed and, through defeating Ramona's (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) evil exes, thankfully learns to be a better person.

Bella Swan (Twilight)

It is a shame that Kristen Stewart's stint in the Twilight movies cast cursed her with an undeserving reputation for wooden acting because, in retrospect, it was clearly not her fault. In fact, you could say the future Academy Award nominee's performance as the cinematic version of Bella Swan perfectly suits the role’s astonishing lack of personality and emotional depth in a romance about vampires.

Raleigh Beckett (Pacific Rim)

Charlie Hunnam has turned in many wonderful performances in his career, especially in the Sons of Anarchy cast as Jax Teller. Yet, he gives a decidedly one-note performance in 2013’s Pacific Rim as the hero of Guillermo del Toro’s monsters vs. machines epic, Raleigh Beckett, who certainly does not have his aggressively generic and unmemorable characterization.

Jupiter Jones (Jupiter Ascending)

There are many reasons why The Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending is one of their most infamous flops and among them is Mila Kunis' title role. The young house cleaner who discovers she is the heir to a royal, intergalactic kingdom is written as not much more than a disengaging damsel in distress.

Jake Sully (Avatar)

The reason why anybody went to see 2009's Avatar, or rewatches it to this day, and showed up for the 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was to experience the wondrous world of Pandora. The groundbreaking success of James Cameron's franchise has absolutely nothing to do with its hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), whom many regard as one of the most generic action movie protagonists you could imagine.

Julianne Potter (My Best Friend's Wedding)

As the Queen of Rom-Coms, Julia Roberts has played many charming and lovable characters, but Julianne Potter is not quite one of them. The whole plot of My Best Friend's Wedding sees her conspire to ruin the impending nuptials of her lifelong buddy, Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney), after realizing she wants to have him for herself.

Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: A New Hope)

I really, truly hate to include one of the most beloved heroes from George Lucas' galaxy far, far away on this list, but it is a decision that I believe many die-hard fans of the Star Wars movies might be able to understand. They may especially agree that Mark Hamill's performance as Luke Skywalker in the 1977 original is not exactly one of his best and the farmer-turned-resistance-fighter's characterization — specifically at that time — is a bit bland and, at times, annoying.

Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Is there a single character who represents the most egregious tropes associated with Disney Princesses more than Ariel in 1989’s The Little Mermaid? For one, she literally and willfully silences herself all for the chance to be with her crush, which is far from role-model behavior, as far as I am concerned.

Teth-Adam (Black Adam)

Let alone the fact that Teth-Adam was originally created for DC Comics as a Shazam villain, Dwayne Johnson gives a tonally uneven and one-dimensional portrayal of the extremely powerful Kahndaq "champion" whose verbal rejection of being called the hero of his story grows tiresome. Personally, I would have rather seen a movie that centers on the members of the Justice Society of America than what Black Adam turned out to be. 

Christine McPherson (Lady Bird)

Greta Gerwig's feature-length directorial debut, 2017's Lady Bird, is one of the sharpest coming-of-age dramedies of its time, anchored by a spellbinding, Oscar-nominated performance by Saoirse Ronan. Yet, even the acclaimed A24 movie's biggest fans agree that Ronan's title character (whose real name is Christine McPherson) is often too rude and self-absorbed to enjoy watching.

Bruce Wayne (Batman Forever)

When it comes to the best Batman actors, the bottom of the list, for me, is occupied by Val Kilmer. The normally charismatic and dynamic actor implants little to nothing of his signature talents in 1995's Batman Forever, resulting in one of the most bland and forgettable portrayals of the Dark Knight on record.

Cinderella (Cinderella)

I realize that Cinderella is, essentially, the ideal fairy tale character, and her age-old story inspires people to not give up on their dreams. However, her depiction in the 1950 classic does not have much of a distinct personality, causing it to be one of the few Disney animated movies that pales in comparison to its live-action remake, in my opinion. 

Sam Witwicky (Transformers)

To be fair, Shia LaBeouf really puts his heart and soul into playing Sam — an awkward, nervous teen caught up in a war between shape-shifting alien robots. However, the performance is just a little too convincing and often tends to distract from the true mechanical heroes of 2007's Transformers.

Evan Hansen (Dear Evan Hansen)

While the cinematic adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen certainly has its fans (many of whom already loved the original stage musical), its toughest critics agree the title role is a hard person to warm to by the end. The consensus has less to do with actor Ben Platt (reprising his Tony Award-winning role) being nearly twice Evan's age, and more with how he allows himself to benefit from a classmate's suicide after being mistaken for his friend.

Dante Hicks (Clerks)

I am sure there are many convenience store workers who strongly empathize with Dante (Brian O'Halloran), but his incessant whining and lack of gratitude for his girlfriend, Veronica (Marilyn Ghigliotti), kind of makes it hard to. Not to mention, in competition with Randal (Jeff Anderson), Jay (Jason Mewes), and Silent Bob (writer and director Kevin Smith), he is easily one of the least memorable characters from 1994's Clerks despite being the center of it all.

Sandy Olsson (Grease)

No one can deny that the late, great Olivia Newton-John is phenomenal in Grease, as both an actor and a musical performer. Yet, you could make the argument that her role, Sandy Olsson, is not a great character, especially for the way she submits to changing her personality to be more like her crush, Danny Zuko (John Travolta), while he gets to stay the same at the end.

Adam Jones (Burnt)

If not for a charismatic actor like Bradley Cooper in the lead role, the otherwise delicious food movie, Burnt, might not have been worth taking a bite out of. Cooper's character, a talented chef named Adam Jones, pretty much revels in treating people like scraps and boasts little to no redeeming qualities.  

Leo (Mute)

Duncan Jones, director of acclaimed sci-fi films Moon and Source Code, did not receive as much love in 2018 for his Netflix original futuristic noir, Mute. Much of the complaints were centered around Alexander Skarsgård's lead role, Leo, whose otherwise intriguing trait as a non-speaking character becomes a disadvantage as the role offers just about nothing else of interest to the table.

Steven (The Cable Guy)

Jim Carrey's demented performance is meant to convince you that his character is the "villain" of 1996's The Cable Guy. However, in retrospect, the pathetic, self-centered, hypocritical Steven (Matthew Broderick) is the one we should really be rooting against. 

Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them)

For a film in which the main draw is watching wondrous creatures run amok, it makes sense that the lead performance would be as understated as Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of Newt Scamander. Yet, even some major Harry Potter fans agree that the Magizoologist is, ultimately, too awkward and dull of a protagonist to carry Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Tom Hansen ((500) Days Of Summer)

To be clear, my main reason for including Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character from 2009's (500) Days of Summer in this list is because many often misinterpret the point of his arc in the modern romantic-comedy classic. Tom is so obsessed with living the perfect love story that he selfishly ignores Summer's (Zooey Deschanel) request to keep things casual and blames her for their breakup.

Ford Brody (Godzilla)

If I am being honest — and the same goes for many examples of disaster and/or monster movies, really — the human characters are easily the weakest part of 2014's Godzilla. However, the otherwise talented Aaron Taylor-Johnson's lead role as Lt. Ford Brody makes less of an impact on the story than anyone else. To be fair, though, I imagine it was hard to stand out amid Bryan Cranston's brief, but memorable, performance as his father.

Frodo Baggins (The Lord Of The Rings)

By the end of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) does achieve the end goal by destroying the One Ring, but is he really the true hero of this saga? When you look at how often Samwise (Sean Astin) came to his rescue and compare him to the fearless Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the hobbit really does come up short.

P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Hugh Jackman's portrayal of P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman is, for the most part, extremely charming, and that is precisely the problem. The otherwise dazzling 2017 musical is not at all historically accurate, especially in the way it depicts the founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who, in real life, was a greedy schemer known for exploiting an enslaved woman for his show.

Valerian (Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets)

Luc Besson's highly inventive, visually stunning, and admirably optimistic utopian adventure, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, could have gone down in history as a modern sci-fi classic. Unfortunately, the one-note, generic, frustratingly unimpressionable title hero, played by the otherwise very talented Dane DeHaan, resulted in an ultimately forgettable experience.

Albert Stark (A Million Ways To Die In The West)

Writer and director Seth MacFarlane also stars in 2014's A Million Ways to Die in the West as Albert Stark — an aimless, perpetually dissatisfied oaf whose main character trait is lengthy complaints. If the character was not just, essentially, a live-action, human version of one of MacFarlane's Family Guy roles, Brian Griffin, he might have been stronger protagonist for the Western-Comedy. 

Jack Burton (Big Trouble In Little China)

I can't deny that I have nothing but love for Kurt Russell's hilarious performance as California trucker Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China. Yet, did you ever notice just how imbecilic he is, not to mention, the fact that he achieves not a single heroic act until he kills Lo Pan (James Hong) at the end? His bumbling nature does give the many Asian cast members their chance to shine as the true heroes, but even that only further earns him a lower ranking among Russell’s best characters.

Howard Rattner (Uncut Gems)

Adam Sandler gives one of his most electric performances as Manhattan jeweler Howard Rattner in the Safdie Brothers' 2019 thriller, Uncut Gems. Honestly, if a less likable movie star had played the selfish, self-destructive gambling addict than the charismatic comedy icon, we would have no reason to root for him and the story could have suffered as a result.

Mimi (Psycho Goreman)

The ancient extraterrestrial warrior (voiced by Steven Vlahos and portrayed physically by Matthew Ninaber) may be the title character of Psycho Goreman, but the true protagonist is Mimi (Nita-Josée Hanna). However, as far as I am concerned, the 2020 horror-comedy would have been much more enjoyable if the young girl who awakens "PG" were not such a spoiled, rotten, loudmouthed bully.

Britt Reid (The Green Hornet)

Director Michel Gondry's 2011 reboot of The Green Hornet reimagines L.A. news publisher Britt Reid (producer Seth Rogen) as an absent-minded man-child whose vigilante aspirations seem completely out of place with his character. While this does work as a parodic commentary on Kato (played here by Jay Chou) always being the more obviously capable one in the 1960s series (which starred Bruce Lee in the role), it is a one-note joke that quickly loses steam.

I promise that my intention was not to ruin any of these main movie characters for you, but at least offer some additional perspective regarding how they fit into their stories.

Ah, love is in the air! Ben Platt announced on Friday that he’s engaged to his boyfriend of over two years, fellow actor Noah Galvin. And they have a mutual friend in Kaitlyn Dever, who starred alongside both Platt and Galvin in big-screen productions. With that, the actress shared her major excitement over the engagement in a sweet way.

This is an adorable pairing, considering Ben Platt and Noah Galvin apparently met when Galvin took over Ben Platt's iconic leading Broadway role in Dear Evan Hansen in 2017. The talented couple became friends before falling in love. Upon Platt sharing that Galvin “agreed to hang out forever,” Dever took to Instagram to swoon over the engagement photos:

Dever was nearly speechless, as she shared the photos of her two good friends sharing a sweet moment together upon becoming engaged. She wrote “I …just” as she hyped up the couple’s milestone. The Ticket To Paradise actress also posted Galvin’s engagement announcement from Instagram as well, saying “I love you congratulations” to the happy couple. 

There’s something special about seeing your friends fall in love and then decide to get married. Kaitlyn Dever worked with Noah Galvin on Olivia Wilde’s 2019 directorial debut, Booksmart. In the acclaimed comedy, Galvin played the role of a student named George. When CinemaBlend spoke to Dever during Rosaline interviews, the actress even gave Galvin’s character a shoutout, saying she’d love to see a spinoff starring Galvin's character in particular.

Following the high school romp, Dever was cast as Platt’s co-star a year later, playing Zoe Murphy to his Evan Hansen, who Platt originated and played on the Broadway stage for several years. Unfortunately, the Dear Evan Hansen movie was not wel received by most critics, and Platt got a lot of internet hate. Many claimed that the then-27-year-old star was too old to play the high schooler.  

Ben Platt recently reflected on the movie being a “disappointing experience” due to that aspect of the reception, but otherwise has focused on the audiences who found the movie moving and “really felt seen by it.” CinemaBlend’s own Dear Evan Hansen review awarded the movie a 3.5 out of 5, calling it a “solid movie musical with some gorgeous performances.” If you’ve yet to catch the 2021 musical adaptation, it can be streamed with an HBO subscription. 

As Ben Platt and Noah Galvin get ready to tie the knot, the couple are set to star in a movie together called Theater Camp, which the couple has already filmed. The comedy was co-written by Galvin and follows the staff of a rundown theater camp in upstate New York. They must band together with the son of the founder, who falls into a coma right before the summer season. I'm exciting to see the two work together and, like Kaitlyn Dever, I'm pumped for their upcoming nuptials!

When the trailer of Dear Evan Hansen first came out, people on Twitter had no problems expressing negative criticism. They felt the need to point out that Ben Platt looked too old for the role, and that his garnering the role was based on nepotistic reasons. After experiencing backlash for his role in Dear Evan Hansen, the 29-year-old spoke about his honest feelings about the internet and Twitter.

It’s ironic that social media played into the story of Dear Evan Hansen. Evan became an internet sensation on YouTube when he raised awareness of a foundation made based on a student who committed suicide only to experience backlash when his secret of not actually being friends with that student came out. In an interview with The New York Times, Ben Platt expressed the “difficult experience” he had with the internet after Dear Evan Hansen came out and how he wished people viewed the musical film adaptation in a more positive light.

It’s a good piece of advice whenever you experience negativity. If a work of art you accomplished was able to teach the hearts of a few compared to the masses, you want to pay attention to the few. Ben Platt went through jabs about his age when fans who watched the trailer pointed out that his older appearance resembles more of a college student than a high schooler. But Platt responded to those jabs by pointing out to just watch Grease as the cast in that musical movie were in their mid-20s to 30s. There was also criticism that the only reason for the Pitch Perfect star’s casting was because his father produced the movie. I personally believe that it was a wise choice to have the then-28-year-old actor reprise the role that got him the Tony award. The problem was that they should have done a better job making him look like a 17-year-old.

Platt says he’s currently not active on Twitter anymore. But, he felt taking a social media cleanse was actually good for him.

It’s easy to want to tear down a celebrity on Twitter when you know they can’t see your face and there's a good chance they won’t respond back. At the same time, celebrities have the same feelings that any other human being has and they do read responses. Not only will Twitter users try to tear down a celebrity, but the critics can be just as hard. Reviews of Dear Evan Hansen had problems with the film’s direction but had a number of “glaring problems” and “distractions” that couldn’t be ignored. Fans also responded to the Broadway adaptation with harsh reviews pointing out the film’s flaws, Platt’s age (of course), and calling it the “worst” musical adaptation. When you see negative reactions like this by the handful, it can make anyone want to leave social media if these posts were about you.

Despite the backlash the movie faced, it’s important to see two sides of any story in that there were some fans touched by Dear Evan Hansen and loved Ben Platt’s performance. No matter what the haters say to the Tony Award winner, Platt still looks back at his Dear Evan Hansen experience with positivity. 

Ben Platt’s days on social media may be over, but his work as a performer will continue. He’ll star in yet another musical adaptation Theater Camp that’s based on the short film he starred in, co-wrote, and produced. He also made his return to the theater stage with the musical Parade where the critics responded very well to his performance. You can see the film/stage actor reprise his role of Evan in Dear Evan Hansen on your HBO Max subscription. 

Hugh Jackman is no stranger to musicals. He actually made his acting debut not through playing Wolverine in 2000's X-Men (which he once described as being "lonely"), but through stage musicals during the ‘90s like Beauty and the Beast and Sunset Boulevard. Well, his stage musical appreciation continued when he gave a shout-out to the cast of Dear Evan Hansen, and they returned the favor with a sentimental tribute to him.

Dear Evan Hansen, which is considered to be the longest-running show to play at the Music Box Theatre in New York, will have its final Broadway performance on September 18th. Luckily, the Australian star was able to catch a performance during its run, and he told the cast on Instagram, “Sending big love and gratitude to the extraordinary cast of @dearevanhansen.” They decided to return the love by having the Broadway cast, including Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo playing Jared, post a photo of themselves wearing Evan’s signature cast with names of his past characters written on them.

The X-Men star’s place in musicals did not stop on the Melbourne stage. He played Jean Valjean in the 2012 musical film Les Misérables, which featured Jackman doing impromptu singing alongside his costars. After performing his toe-tapping number at the 81st Academy Awards, film producer Laurence Mark approached Jackman to do a movie musical about showman P.T. Barnum, and The Greatest Showman was born. He brought out the spirit of a dreamer who wanted to wow audiences with his unique star attractions. 

Hugh Jackman went back to his musical stage roots by starring in the revival of The Music Man last year where he crushed his tap-dancing skills and received a long-standing ovation. It was because of this role that he received his second Tony nomination for Best Actor. As for if we’ll see Hugh Jackman in another movie musical again, he said he would be open to a Greatest Showman sequel if a good idea came about for it. Director Baz Luhrmann, who worked with Jackman on Australia, has also expressed interest about making a musical with the actor. Hopefully Hollywood will make one of these projects happen soon, as Jackman’s voice and choreography continue to charm audiences. 

Dear Evan Hansen also had a movie adaptation last year, where Ben Platt returned to the emotional role that made his Broadway career. Some changes were made to the film version like adding a new song to the movie and a new ending. The Dear Evan Hansen reviews praised the performances, but felt that the Tony award-winning musical did not translate well on the big screen under Stephen Chbosky's direction. Maybe Hugh Jackman can remake that movie for us in a few years.

With the 53-year-old actor having out his praises for Dear Evan Hansen, make sure to get your tickets now so you can see this hit Broadway musical on stage for the last time. You can also see Hugh Jackman’s musical talents soar in Les Misérables with your Netflix subscription, and The Greatest Showman with your Disney+ subscription. 

2021 was a doozy of a year, particularly for the entertainment industry. Throughout the last 365 days or so, we’ve seen as studios and fans alike returned to theaters, and one genre had a particularly busy year: movie musicals. Of course, some of these adaptations were more successful than others. And as we close the year, here are the seven best musicals of 2021, ranked. 

Before diving into all the musical blockbusters that arrived via streaming and theaters, here are some ground rules. Namely, I'm not including animated musical projects like Enanto or Vivo. Instead, I’ll be focusing on live-action musicals that were released over 2021. I’m also disqualifying The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which features some musical numbers by Jessica Chastain, but isn’t technically a musical.

7. Cinderella

The story of Cinderella has been adapted for film a number of times, including the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical. But director Kay Cannon and Amazon Studios put a new spin on that classic tale with their musical Cinderella. Rather than feature original music, the soundtrack was mostly a jukebox musical featuring beloved songs by Janet Jackson, Madonna and Queen. 

The critical response was mixed to negative for Cinderella, and it was definitely my least favorite installment of the genre for 2021. Despite strong performance by icons like Idina Menzel and Billy Porter, Camila Cabello failed to carry the role of the title character. The original musical numbers also paled in comparison to the covers like “Material Girl.” Add in a somewhat problematic marketing campaign, including James Corden going viral for dancing in the middle of the street, and this new Cinderella failed to live up to its namesake.

6. Annette

This one was a project that I was really excited for, and it truly threw me for a loop. Annette is a psychological musical drama directed by Leos Carax, and it's one of the most purposefully bizarre new movies of 2021. The story focuses on a couple, played by Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, who eventually have a child Annette, which is played by a marionette puppet. From there, things go from weird to weirder, including shocking deaths, the use of ghosts and (of course) lots of musical numbers.

While Annette as a movie knows exactly what it’s trying to do, it bordered on being unwatchable for me at times. This is partly due to the music, which is by and large fairly non-melodic. The opening number “So May We Start” is energizing, while others fail to have the same impact. If you can’t fully embrace the weirdness of Annette, it might not be worth it. 

5. Dear Evan Hansen

Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen movie had some killer talent in the cast, including the likes of Julianne Moore and Amy Adams who joined original star Ben Platt. While Platt received universal acclaim for originating the title role, the internet wasn’t kind to the Tony winner after the movie’s first trailer was released. Countless memes about Platt’s appearance made their way online, in some ways overshadowing the emotional work being done on the film adaptation.

Despite this, I thought the Dear Evan Hansen movie was quite successful. While I missed cut songs like “Does Anybody Have A Map?”, the ensemble cast put a ton of heart into their work – especially Ben Platt himself. The new ending also gave some much-needed closure to a story that’s somewhat hard to digest as an audience member. And director Stephen Chbosky definitely knows how to tell organic teenage stories— just look at his work on Perks of Being A Wallflower.

4. Everybody's Talking About Jamie

This one might have gone under the radar for some movie fans. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was released on Amazon Prime Video in the middle of September, and it was one of my favorite movie musicals of the year. Based off the West End stage musical of the same name, Jamie is a heartwarming tale of a High School student (played by Max Hardwood) who dreams of becoming a professional Drag Queen. 

While on this quest, he finds a mentor in Hugo Battersby/Loco Chanelle, played by the always delightful Richard E. Grant. The musical numbers are catchy and fun, even those that are a bit more on the serious side. Overall, it’s a joyous movie experience filled with killer music, and it ended up being a sleeper hit in 2021 for me.

3. In The Heights

In the Heights was set up to be a summer blockbuster, but was also available to watch via HBO Max. Directed by Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu, he took that same larger-than-life filmmaking and brought it to the musical genre. What resulted was moments of fantasy like Nina and Benny dancing on the side of a building in “When The Sun Goes Down.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding what the film adaptation brought to the Tony-winning source material.

In the Heights earned strong reviews, with both Jon M. Chu’s direction and the cast’s performance being the subject of praise. Writer and original Usnavi actor Lin-Manuel Miranda even had a role as the Piragua Guy, to the delight of his fans. In The Heights is another project that makes some changes to the source material, but in a way that largely enriches characters rather than stripping them of opportunities. That being said, I think we can all agree that we’d love to see Jimmy Smits belt out Kevin’s deleted song “Inutil”, right?

2. West Side Story

The final movie musical to arrive in 2021 was Steven Spileberg’s new take on West Side Story. While the legendary filmmaker had big shoes to fill after the 1961 movie, he paired with the incomparable Tony Kushner and crafted a new take on the story we know and love. The new screenplay, in many ways, was the start of the show, as characters like Maria, Chino, Graziella, and Anybodys all became much more fleshed out.

Steven Spielberg brought classic movie magic to West Side Story, with bright colors and gorgeous cinematography that prove how methodically he approached his work. The cast also gives truly unreal performances, particularly newcomer Rachel Zegler and Hamilton alum Ariana DeBose. Somehow West Side Story improves on the original, while also honoring it thanks to subtle visual nods and the inclusion of Rita Moreno.

1. Tick, Tick...BOOM!

The influence of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work is definitely obvious in this list. And while In the Heights was a film adaption of his first musical, Miranda made his directorial debut with the Tick, Tick…BOOM! movie. The project got its wide release on Netflix, with Andrew Garfield giving a universally acclaimed performance as Jonathan Larson.

Based off the stage musical of the same name, Tick, Tick…Boom! tells the story of Jonathan Larson, the late writer of RENT. In addition to capturing this specific time in the early 1990s, Miranda also crafted the movie into a true love letter to Broadway. With Bradley Whitford playing the late Stephen Sondheim shortly before the songwriter’s death, and thrilling cameos in the song “Sunday”, Miranda proved himself as a capable director, and also happened to release my favorite movie musical of the year.

Clearly 2021 was an abundance of riches for movie musicals, and it should be interesting to see what installments to the tried and true genre follow. Fans are excited for the upcoming Wicked movie, which will also be helmed by Jon. M. Chu and stars Ariana Grande and Cythia Erivo. There’s also The Little Mermaid and Disenchanted coming later down the line, so there will be plenty more toe-tapping songs on the big screen. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Movie musicals are a tried and true genre in the film world, which have been entertaining audiences for decades. 2021 contained plenty of thrilling adaptations, with the most recent being Steven Spielberg’s new take on West Side Story. And Riff actor Mike Faist compared movie musicals to starring in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

Actor Mike Faist has been getting a ton of praise for his performance in West Side Story, bringing new sides to the Jets leader Riff. Broadway superfans will recognize him for his acclaimed performance as the original Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen opposite Ben Platt. As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with Faist about his role in the Spielberg flick, where I asked him to compare the challenges of doing eight shows a week vs. eight takes in a row. He broke it down to me, saying it was the,

Well, he’s got a point. Mike Faist plated Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen for over a year on Broadway, which allowed him to return to the role time and time again. But the window of opportunity in film is different, with the Tony-nominated actor learning to let go throughout filming West Side Story. Luckily that process seemed to pay off in the theatrical cut.

The cast of West Side Story filmed the movie musical over a series of months back in the summer and early fall of 2019. Mike Faist’s role as Riff was slightly altered, as he was given new features like singing “Cool” alongside Ansel Elgort. Although it definitely sounds like a learning experience for the 29 year-old actor.

Later in our same conversation, Mike Faist when on to explain how filming a musical taught him new skills when compared to bringing a character to life on stage. As he put it,

That practice seemed to serve Mike Faist well, as both critics and moviegoers alike have thrown praise at his performance in West Side Story. The new screenplay by Tony Kushner helped to flesh out the various characters of the story, including Riff and his girlfriend Graziella. 

West Side Story is in theaters now, and will presumably continue making money at the box office over the holiday season. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

When David Gordon Green’s Halloween was released in 2018, it not only rejuvenated the horror franchise of which it is a part by being the best release since John Carpenter’s original; it also was a massive box office hit. Released just in time for the holiday for which it is named, the movie made an impressive $76.2 million in its first three days, and $255.5 worldwide by the time it was done playing on the big screen. It’s because of that title’s success that we now have Green’s Halloween Kills playing in theaters – and while it didn’t manage to do quite as well as its predecessor in its opening weekend, it did still seriously impress.

Check out the full Top 10 below, and join me after for analysis!

A $50.4 million weekend for Halloween Kills isn’t quite as impressive as the aforementioned $76.2 million for Halloween, but one has to keep in mind that there are some important factors in play. The first is the on-going effect that the pandemic is having on movie-going behavior – though one has to mention that the exact impact of that now has to be recalibrated in the wake of Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which successfully out-grossed Ruben Fleisher’s Venom when it came out in early October. The far more significant factor to note is that the film didn’t hit theaters as a big screen exclusive.

Excluding the Warner Bros. plan for their entire slate in 2021, we haven’t seen a title as big as Halloween Kills go with a hybrid release model since Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise came out in late July – but that was the move that Universal Pictures committed to with the horror sequel. It was announced in early September that the hotly anticipated film was going to be simultaneously put in theaters in available to stream on Peacock. Since then, there has been plenty of pondering among prognosticators regarding what kind of toll that would take on the opening weekend box office numbers… but now the damage doesn’t appear too bad.

Like the case with the Warner Bros. and HBO Max movies, and unlike the Disney+ Premier Access titles, Halloween Kills is available to watch without an extra cost if you have a Peacock subscription. Unfortunately, we have no idea what kind of impact the release has had on the streaming service – either in terms of traffic or additional subscriptions – as Universal Pictures has not let that information be known to the public.

All that being said, like in the case of most horror movies, Halloween Kills is a film that is best experienced among a crowd of screaming movie-goers, and in the last few days it’s great to see that plenty of people have opted for that option. Hopefully it will continue to bring in crowds as we get closer and closer to the spookiest of all holidays – though there is some in-genre competition set to arrive in cinemas in the coming weeks, including William Eubank's Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin and Scott Cooper's Antlers.

There are also some other pretty huge titles on the way, but I'll get into that at the very end.

Of course, one also has to note in this discussion that Halloween Kills is the third franchise title to arrive in the span of three weeks, and the two other titles had solid weekends of their own (albeit while coming nowhere close to stealing the horror film’s box office crown. In light of the competition from the new release, there is a degree of sense made in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die dipping 56 percent in its second Friday-to-Sunday, but adding $24.3 million to its domestic sum means that the film is now less than $500,000 away from being one of the few 2021 releases to reach nine figures in North America.

The new James Bond film (and the final one from the Daniel Craig era) also continues to sell plenty of tickets internationally. As I noted in last week’s box office column, the blockbuster won’t be playing in China until the very end of the month, but in foreign markets it has already brought in $348.3 million, bringing its global total to $447.8 million.

Meanwhile, Venom: Let There Be Carnage took a 48 percent dip in its third weekend, and has brought its domestic total up to $168.1 million. While the movie got off to a faster start than Venom did back in 2018, it still has a sizable hill to still climb if it wants to ultimately be recognized as the more successful release. By the time it was done in cinemas around the globe, the seminal title brought in $853.5 million, and the sequel is presently only sitting at $283.6 million.

That brings us to discussion of the other wide release from this past Friday – its performance in the Top 10 reflected in the structure of this feature. Ridley Scott, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon are all talents that have a long track record of putting butts in seats, but unfortunately Scott’s The Last Duel has not exactly shocked the market in its ability to sell tickets. The medieval feature, which runs about two-and-a-half hours long, played in over 3,000 locations in the last few days, but it only managed to make $4.8 million. This is in line with expectations going into the weekend, but it certainly doesn’t look great on paper, especially when one considers that it cost $100 million to make (according to Variety).

To sum up the way things went for the new releases, The Last Duel cost about 10 times more to make than Halloween Kills, and yet Halloween Kills brought in more than 10 times what The Last Duel made in their shared opening weekend.

Looking ahead, box office analysts are looking forward to a weird one, as Halloween Kills will spend its second weekend competing with Denis Villeneuve’s hotly anticipated, star-studded sci-fi epic Dune as well as well as Sarah Smith’s animated adventure Ron’s Gone Wrong. It should result in some fascinating numbers come Sunday, so be sure to come back here to CinemaBlend then for our full breakdown!

The end of another era in the storied James Bond franchise has come to an end. It was 15 years ago that Daniel Craig first played 007 in Martin Campbell’s Casino Royale, and while the quality of the films has been very up-and-down since then, what hasn’t changed is the series’ reputation as a big box office earner. Now, with the release of Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die, things have ended the way they began, as the film is also succeeding in selling a hell of a lot of tickets and has debuted at the top of the charts in its opening weekend.

Check out the full Top 10 below, and join me after for analysis!

As many will remember, No Time To Die was the first massive blockbuster that was pushed as a result of the pandemic, as it was originally scheduled to come out in March 2020, but evidently you can’t keep the excitement of a James Bond fan down. It didn’t quite set new records for the pandemic era (Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage set a pretty high bar just last week), but the movie’s performance in its first three days can be called a solid start, as it managed to make just over $56 million while playing in over 4,000 locations.

One always has to keep the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in mind when looking at box office returns these days, but that figure means that No Time To Die will go down in the books as having the fourth biggest debut weekend during the Daniel Craig era (ahead of only Casino Royale, which made $40.8 million in its first Friday-to-Sunday in November 2006). The record for biggest Bond opener ever is still Sam Mendes’ Skyfall, which made $88.7 million on its way to making $304.4 million in 2012 (which also makes it the franchise’s biggest domestic hit).

While No Time To Die isn’t off to the strongest possible start in North America, one very important element that absolutely can’t be ignored in the conversation surrounding the movie is the foreign box office. The film got a one week head start overseas, and while it won’t open in China until the end of this month, it has already earned $257.3 million from the markets where it has launched. Combined with the haul from this weekend domestically, according to The Numbers, the action feature has made $313.3 million worldwide.

That’s pretty important, as No Time To Die is going to need every dollar it can get to ultimately be seen as a profitable venture from its theatrical release. As I noted last week, Variety says that the production had a net budget over $300 million, and there are also back-end and profit participation deals and distribution costs that take away percentages from box office grosses. Whether or not the film will be able to reach its magic number is not immediately clear at present, especially when taking into consideration all of the big titles that are set to come out in the coming weeks.

Going into this weekend, one big question surrounding No Time To Die’s potential earnings involved the competition that would be put up by Venom: Let There Be Carnage – the Marvel movie making $90.1 million in its debut at the start of October. As it turns out, though, James Bond didn’t have much trouble at all quelling Tom Hardy’s alien symbiote, and it’s because the comic book movie sequel pulled a move similar to what we saw Justin Lin’s F9, Cate Shortland’s Black Widow, and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad do during the summer.

Like those three films, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was the victim of an extreme dip in its weekend-to-weekend box office earnings. Its record setting performance may have been surprising and impressive, but the same can’t be said of its 64 percent drop. Surely No Time To Die stole a considerable fraction of its audience, but making just $32 million in its sophomore Friday-to-Sunday made it an easy target to steal the box office crown. To date it has made $141 million domestically (its presently holding fifth place for 2021) and worldwide it has made $185.6 million (good enough for sixteenth place 10 months into the year).

With No Time To Die expected to be a box office juggernaut, all of the other major studios held off on putting out any significant competition in theaters on Friday – but this weekend did see A24 drop Valdimar Jóhannsson's Lamb in limited release, and it did well enough to earn seventh place. It only made a little over $1 million, but that was enough to outpace Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen, which is in its third week and playing in more than three times as many theaters.

Lastly, based on the numbers it looks as though this may be the last weekend that Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise spends on the Top 10, and it certainly deserves recognition for the incredibly strong legs that it has demonstrated. The film first came out all the way back in July, faced serious competition, and has been simultaneously available via Premier Access on Disney+, and yet it has still maintained a place on the chart for 11 straight weeks. Compared to Destin Daniel-Cretton’s Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings or Venom: Let There Be Carnage, its $116.5 million earnings domestically may not seem all that impressive, but the run it has accomplished is unlike anything any other 2021 release has done.

Coming up next weekend, audiences will have the opportunity to properly celebrate the spooky season, as David Gordon Green’s Halloween Kills will be hitting theaters (while also being available to stream on Peacock); and on the prestige side of things we will also be seeing the release of Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Where will they end up in the Top 10 when the box office smoke clears and the early numbers are reported? Be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday for my latest column to find out.

Since March 2020, all box office returns have been reported with either a literal or implied asterisk. The movie industry hasn’t been the same since the start of the pandemic, and it’s the grain of salt with which one has to take all news about big screen ticket sales. For example, it’s been a go-to explanation for whenever a sequel has under-performed compared to its predecessor – but this weekend we have a case where that excuse is unnecessary. Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage has arrived in theaters with a big boom this past Friday, and in its first three days it has actually managed to surpass what Ruben Fleischer’s Venom did back in 2018.

Check out the full Top 10 chart below, and join me after for analysis!

When Venom was released during this very same weekend three years ago, it impressed and surprised by taking in $80.3 million in its first Friday-to-Sunday, but that turned out to be a number that Venom: Let There Be Carnage had no issue beating. Last week it was reported that Sony was only expecting the comic book blockbuster sequel to bring in $40 million from its debut – but executives over there must be dancing for joy as the film was able to more than double that estimate.

Not only is the success of the new release great compared to its predecessor and conservative studio estimates, but it also now holds the record for having the best opening weekend performance by a movie since the start of the pandemic. The high bar was previously set by Cate Shortland’s Black Widow, which made $80.4 million when it was released in early July (though that film was simultaneously released via Premier Access on Disney+, and the studio reported that it made an additional $60 million from its digital premiere). Regardless, Venom: Let There Be Carnage can be called the highest grossing opener to arrive exclusively on the big screen.

The raging success of the movie – starring Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson as the titular symbiotes – additionally accomplished something that no title that came out in September was able to do: it took the top spot of the chart away from Destin Daniel-Cretton’s Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. The Marvel Cinematic Universe release set a tiny record last month by being the first feature in 2021 to reign at number one for four consecutive weeks, but Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the first film that was able to top its slowly shrinking earnings. Notably the feature didn’t move far, as you can see in the chart, as it is still ranks third in North America.

What fans shouldn’t expect, however, is that Venom 2 will be able to go on a run nearly as long as Shang-Chi. The blockbuster may be surprisingly popular, but the MCU title didn’t have to go toe-to-toe with massive competition like Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die, David Gordon Green’s Halloween Kills, and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune – all of which are set to hit theaters in the next few weeks.

Of course, it should be noted that Venom: Let There Be Carnage even had some significant competition this weekend, but the films had varying degrees of success in the shadow of Hollywood’s latest live-action comic book movie. Putting up the biggest fight against the Tom Hardy flick was Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan’s The Addams Family 2, which was offered as counterprogramming for Venom 2, and performed modestly.

Unlike its main competition, The Addams Family 2 did not succeed in out-grossing its previous chapter in its opening weekend – as the original successfully pulled in $30.3 million in its first three days back in 2019. That being said, it made about as much money as was predicted last week, and we also don’t know much the film made from simultaneously being available to watch on PVOD (the cost per 48-hour rental being $19.99).

Alan Taylor’s The Many Saints Of Newark made a far smaller splash than either of the other two new offerings, as its total in ticket sales accounts for only 5.6 percent of what Venom: Let There Be Carnage was able to haul in. Like all of the other titles on the Warner Bros. slate in 2021, the movie is currently available to stream on HBO Max, and it’s possible that a larger cross section of the target audience for the film opted to stream the feature alongside watching classic episodes of The Sopranos. The traffic and subscriber figures are unfortunately kept hidden, though, so all we have to look at is its $5 million in big screen ticket sales and a fourth place opening – which doesn’t really look all that great on paper.

Looking beyond just the domestic front, some of the biggest box office news of the weekend has been unfolding overseas – and it very well could provide us a preview of what’s to come in North America in the days ahead. While Venom 2 may be crushing here at home, it’s No Time To Die that is presently crushing just about everywhere else. The film, which is the last James Bond adventure starring Daniel Craig, hasn’t been released in China just yet, but playing in 54 other countries it has already managed to make $119 million, according to The Wrap. It still has a considerable way to go before it is able to make up for its crazy production budget – as Variety says that the net budget for the movie was $301 million – but it is off to a phenomenal start.

The earnings for No Time To Die will only increase next week as it arrives in theaters here in North America, and the question will be how high the numbers can go. It would certainly be interesting to see if the record set by Venom: Let There Be Carnage only lasts one week – and there will obviously be a lot of eyes on the percentage drop that the comic book movie experiences in its sophomore weekend. To learn about how it all shakes out, be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday for our latest weekend box office report.

Dear Evan Hansen has been a huge hit musical on Broadway since it arrived to the New York stage in 2016 and went on to become a Tony-winning production, including receiving the Best Musical accolade. Last weekend, the coming-of-age story’s movie adaptation hit theaters, and fans of Dear Evan Hansen, along with movie fans who’d never watched it on stage, had the chance to see it on the big screen. So now we answer, how did the movie play with audiences? 

Dear Evan Hansen follows the eponymous socially anxious teenager (played by Ben Platt), who is asked to write letters to himself by his therapist. When one of his classmates, Connor, dies by suicide, Evan Hansen becomes unexpectedly connected to him when his parents come to believe that one of Evan’s letters was a suicide note by Connor. 

Critics did not connect with Dear Evan Hansen overall, with many reviewers pointing to “glaring problems” in Stephen Chobsky’s movie and the musical itself. CinemaBlend’s own Corey Chichizola gave the movie a positive review, saying that the movie actually “improves' on the original musical in his 3.5 out of 5 star review. Although Dear Evan Hansen seems to be a decisive movie among audiences, it did receive an impressive A- Cinemascore. So from a moviegoer’s perspective, it was well worth the watch in contrast. 

Let’s get into the big internet discussions among fans about Dear Evan Hansen. First off, many had a bone to pick about the Dear Evan Hansen movie adaptation. 

A Lot Of People Had Problems With The Musical Adaptation 

Movie musicals are often subjected to more scrutiny than the usual adaptations because Broadway fans really know their stuff and truly love the productions they love. In terms of Dear Evan Hansen, a lot of fans are finding joy in making fun of the movie version, with tweets like this: 

Dear Evan Hansen is not your typical movie musical because it takes place in a very palpable place of the present day rather than being based in a fairytale or olden times. It stars Ben Platt, who made the role of Evan Hansen famous on stage, but is currently a decade older than a high school student (we’ll get to that later). It seems like the movie was not impressing even some musical fans: 

Not every musical is going to hit the same! One Broadway fan went as far as to call the movie worse than 2019’s Cats, which is an absolutely savage comment if you’ve read the peculiar buzz around that movie. 

There were plenty of well-reasoned negative reviews about Dear Evan Hansen to add to the conversation. The movie deals with the subject of teen suicide and mental health, and that makes it an especially complex subject to set to the screen. Many have characterized it as “flawed,” especially in terms of its lead character, Evan Hansen: 

Evan Hansen going along with a lie relating to someone’s suicide was not swallowed easily by a lot of audiences. Here’s another disappointed fan: 

Along with the story itself, Ben Platt as the lead also bothered some people. We’ll head to that conversation next. 

The Reactions Were Harsh About Ben Platt's Age 

Ever since the Dear Evan Hansen movie was announced, and especially when the movie’s first trailer came out, a 28-year-old Ben Platt playing a high school student has become somewhat of a meme for the movie. Seriously, people on the internet can’t get enough of making fun of him: 

That one is a tad extreme, but a lot of it may have to do with some of the hairstyling and wardrobe decisions as well for Ben Platt. Additionally, Platt was paired with younger actors playing his classmates, in turn making him being older more obvious. Some of his co-stars, include 22-year-old Amandla Stenberg and 24-year-old Kaitlyn Dever, are honestly not that much younger, but Platt having played a college freshman in Pitch Perfect almost ten years ago doesn’t help. 

The Steve Buscemi “How do you do, fellow kids?” meme from 30 Rock has also been prevalent when people talk about Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen. Additionally, people are having fun making other comparisons at the expense of the Tony-winner. 

You could make the argument that no one knows the character quite like Ben Platt, considering at one point in time he played the character eight times a week. On the other hand, perhaps it was time for the role to be passed on to a younger actor. It’s a contentious topic, but not everyone was turned off by Platt in the role: 

It goes to show that between some heavily negative comments about Dear Evan Hansen, the movie also had plenty of fans too. Let’s close out with those. 

Dear Evan Hansen Struck A Meaningful Chord With Many

Nitpicks aside, Dear Evan Hansen still pleased a lot of people and they took to social media to share their emotional reactions. One fan said it was “everything” he wanted, sharing that the entire theater he went to see it with were in tears thanks to the musical: 

Another fan wanted to particularly shout out to Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Connor’s sister Zoe in the film. She also really loved the new music that was added just for the movie. One of the new songs is called “The Anonymous Ones,” which was written and sung by Amandla Stenberg in the movie: 

Dear Evan Hansen definitely sounds like a tearjerker and it created a profound experience for many people who experienced the movie in its first week. As another fan added: 

There’s certainly a lot of opinions about Dear Evan Hansen and whether you like it or not will defer from person to person. 

2021 is a big year for movie musicals, as a number of beloved stage shows have been adapted for film including In the Heights and the upcoming new take on West Side Story. The latest of these hit theaters last weekend, namely Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen. As you can see in the video above, star Ben Platt recently revealed which cut aspect of the stage musical he missed in the movie.

Adapting stage musicals to fit into a film’s length of time usually results in a number of songs and scenes being cut. Dear Evan Hansen was no exception in this regard, with Stephen Chbosky and company making changes to the story for a unique take on film. I had the privilege of speaking with Ben Platt ahead of the movie’s release, where I asked him which cut aspect of the stage musical he missed the most this time around. But rather than a cut song like “Anybody Have a Map?” it was a piece of dialogue. As he explained,

Talk about a surprising answer. Because while hardcore fans of Dear Evan Hansen no doubt missed cut songs in the movie adaptation, Ben Platt doesn’t seem to share that sentiment. He told me in the video above that he didn’t think the film needed tracks like “Good For You” for this take on the story. Although he did miss having one funny scene opposite Zoe, played in the movie by Kaitlyn Devers.

Ben Platt knows Dear Evan Hansen as a piece intimately well. He created the title role both off and on Broadway, winning a coveted Tony Award for his emotional performance. That’s why his perspective on the material cut for the movie is so intriguing, especially now that Stephen Chbosky’s movie has hit theaters.

Later in our conversation Ben Platt went on to further explain why Dear Evan Hansen’s faux break-up sequence simply wasn’t going to work in the film adaptation. Specifically because it was perhaps a bit too over the top for the movie’s otherwise very realistic tone. As he put it,

As is the case with every movie musical, the purists out there will be judging Dear Evan Hansen based on how closely it follows the source material. Stephen Chbosky’s movie cuts four songs, while adding two new ones. It does appear that audiences are responding well, as the movie’s winning audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is in stark juxtaposition to the critical consensus.

Dear Evan Hansen is in theaters now. Ben Platt will appear on the small screen in The Premise and is currently filming his next film role in The People We Hate at the Wedding. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

In the last few weeks, Destin Daniel Cretton's Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings has been on a clear trajectory. It didn't quite manage to set a new high bar for opening weekends during the pandemic when it debuted in early September, but it did set an all-time record for the Labor Day holiday, and, as a theater-exclusive release, it has been raking in cash ever since. Last Sunday my column noted that the movie was on track to surpass Cate Shortland's Black Widow as the biggest domestic release of 2021, and now that is a goal that it has reached thanks to another ten-figure performance at the box office.

Check out the full Top 10 below, and join me afterward for analysis!

With an additional $13.3 million earned between this past Friday and today, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings has now earned $196.5 million total in North America, and can officially be called the biggest blockbuster the continent has seen in 2021. That total surpasses the $183.6 million that Black Widow has made since it came out in July, and together the two movies once again showcase the dominance that the Marvel Cinematic Universe presently has on the big screen.

Combined with the money that Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings has brought in from abroad, the blockbuster's worldwide total now stands at $363.4 million – and while that's a solid number, it means that the film presently on sits in sixth place on the global box office chart. Jia Ling's comedy Hi, Mom! – which was released in China back in February – firmly remains the biggest big screen earner of 2021, having made $841.7 million during its theatrical run, but there are also still a few American-made titles sitting in front of Shang-Chi in the rankings. Justin Lin's F9 is in second place, having made $716.2 million; Adam Wingard's Godzilla vs. Kong is in fourth place with its $467.8 million haul; and sitting right in front of the latest MCU title in fifth place is Black Widow, which has made $377.3 million globally to date.

The biggest factor in the success of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings has been its staying power, which is perfectly showcased in the fact that it is the first film of 2021 to remain champion at the box office for four weeks in a row. We didn't see any of the major releases from this past summer pull off anything similar – as the season was littered with titles that tanked in their second weekends – and the only other titles to come close have been Godzilla vs. Kong and Carlos López Estrada and Don Hall's Raya And The Last Dragon (both features held on to the title of "#1 Movie In America" for three weeks each in the spring). Obviously it helps that there hasn't been much competition for it, but we'll get into that more in a minute.

The next major milestone for Shang-Chi will be crossing the $200 million mark, which should happen within the next week, and will be a moment for theaters across the country to celebrate. The industry has experienced a lot of strife within the past year-and-a-half, and all signs of things bouncing back towards normalcy are welcome. It will also hopefully continue to let studios have confidence in the films that are scheduled to come out this fall, particularly as the next big wave of blockbusters sets to unfurl in the last couple months of the year. Nobody wants to see more movies get delayed at this point.

Getting back to that bit about competition... now arrives the time to talk about the performance of Stephen Chbosky's Dear Evan Hansen, which biffed it hard during its opening weekend. Despite the fact that the movie is based on a popular, Tony Award-winning musical, the release has proven to have very limited box office draw, and it's hard to imagine there are many smiles abound at Universal Pictures after it only managed to make $7.5 million in its first three days. According to Variety, the adaptation was made with a $28 million budget (before publicity and marketing), and while that cost pales in comparison to, say, the $150 million-plus that was spent to make Shang-Chi, that's still an amount of money that the feature will have a hard time making back.

It's a development that is not incredibly surprising when you consider the critical reaction that Dear Evan Hansen received in the run up to its release, but it is one that makes one start to wonder about the viability of musicals at the box office going forward. There is no questioning the fact that we have seen a number of big successes from the genre in recent years, with Michael Gracey's The Greatest Showman and Dexter Fletcher's Rocketman being titles that immediately spring to mind, but we also can't ignore some rough flops – including Tom Hooper's Cats and Jon Chu's In The Heights. This is definitely a trend to keep an eye on, especially as more musicals, including Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, debut in theaters in the coming months.

Singing and dancing wasn't enough to end Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings' reign at the top of the box office, but you know what likely will? Another comic book movie. When Ruben Fleischer's Venom hit theaters in October 2018, it landed with an $80 million splash, and there is a far amount of expectation that the forthcoming sequel, Andy Serkis' Venom: Let There Be Carnage, will do some similar business. The new blockbuster will arrive in theaters this Friday, October 1, along with David Chase's Sopranos prequel The Many Saints Of Newark (which has been getting solid reviews), and both should do a nice job mixing things up for the Top 10. To discover how everything shakes out, be sure to come back here to CinemaBlend next Sunday for our full rundown.

Right now we've found ourselves in a period when Hollywood musicals have become cool again. Over the past year, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s two musicals Hamilton and In The Heights have notably been given the shot to move from the stage to screens, alongside other movie musicals like Cinderella and Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and there's more to come. With this weekend's Dear Evan Hansen, the show first hit the stage in 2015 and has already become a worldwide sensation and (now) a major motion picture. But what are some other shows that could easily become films?

For many, the love of musicals doesn't happen on Broadway, it starts with discovering cast recordings or through watching the movie musicals based on the most beloved shows. Movies like Dear Evan Hansen can provide more access to the shows people are raving about over in New York City on big screens and later, in the comfort of our own homes. Following Dear Evan Hansen's release, favorites like Wicked and Mean Girls: The Musical are set to get the movie treatment. There are so many more incredible modern musicals that have graced the stage of Broadway in the past decade that could make for some awesome movies too. Here are my top picks:

The Book of Mormon

Honestly, it's hard to believe this one isn’t a movie yet. The Book Of Mormon first came out in 2011 after the creators of South Park put together a satirical musical about two Latter-day Saints missionaries as they try to preach their faith to a remote Ugandan village.

The original cast included Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells and Brian Tyree Henry prior to their Hollywood fame. In the past decade, The Book of Mormon has become a modern classic on Broadway, perhaps making it the perfect time for a movie to breathe even more life into its legacy.

Hadestown

A musical rooted in Greek myth that’s not Hercules? Yeah, sign me up. Hadestown is a modern adaptation of these myths set to the sounds of New Orleans jazz and American folk music. The musical is about Orpheus and Eurydice along with the tale of King Hades and his wife Persephone that goes down to the depths of the underworld.

While it might be too soon for the musical to make the switch from musical to movie now, it’s an amazing concept and packed with fun music that could be translated to an epic movie when the time is right.

The Band’s Visit

More and more nowadays, we’re seeing musicals being adapted from favorite movies like Beetlejuice, Pretty Woman and Matilda. The 2016 modern musical The Band’s Visit is an interesting one because it’s based on an Israeli film of the same name, sans the musical aspect. The production swept the Tony Awards, taking home the “big six,” including Best Musical. Yet, it has not become a well-known or widespread musical yet.

Tony Shalhoub memorably was part of the original cast. It’s about eight men from the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra who arrive in Israel from Egypt and are taken in for the night by some locals. The music to The Band’s Visit is absolutely beautiful and it has a worthwhile message to spread.

Fun Home

The 2016 Tony for “Best Musical” went to an original show called Fun Home, a coming-of-age musical based on a 2006 memoir of the same name by Alison Bechdel. It’s a story that has particularly touched the LGBTQ+ community since it’s the first Broadway musical to be led by a lesbian protagonist.

As Alison comes to grips with her sexuality, she learns that her father was a closeted gay man who had some troubling secrets. There’s some dark topics explored in Fun Home, but it’s told in an original way that would translate well to a movie.

Come From Away

For almost five years now, Come From Away has blown away audiences flocking to Broadway to see this award-winning musical that is set a week after the 9/11 attacks in New York City. The musical tells the story of the 7,000 people who were stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland after all flights were grounded on the tragic day. The musical is about processing the grief and horror of 9/11, along with being a touching story of togetherness and community.

It could translate well into an artful drama similar to the vibe of Dear Evan Hansen someday. If you'd like to see how it looks on stage, AppleTV+ recently made the play available to stream.

Six

One of the newer Broadway musicals, which actually got its start in the UK, is Six. It’s a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, with the twist being that it’s about a group of six women who are performing at a pop concert. During the musical, they each take turns sharing personal experiences with Henry. The singer who shares the worst experience with their common ex will become the lead singer of the group.

I could see this being adapted with six well-known singers taking on each role and perhaps expanding the story into further flashbacks of their relationships with Henry. It’s a fun musical full of drama and show-stopping vocals.

Bandstand

The final pick here is Bandstand. This musical is a period piece taking place right after World War II and starring a character named Donny Novitski, a singer/songwriter, who is among a group of other veterans who return home following their service. They are hoping to get back to life “Just Like It Was Before,” as the opening track introduces. The musical would be a great fit for a live-action film that deals with the post-traumatic stress of being in war and Donny’s survivor’s guilt as he pursues music after his experiences. It has a beautiful soundtrack and a winning storyline that deserves the big-screen treatment.

As Dear Evan Hansen hits theaters this weekend, feel free to daydream about more musical adaptations yourself. Movies of its kind coming up next is Tick, Tick… Boom! on November 12 and West Side Story on December 10.

Major spoilers ahead for Dear Evan Hansen, both the stage and movie versions.

After countless movies were pushed back last year, 2021 has been an exciting time for moviegoers who are thrilled to be returning to theaters. It’s also a year with tons of movie musicals, as we’ve already seen In the Heights, The Prom, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie arrive. Director Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen is the latest of these movies, with Ben Platt back in his Tony Award winning role alongside some A-listers. But what happens in the movie, and how does it differ from the stage production?

The narrative of Dear Evan Hansen is an emotional one. Ben Platt’s title character goes to his first day of school only to have a scuffle with classmate Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan) after writing a therapist-assigned letter to himself. When Connor commits suicide later that day, his grieving parents (Amy Adams and Danny Pino) mistake it for a suicide note written to his “best friend” Evan. An innocent white lie snowballs, and soon he ingratiates himself with the family, as well as Connor’s sister/ his crush Zoe (Kaitlyn Devers). The lies start piling up, especially when Evan has to explain his absence to his single mother Heidi (Julianne Moore).

Watching the big lie of Dear Evan Hansen spiral out of control is a tense moviegoing experience, and eventually the situation explodes. The truth comes out, resulting in a heartbroken Murphy family. Evan must then atone for his missteps, in a moment that will help to alleviate the tension, while also allowing for an emotional catharsis with the final three songs. So how exactly does the story end?

What Happens At The End Of Dear Evan Hansen?

The drama of Dear Evan Hansen explodes for a few different reasons. Throughout the movie Evan’s friend Alana (Amandla Stenberg) from the Connor Project is trying to fundraise and memorialize the late character with an orchard in his name. When Evan shared Connor’s “suicide note” in order to quell her suspicions about the truth, things go haywire. She shares the note to drum up more donations, but the Murphy Family becomes the target of online harassment.

With Evan Hansen now dating Zoe and the Murphys even offering to pay for his college education, he understandably rushes over. The guilt finally takes him over, and Ben Platt sings his big 11 o’clock number “Words Fail.” In the song Evan admits to everything: he was never friends with Connor, and he’s been lying to Zoe and her family for months. It’s a truly devastating scene, and he’s promptly asked to leave their house.

Evan eventually returns home, and reunites with his mother Heidi. Julianne Moore’s matriarch tells him she loves her son no matter what with the heartbreaking song “So Big/So Small.” Ben Platt’s character admits to his mother that his fall out of the tree was actually a suciide attempt. And to make sure the Murphys are left alone, he posts a public confession and apology online, before going back to his regular, isolated life. Evan once again sits alone at lunch, and finishes up his high school career quietly.

From there the story of Dear Evan Hansen jumps ahead in time, and with Ben Platt and Kaitlyn Devers sharing a scene in the completed Connor Murphy Orchard. He once again apologizes for his lies, and Zoe gives him some peace by revealing that the orchard has become a special place for the family to remember her brother. They part ways for the last time, while Evan writes himself a new letter vowing to be himself moving forward.

How Does Dear Evan Hansen End On Broadway?

The main story beats of Dear Evan Hansen play out around the same way on stage. Alana’s suspicion of Evan eventually reaches a boiling point, and he shares the letter that started the entire show’s plot. She once again uses it to help fundraise, which backfires as people online blame the Murphys for being parents who are more worried about money than their son’s mental health.

Both “Words Fail” and “So Big/So Small” come and go, as Evan tells the truth to both the Murphys and his mother Heidi. But while the Dear Evan Hansen movie gives us plenty of time with Ben Platt’s character after the truth comes out, the stage musical ends a bit more abruptly. While there’s sure to be some purists who prefer the original, the movie arguably gives us more closure.

On stage, Dear Evan Hansen goes straight from “So Big/So Small” to the flash forward coda shared between the title character and Zoe. While we get to see the former couple make amends, the audience doesn’t physically get to see him atoning for his sins. Instead we simply hear about it during this brief chat and put the pieces together.

What’s Dear Evan Hansen’s New Ending Song?

Another big way the ending of Dear Evan Hansen’s movie differs from the stage musical is because there’s a brand new song added. After Ben Platt’s character reveals the truth about his big lie, Evan goes searching for real information about Connor. He reads his favorite books and listens to the late student’s favorite music. Evan eventually finds a video of Connor from when he was in rehab, with actor Colton Ryan debuting a new song by Pasek & Paul in the archive footage.

This new track is titled “A Little Closer” and helps to show who Connor was as a person in life, especially while being honest and in recovery. It’s a beautiful new number, which helps to flesh out a character that we don’t see very much of in the Dear Evan Hansen movie. The way Evan finds the video and forwards it on to the Murphys offers a nice sense of closure, as he finally provides them with a real memory of their son. And since Connor’s stage song “Disappear” was cut from the film adaptation, it gives the character some much-needed screen time.

Dear Evan Hansen is in theaters now, so bring your tissues. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Spoilers ahead for Dear Evan Hansen!

While 2021 has seen the film industry find a new normal, it’s specifically been a great year for fans of musical theater. A number of beloved stage productions have been adapted for film, the latest being Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen. As you can see in the video above, I had the opportunity to speak with the director-writer ahead of the movie’s release, where we did a deep dive into the process of bringing the story from stage to screen.

Because Dear Evan Hansen is a full two-act musical, a number of songs and other material had to be cut in order to make it into a movie. This is a process we’ve seen recently with other projects like In the Heights and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Fans of Dear Evan Hansen will notice this change immediately, as the opening number “Does Anybody Have A Map?” was cut.

On the stage “Does Anybody Have a Map?” sets up the two families at the center of Dear Evan Hansen’s story. It’s a duet between the two mothers, played in film by Julianne Moore and Amy Adams. Stephen Chbosky discussed the process of leaving that beloved track and and others on the cutting room floor, saying:

Ben Platt’s first big solo “Waving Through a Window” is arguably the biggest hit song from Dear Evan Hansen, and opening the movie adaptation with the protagonist definitely makes a strong impression. It also lets fans know right away that this version is going to be making changes to the story, with the opening number far from the only one.

But cutting original songs like “Good for You” and “Disappear” allowed for new musical numbers to be added to the film adaptation. Stephen Chbosky spoke to me more about this process, and how acclaimed Greatest Showman songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek were eager to further develop supporting characters. Case in point: Amandla Stenberg’s Alana who debuted a new song “The Anonymous Ones.” As Chbosky put it,

Throughout our chat, Stephen Chbosky mentioned multiple times how he wanted his Dear Evan Hansen movie to serve as a companion piece to the stage musical, while also standing apart as something new. Through this process he could bring something new to the established characters. And Chbosky has already adapted a number of novels into movies, including his own Perks of Being a Wallflower. He explained how this informed his process, saying:

The Dear Evan Hansen movie also takes steps to make the story a more inclusive one. On top of Alana being an expanded character, the Murphy family is now a blended one featuring Cuban American actor Danny Pino as Larry. Evan’s friend Jared, played by Nik Dodani, is also queer in this adaptation. This change happened organically when Stephen Chbosky was working with the Atypical actor. Chbosky enjoyed flipping the typical sex-crazed teenager archtype on its head, and spoke to his colalboration with Dodani, saying:

Aside from the alterations to Dear Evan Hansen’s song list, perhaps the biggest change to the movie adaptation came from the handling of Connor Murphy. The story is largely focused on his grieving family after the character commits suicide, with glimpses of Connor coming in the form of home videos. In the Broadway musical Connor is much more present, serving as a ghostlike figure representing Evan’s conscience. Stephen Chbosky and company ruminated on this possibility for the movie, as he revealed to me:

These are the types of big decisions the director of every movie musical is expected to make. Luckily Stephen Chbosky worked directly with the writers as well as the Tony-winning star Ben Platt. And with his history writing the RENT movie, he had a specific set of skills for this daunting job. He explained how this factored into his time working on Dear Evan Hansen, saying:

Dear Evan Hansen clearly made a ton of changes moving from stage to screen, and it was fascinating to get a glimpse behind the curtain on Stephen Chbosky’s process. Fans will get to judge this new take on the story themselves since it hits theaters exclusively on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

2021 is the year full of movie musicals, with Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen being the latest to hit theaters. Original star Ben Platt is back as the title character, and he’s joined by a killer supporting cast including the incomparable Julianne Moore. And as you can see in the video above, Moore recently shared with CinemaBlend which of Pasek & Paul’s songs still resonate with her today.

Justin Paul and Benj Pasek are songwriters known for their acclaimed work on projects like La La Land and The Greatest Showman. But Dear Evan Hansen was their first Broadway musical, and there are a ton of killer songs in the soundtrack. I had the privilege of speaking with Julianne Moore ahead of the movie’s release, where I asked about her favorite tracks. Unsurprisingly her big solo “So Big/So Small” made the list, as she shared:

Julianne Moore’s big vocal solo doesn’t come until late into the runtime of Dear Evan Hansen, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Her character Heidi makes an emotional appeal to Ben Platt’s, and it’s a real tear-jerker. Moore understandably has quite the connection with that number after preparing and filming the movie musical.

The Dear Evan Hansen movie was filmed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the cast was isolated in a bubble when not filming. This experience likely gave Julianne Moore extra time to prep and stress about her big song “So Big/So Small.” And for that reason it’s the biggest earworm that’s stuck with her.

Of course, Julianne Moore didn’t only list her big 11 o’clock number as her only favorite from Dear Evan Hansen. She revealed that the music is something shared with her family, and cited Ben Platt’s sweet love song “If I Could Tell Her” as another favorite. She went on to tell me,

Dear Evan Hansen is definitely one of those shows that leaves audiences humming tunes as they leave the theater. And as Julianne Moore has shared the music with her family, it’s a movie that has the potential to inspire important conversations between the generations. Besides, who doesn’t want to see Moore and Amy Adams belting out some showtunes?

Dear Evan Hansen will hit theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The movie industry is finally getting back to normal, with a number of highly anticipated projects finally hitting theaters. This year has already seen a number of musical adaptations on the big screen, the most recent being Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen. And actress Amandla Stenberg recently opened up about bringing a new song to the movie version.

When traveling from stage to screen, most movie musicals end up making a number of changes. Dear Evan Hansen is no exception, with certain songs cut while others are premiering for the first time. The Hate U Give’s Amandla Stenberg is playing the character Alana Beck, and sings the new track “The Anonymous Ones.” As you can see in the above video, I had the privilege of speaking with Beck about her role in Dear Evan Hansen ahead of its release. She opened up about the process of crafting Alana’s song, saying:

Talk about pressure. On top of performing a new song in Dear Evan Hansen, Amandla Stenberg also helped Pasek & Paul write “The Anonymous Ones.” Luckily she felt supported by the pair of Oscar-winning songwriters. And fans only have to wait a few more days to see and hear the new track in all of its glory. And with a resume including The Greatest Showman and La La Land, Pasek & Paul have already gotten quite the reputation.

Those hardcore musical fans can actually stream “The Anonymous Ones” now, as the folks behind Dear Evan Hansen have released a handful of tracks from the movie’s soundtrack. In our same conversation, Amandla Stenberg specifically mentioned the Dear Evan Hansen fans out there. She explained the pressure that comes with breaking new ground for Alana, saying:

The Dear Evan Hansen movie expanding the role of Alana is just one way that Stephen Chbosky’s film adaptation will manage to stand apart from the stage production. Any new songs would be eligible for film awards, so tracks like “The Anonymous Ones” are doubly important. Only time will tell how audiences respond to the movie musical.

Dear Evan Hansen will arrive in theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

With audiences returning to theaters, there’s a variety of new releases arriving over the next few months. This includes a number of movie musicals like Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen. Ben Platt is back in his Tony-winning role, and there’s a stellar support cast attached including the incomparable Julianne Moore. And she recently explained why the story of Dear Evan Hansen continues to resonate so well with audiences.

Dear Evan Hansen became a massive hit as soon as it premiered on Broadway, in no small part due to Ben Platt’s tour-de-force performance. Now an even wider audience will get to see the emotional story thanks to the movie adaptation, and they should probably bring their tissues. As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with both Julianne Moore and director Stephen Chbosky, where they explained why they think Dear Evan Hansen is able to inspire such an emotional response. As Moore put it,

She’s got a point. Adolescent years are hard for most of us, especially those moments of uncertainty when in high school. And with Dear Evan Hansen focusing on that feeling of isolation and other-ness, it’s easy to relate to the musical’s story. Add in some killer songs by The Greatest Showman’s Pasek & Paul and you’ve got the recipe for success.

In Dear Evan Hansen, Julianne Moore plays the title character’s mother Heidi. She shares all of her scenes with Ben Platt in the process, as they bring that home to life on the big screen. Later in our conversation, Moore explained how Platt’s award-winning performance helps to bring in the audience, saying:

Ben Platt’s run in the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen one was a legendary one, as he managed to belt and weep through the character’s epic songs. Now the role will be recorded for prosperity in the movie adaptation, with a supporting cast that includes the likes of Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, and Kaitlyn Devers.

The universal nature of Dear Evan Hansen’s story was also addressed by Stephen Chbosky in the same video. He specifically cited how countless young people out there are deadline with mental health issues. And given his history with Perks of Being a Wallflower, Chbosky knows how to tell authentic teenage stories.

Dear Evan Hansen will hit theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

2021 has been an exciting one for movie musicals, with stage projects like In the Heights and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie being adapted for the big screen. This trend continues with Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen, which featured Ben Platt back in his Tony Award-winning title character. And Platt recently explained the ‘scary’ process of returning to this emotional role.

Ben Platt originated the role of Evan Hansen on Broadway and the musical’s pre-Broadway run. But despite this intimate knowledge of the material, Dear Evan Hansen still deals with some emotionally grueling material. Ahead of its release, I had the privilege of speaking with Platt about the process of returning to the difficult emotions of the piece. As you can see in the video above, he spoke about the challenges of this, calling it:

Well, there you have it. While there were some very understandable nerves that came with Ben Platt working on the Dear Evan Hansen movie, it seems that the actor/recording artist funneled that pressure into motivation. And just like that, he was able to slip back into that iconic role, and belt out Pasek & Paul’s iconic songs while feeling all of Evan’s emotions.

When Ben Platt was starring in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, the show quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town. But the majority of folks around the world weren’t able to see the stage version, especially Platt’s run as the title character. Platt used that as motivation to once again transform into Evan for the movie, despite the pressure that came with reprising the Award winning role.

Later in our chat, Ben Platt went on to explain how filming Dear Evan Hansen eventually got easier as it went on. This makes sense as on top of the pressure of playing the extremely emotional role, the movie was also filming mid-pandemic. Platt went on to tell me,

Luckily for Ben Platt, he was able to immerse himself back in the role of Evan Hansen, while Stephen Chbosky and company built the character’s world around him. Rather than a small ensemble and limited set pieces, the film adaptation makes the environment feel much more real. Add in killer cast members like Julianne Moore and Amy Adams, and Dear Evan Hansen certainly has a ton of talent behind it.

Dear Evan Hansen will hit theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Film adaptations of musicals have certainly taken off in the past few years, such as Hamilton last year and In The Heights this summer. Now we’re going to see a movie adaption of the smash hit musical Dear Evan Hansen, which won several Tony Awards and will continue its Broadway run after it resumes production after the Covid-19 delay. Evan Hansen, a high school student with Social Anxiety Disorder, has a therapeutic self-intended letter stolen by a classmate named Connor Murphy, who later dies by suicide. Connor's family mistakes the letter as a letter sent to Evan by Connor. Evan then inserts himself into the boy's past, leading to a series of lies and confrontational events.

Ben Platt portrayed the original Evan Hansen in the show’s Broadway run, and he reprises his role for the movie musical (a decision that led to some controversy). The movie musical was directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and also features Amy Adams, Kaitlyn Dever, Julianne Moore, Amandla Stenberg, Nik Dodani, Danny Pino, and Colton Ryan. Dear Evan Hansen will premiere in theaters on September 24, but critics have started to share their official reviews, so let's check them out.

Let’s start with the home team. CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola enjoyed Dear Evan Hansen, especially Ben Platt’s return to the titular role. Platt won a Tony Award for originating Evan Hansen on Broadway, and Chichizola argued that the actor killed it this time around, too. He also noted that this film iteration allows for viewers to see even more details in the actor’s face, which helps to immerse us in his journey. He also really enjoyed the performances from the supporting cast members, though he noted that some of them were underused, which is a result of the musical having to be condensed into a shorter runtime. Overall, here’s what he said:

Steve Pond from The Wrap also commended Platt’s star quality as Evan Hansen, but he also praised the other characters like Stenberg, Dever, Adams, and Moore. While Pond noted that the narrative is a little too messy at times and that it could have gone with a more nuanced approach to addressing mental health issues, he argued that you will still enjoy the movie musical overall, saying:

Michael Rechtshaffen from The Hollywood Reporter had a somewhat mixed opinion of the drama. He really enjoyed the acting from the main characters (definitely sensing a pattern in these reviews) and the beautiful moments of human connection the film offers. But he argued that those intimate moments too often bump up against distancing cutaways and music video cliches that take away from the impact. Rechtshaffen thought director Chbosky leaned too much into the drama formula aspect, saying:

IndieWire’s Tina Hassannia did not have a very positive review of Dear Evan Hansen. She criticized Chbosky’s direction, such as making Platt’s larger-than-life characterization of Evan Hansen too pronounced, as that affectation works well on stage, but looks too “creepy” on screen. Hassania also noted that the mix of dialogue and song was too choppy. She argued that unfortunately, the music is what will make the drama lose the audience, saying:

Valerie Complex from Deadline also had many criticisms of the movie musical, though she did praise the singing, particularly from Amandla Stenberg. But Complex considered Dear Evan Hansen “terrible,” criticizing the storytelling and the shallow statements on community and class structure. She also argued that it was a problematic choice to force the audience to feel sympathy for a compulsive liar whose mental illness is exploited. Overall, Complex noted:

Well, those were pretty mixed reviews. You'll be able to check out the teen drama soon, as Dear Evan Hansen debuts in theaters only on September 24th. Until then, plan your next movie-going experience with our 2021 new movie release guide.

2021 has become the year of the movie musicals, with a variety of beloved stage productions being adapted for the screen. Dear Evan Hansen is the latest of these projects, helmed by Perks of Being A Wallflower’s Stephen Chbosky. Tony Award winning star Ben Platt is back as the title character, and truly manages to shine in this emotionally exhausting drama.

Dear Evan Hansen became a hit Broadway musical when it debuted back in 2016. Ben Platt had already been in movies like Pitch Perfect, but his ability to weep and sing through such an emotional story was a star-making moment that led to way more TV and film roles. Luckily for those of us who were unable to see his run in New York, that performance has now been immortalized through this film adaptation.

The story of Dear Evan Hansen is a dark one, with mental health and sucide at the center of the narrative. The isolated Evan has a chance encounter with Conner Murphy (Colton Ryan) shortly before his suicide, and a misunderstanding endears him to a mourning family. This includes his crush Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever) and her parents (Amy Adams and Danny Pino). It’s a story about connection, lies, and mourning that makes for an emotional moviegoing experience. Luckily filmmaker Stephen Chbosky is experienced with telling authentic teenage stories.

This difficult material is buoyed by the music of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, who became household names thanks to their work on The Greatest Showman and La La Land. Every musical number helps to raise the stakes, especially when Ben Platt is given the time to embody Evan Hansen’s social anxiety and longing for acceptance. Acceptance is ultimately a theme of the movie, although we’ll have to sit with Evan’s lies and the discomfort that causes throughout most of the movie’s runtime.

Ben Platt Gives The Same Heart And Commitment That Won Him A Tony For Dear Evan Hansen

As previously mentioned, Ben Platt won a Tony Award for originating the title role of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. His return to the role years later was the cause of some backlash by naysayers, although the film performance doesn’t falter. Platt sounds killer singing those beloved songs, and also gets more stillness and time with the character this time around.

Dear Evan Hansen opens with the show’s biggest anthem, “Waving Through the Window,” which allows the audience to see his invisible Evan feels. This is invaluable to the audience’s experience of the story, which is one where Ben Platt’s character lies time and time again to a mourning family. His own anxiety and isolation makes the situation easier to digest, but the part of Evan needs to be played perfectly in order for the audience to be on his side.

Despite the various cards that may be stacked against him, Ben Platt's triumphant return as Evan is an emotional tour-de-force that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Fans will be able to see every micro expression in the actor’s face, which helps us to be immersed in the title character’s journey. And while the material of Dear Evan Hansen is super heavy, Platt time time again dodges opportunities for melodrama.

Supporting Cast Members Like Julianne Moore Are Underused

Of course, Ben Platt isn’t the only familiar name bringing the story of Dear Evan Hansen to life in Stephen Chbosky’s film adaptation. Platt is the only original actor in the cast, allowing for icons like Julianne Moore and Amy Adams to play the roles of Heidi Hansen and Cynthia Murphy. The movie also got a ton of attention for casting Last Man Standing’s Kaitlyn Dever as Evan’s love interest Zoe. In the end, the movie is a deeply emotional experience filled with stunning performances, although some cast members like Moore do end up being underused.

As is the case with every film adaptation of a Broadway musical, certain songs from Dear Evan Hansen were cut in order to condense the narrative into its 137-minute runtime. While this helps to streamline the story, it also leaves supporting characters like Evan’s mother Heidi without as much screen time. Julianne Moore sings and acts the hell out of the ballad “So Close, So Small”, but unfortunately her other two big songs were cut out of the film adaptation. But unsurprisingly Moore is able to make the most out of every scene and brings a quiet sincerity to the film.

Amy Adams’ role is also smaller as a result of these cuts, although Enchanted fans will be thrilled to hear her singing alongside Kaitlyn Dever and Danny Pino in “Requiem.” But given the pedigree attached to Dear Evan Hansen’s cast, the film does ultimately leave one wanting more from those talented names. For her part Dever gives a solid performance as Zoe, and is able to duet with the likes of Ben Platt.

The Dear Evan Hansen Movie Improves On The Original With Inclusion And Closure

While there are notable cuts in Dear Evan Hansen, there are ways that the movie adaptation improves on the narrative. For one, more inclusion and diversity is brought to the starring cast of actors. Evan’s friend Jared (Nik Dodani) is queer in this adaptation, while the Murphys are a mixed family featuring Cuban American actor Danny Pino as Larry. Additionally, the role of supporting character Alana is expanded, with actress Amandla Beck getting a new song in the process.

But perhaps the best change in Dear Evan Hansen comes from the movie’s ending. While the show’s conclusion is a bit vague, audiences will be given appropriate closure by the time the credits roll. That being said, it’s an emotionally grueling process to get through to the end, so pack your tissues.

Dear Evan Hansen is a solid movie musical with some gorgeous performances. While the story might have suffered a bit in its journey to the screen, it’s ultimately a moving piece that asks some tough, contemporary questions. Now we’ll just have to see if “You Will Be Found” heading back to theaters to see it all shake out on the big screen.

2021 is a big year for movie musicals. Following the release of In the Heights, there’s a number of highly anticipated blockbuster musicals coming to the big screen. This includes Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen, which will feature Ben Platt reprising his Tony Award winning role as the title character. And Platt recently explained why he feels so passionately about playing his signature role for the film adaptation.

Ben Platt’s Broadway run in Dear Evan Hansen was universally acclaimed, as he sang and cried his way through the play’s contents for eight shows a week. It seemed like a no-brainer for Platt to play Evan in the movie, but he got some backlash regarding his age after the first trailer arrived online. The star of The Politician has addressed why he’s the right person to play the protagonist, saying:

It’s hard to argue with that logic. Ben Platt worked with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul in crafting the title role of Dear Evan Hansen. And after those years of work, ultimately resulting in a Best Actor Tony Award, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the role on the big screen. And now more people will be able to see his iconic performance as it’s immortalized.

Ben Platt’s comments to The Independent helps to show where the actor/ recording artist’s head is at regarding Dear Evan Hansen. Platt is working with a killer cast for the film adaptation, and is the only actor reprising their role from the original Broadway cast. And on top of his years playing Evan, he also has the advantage of the role being written around his particular vocal range and sensibility.

Broadway fans were excited to see that Dear Evan Hansen was getting a film adaptation, with A-list talent like Julianne Moore and Amy Adams attached. But when the trailer first arrived, Ben Platt was the subject of some backlash over his age, and became fodder for countless memes. But considering Platt is still just 27 years-old, he’s hardly the oldest actor to portray a high schooler. Plus he’s only three years older than co-star Kaitlyn Dever.

As a fan of the musical myself, I’m particularly interested to see how Dear Evan Hansen will adapt for the film, and what changes are made in order to facilitate that transition. Projects like In the Heights had to cut out a number of songs to make it appropriate length for a film, and Ben Platt’s upcoming movie will likely do the same. We’ll just have to wait and see which hit Pasek & Paul songs end up on the cutting room floor.

Dear Evan Hansen is currently expected to arrive in theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

You’d think that a veteran film actor wouldn’t get nervous about new releases. After all, they’ve done it a million times. But what happens when that actor decides to try something completely out of their wheelhouse? Being anxious starts to make more sense. Just look at Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore, whose upcoming appearance in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen will make her try something new: sing.

Julianne Moore appeared on an after-show segment for What What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen to discuss her new movie musical, where she’ll play Heidi, mother of the titular Evan Hansen. When Andy Cohen asked if she had seen the final cut of the film, she said:

It’s hard to imagine being as critically lauded as Julianne Moore and still thinking you might stink in a movie. But her concerns do seem valid. Acting is one thing; singing is entirely another. And having to act and sing at the same time? Even more difficult, especially if you’re not a trained vocalist. Broadway singers spend years fine-tuning their pipes, and even then there are many ways a performance can go wrong.

But I personally think Julianne Moore will be okay. She’s an incredible actress, and I would personally rather watch a performance that’s beautifully acted with a so-so singing voice than a dull, boring performance from a vocal powerhouse. Rachel Bay Jones, who originally played Heidi on Broadway, won a Tony for her emotional depth, not her voice (although she does sound great). In addition, the role of Heidi Hansen isn’t super vocally demanding - at least, not compared to the high tenor notes required of Ben Platt as Evan. How he managed to hit that high note in ‘Waving Through a Window’ eight times a week remains a mystery to scientists everywhere.

Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of teenager Evan Hansen, who fabricates a friendship with a classmate who committed suicide in the hopes that it will comfort the grieving family. In addition to Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen and Ben Platt as Evan Hansen, the cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Zoe Murphy, Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy, Colton Ryan as Connor Murphy, and Amandla Steinburg as Alana Beck.

Dear Evan Hansen is slated for a late 2021 release date, so we won’t have to wait long for Julianne Moore’s vocal debut. In the meantime, you can check out the trailer here.

Broadway, as of late, has been making a heavy transition into the world of the movies, and has been gaining more traction than ever. With smash-hits like the stage-recorded Hamilton, to the upcoming film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, it’s a great time to see a musical in movie theaters. Yet another new musical is being brought to cinema screens soon for people to enjoy, and that’s the Dear Evan Hansen movie.

The Tony-award-winning musical has plenty of big screen appeal, mainly focusing around an anxious, isolated high schooler who is looking for some understanding and belonging in the chaos of the world, especially with the cruelty of the social-media age. With amazing songs, a great cast, including Ben Platt, and so much more, here is what we know about the upcoming adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen’s Release Date Is Set For September 2021

Since the trailer only came out in May 2021 for Dear Evan Hansen, a few fans may have expected the new movie to release at some point in 2022. But, we are happy to say that Dear Evan Hansen will be a part of the 2021 movies this year, premiering on September 24, 2021. We won’t have to wait long for this awesome musical to come to our screens soon.

Ben Platt Will Be Reprising His Starring Role For The Movie

I’m sure that plenty of you have already heard of the name Ben Platt when talking about movies or TV. For me, I first saw him in Pitch Perfect, or, you might have seen him in the Netflix series, The Politician. However, what really brought Ben Platt to fame was portraying the titular character in Dear Evan Hansen for the original Broadway cast, for which he won a Tony award, becoming the youngest actor to ever win Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

However, fans have taken issue with Platt's age. The actor is 27 – turning 28 on the day of the film’s release, so him playing a high schooler feels a little bit strange to many of them. However, the director of the upcoming film, Stephen Chbosky, defended his decision to have Platt play the role in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Since Platt did win the Tony for this portrayal, I’m looking forward to seeing him perform it one last time on the big screen.

The Dear Evan Hansen Cast Has Plenty Of Other Great Stars As Well

Besides the return of Ben Platt, the cast of Dear Evan Hansen has so many other stars attached to it who will surely make this one of the best films of the year.

Six-time Academy-Award nominee Amy Adams is in the film, as well as Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, so it’s clear that we already have some amazing talent here. Adding onto that, Kaitlyn Dever of Booksmart fame, Amandla Stenberg from The Hate U Give, DeMarius Copes from Broadway’s Mean Girls, and so many more have jumped into this adaption, creating a cast that already has me eager for this film to release. With an ensemble like this, how can you not be excited?

Stephen Chbosky Will Be Directing Dear Evan Hansen

If you wanted a coming-of-age drama to be done well, look no further than Stephen Chbosky, at least in my opinion. For those who don’t know, Chbosky is the bestselling author of the classic coming-of-age novel, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, and also directed the feature film based on it with Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller.

Chbosky has also written a couple of screenplays in the past, like the 2005 film adaptation of Rent as well as co-writing Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. He also recently directed the drama Wonder, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay. There's no denying that he’s had plenty of practice in the film industry, and I can’t wait to see what he brings to this version of Dear Evan Hansen, with the resume of projects he has behind him.

Dear Evan Hansen Will Have An “Extended Third Act”

In the same Vanity Fair article mentioned before, Ben Platt said how the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen expands on the original story and dives deeper into the character than ever before:

When it comes to film, there’s always the opportunity to expand on a character and really grow them into a new version of themselves, I believe that with the same team as the musical and a great director behind it, Dear Evan Hansen will open a new chapter on the story of Evan as a whole.

There Will Be Two New Songs In Dear Evan Hansen

What’s even better about this new adaptation is that the original team behind the award-winning musical, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, returned to not only do the music in Dear Evan Hansen, but also wrote two new songs. The songwriting duo has gone on to produce music for some of the biggest musicals in Hollywood today, like the award-winning La La Land and the showstopping The Greatest Showman, but now they've returned to their roots with Dear Evan Hansen.

Adding two new songs to the already stellar soundtrack (including hits such as “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever,” and “Words Fail”) is what makes this even more exciting.

Ben Platt told Vanity Fair that fans of the original Broadway musical should expect changes like this.

I’m always down for some new music in any musical, and if the same team is behind it, I’m pretty sure it’ll be awesome. Even so, only time will tell.

Check Out The Dear Evan Hansen Trailer Here

If you haven’t seen the trailer yet for the new Dear Evan Hansen film, check it out here.

What are you excited for the most about this upcoming film adaptation? Do you think Ben Platt will pull off playing a high schooler for the last time? I already want September to come as soon as possible.

After what seems like an eternity, theaters are starting to reopen around the world and audiences are likely champing at the bit to go see the latest movies on the big screen. But with the international film schedule busy as ever, keeping tabs on all the United Kingdom movie release dates is easier said than done. Fret not, as we have put together a comprehensive list of all the major film releases in the United Kingdom along with their respective release dates, stars, and other key information that will help you decide if it’s something you want to see opening night, wait for a matinee a few weeks later, or hold off until they find their eventual home in the world of streaming.

(This list is strictly for UK movie releases. Here's where you can find the 2021 movie premiere schedule for U.S. releases.)

With multiple Marvel movies, the long-awaited return of James Bond, and several upcoming video game movies, there's a lot to look forward to in 2021, 2022, and beyond. As is often the case, release dates are subject to change throughout the year.

June 2021 Movie Releases

With horror, drama, and big-budget spectacles like the upcoming Fast and Furious 9, also known as F9, there are plenty of reasons to escape the summer heat and head to your local cinema in June 2021.

Thursday, June 3rd

A Quiet Place Part II - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, John Krasinski

Friday, June 4th

Dream Horse - Theatrical - Rating PG - Toni Collette, Damien Lewis

Gunda - Theatrical - Rating PG - Documentary

The Killing of Two Lovers - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Chris Coy, Clayne Crawford

Land - Theatrical - Rating 12A - Robin Wright, Sarah Dawn Pledge

After Love - Theatrical - Rating 12A - Joanna Scanlan, Nathalie Richard

Wednesday, June 9th

Nobody - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating 15 - Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen

Friday, June 11th

The Father - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating 12A - Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman

Thursday, June 17th

In The Earth - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Joel Fry, Reece Shearsmith

Friday, June 18th

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Selma Hayek

In The Heights - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating PG - Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera

Monster Hunter - Theatrical - Rating 12A - Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman

Boys from County Hell - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Jack Rowan, Louisa Harland

Thursday, June 24th

F9 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Vin Diesel, John Cena, Charlize Theron

July 2021 Movie Releases

The movie schedule really picks up in July 2021 with the long-awaited premiere of the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Black Widow.

Friday, July 2nd

Another Round - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating 12A - Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen

Voyagers - Theatrical, Rating TBD - Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan

Freaky - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton

Night of the Kings - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Bakary Koné, Steve Tientcheu

Friday, July 9th

Black Widow - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating 15 - Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh

Supernova - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci

Friday, July 16th

Space Jam: A New Legacy - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - Lebron James, Don Cheadle

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Taylor Russell, Logan Miller

The Forever Purge - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Josh Lucas, Ana de la Reguera

The Croods: A New Age - Theatrical - Rating U - Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone

The Birthday Cake - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Ewan McGregor, Val Kilmer

Summer Of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Documentary

Friday, July 23rd

Wrath of Man - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Jason Statham, Scott Eastwood

Old - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps

Riders of Justice - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Mads Mikkelsen, Andrea Heick Gadenberg

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Selena Gomez, Andy Sandberg

Friday, July 30th

Jungle Cruise - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating 12A - Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt

The Suicide Squad - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - John Cena, Idris Elba, Margot Robbie

Spirit Untamed - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore

The Sparks Brothers - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Documentary

Limbo - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Sidse Babett Knudsen

August 2021 Movie Releases

In August 2021, Ryan Reynolds fans will be happy to finally get to see Free Guy on the big screen following multiple delays going back to 2020.

Wednesday, August 4th

Medusa - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Sarah T. Cohen, Megan Purvis

Friday, August 6th

The Green Knight - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander

Profile - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Valene Kane, Morgan Watkins

Stillwater - Theatrical - Rating 12A - Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin

Minamata - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, Akiko Iwase

The Last Letter From Your Lover - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones

Friday, August 13th

Free Guy - Theatrical - Rating 15 - Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer

New Order - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Naian González Norvind, Fernando Cuautle

Paw Patrol: The Movie - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Randall Park, Tyler Perry

Don’t Breathe 2 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Stephen Lang

I Am Your Man - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens

Wednesday, August 18th

Reminiscence - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson

People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Asim Chaudhry, Allan Mustafa

Friday, August 20th

Snake Eyes - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Henry Golding, Samara Weaving

The Night House - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg

Censor - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Niamh Algar, Michael Smiley

Demonic - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Carly Pope, Nathalie Boltt

Friday, August 27th

The Nest - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jude Law, Carrie Coon

Candyman - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tony Todd

The Beatles: Get Back - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Documentary

Tuesday, August 31st

Sound of Violence - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jasmin Savory Brown, Lili Simmons

September 2021 Movie Releases

Marvel Studios’ momentum will continue into September 2021 when Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings makes its long-awaited debut. The ninth month of the year will also see the arrival of Dune and No Time to Die.

Friday, September 3rd

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Simu Liu, Awkwafina

The Duke - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Matthew Goode, Helen Mirren

Friday, September 10th

Respect - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker

Wednesday, September 15th

Venom: Let There Be Carnage - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson

Friday, September 17th

Dune - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya

Thursday, September 30th

No Time to Die - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Daniel Craig, Rami Malek

October 2021 Movie Releases

October 2021 will have its fair share of thrills and chills with two horror sequels: The Addams Family 2 and Halloween Kills. The Halloween month will also see the Last Night in Soho roll into theaters.

Friday, October 8th

The Addams Family 2 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron

Friday, October 15th

Halloween Kills - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer

The Last Duel - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck

Friday, October 22nd

Dear Evan Hansen - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Ben Platt, Amy Adams

The French Dispatch - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright

Jackass 4 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O

The Many Saints Of Newark - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal

The Boss Baby: Family Business - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Alec Baldwin, James Marsden

Ron’s Gone Wrong - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jack Dylan Grazer, Thomas Barbusca

Friday, October 29th

Last Night in Soho - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith

November 2021 Movie Releases

November 2021 will be another month dominated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao’s Eternals lands in theaters.

Friday, November 5th

Eternals - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek

Friday, November 12th

Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon

Belfast - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe

Friday, November 19th

Top Gun: Maverick - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Tom Cruise, Miles Teller

Friday, November 26th

House of Gucci - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Lady Gaga, Adam Driver

Encanto - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Stepahnie Beatriz

December 2021 Movie Releases

The 2021 Christmas holiday will be a busy one with multiple high-profile movies being released in the final month of the year. Everything from West Side Story to Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Matrix 4 to Downton Abbey 2 will give moviegoers plenty of options.

Friday, December 3rd

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hooper

Friday, December 10th

West Side Story - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler

Friday, December 17th

Spider-Man: No Way Home - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch

Wednesday, December 22nd

The Matrix 4 - Theatrical, Streaming - Rating TBD - Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss

The King’s Man - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes

Downton Abbey 2 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Dominic West, Michelle Dockery

Friday, December 24th

Clifford the Big Red Dog - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall

January 2022 Movie Releases

The new year will start off with a bang, err slash with the premiere of Scream, the fifth installment in the ‘90s horror franchise.

Friday, January 7th

Operation Mincemeat - Theatrical - Rating TBD -

Friday, January 14th

Scream - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Neve Campbell, David Arquette

The 355 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o

Sesame Street - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Anne Hathaway, Matt Vogel

Friday, January 28th

Sing 2 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon

A Journal for Jordan - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Michael B. Jordan, Tamara Tunie

February 2022 Movie Releases

February 2022 will see the release of two movies whose respective release dates have been kicked like a can the past few years: Death on the Nile and Uncharted.

Friday, February 11th

Death on the Nile - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot

Friday, February 18th

Uncharted - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg

Ambulance - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

March 2022 Movie Releases

Two of the biggest names in comic books — Batman and Doctor Strange — will compete for supremacy at the box office in March 2022.

Friday, March 4th

The Batman - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Robert Pattinson, Paul Dano

Friday March 25th

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen

April 2022 Movie Releases

April 2022 will see the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which will try to replicate the surprise success of its 2020 predecessor.

Friday, April 8th

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Ben Schwartz, James Marsden

May 2022 Movie Releases

Two of Hollywood’s biggest leading men — Chris Hemsworth and Keanu Reeves — will provide moviegoers with one hell of a way to kick off the Summer 2022 blockbuster season with the release of Thor: Love and Thunder and John Wick: Chapter 4.

Friday, May 6th

Thor: Love and Thunder - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman

Friday, May 27th

John Wick: Chapter 4 - Theatrical - Rating TBD - Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

As we have come to know the past couple of years, the movie calendar can change at the drop of a hat, so make sure to check back for all the latest information as the months go by. And don’t forget to check out CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie premiere schedule while you’re here.

2021 is going to be a big year for movie musicals. There are a number of highly anticipated film adaptations of popular shows coming out, including In the Heights, West Side Story, and Dear Evan Hansen. The latter project will see Ben Platt reprise his Tony Award winning role as the title character, and he recently responded to jabs about his age after his Dear Evan Hansen trailer opposite Kaitlyn Dever arrived online.

Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway back in 2016, and helped propel Ben Platt to stardom. Platt won a Tony for playing Evan, managing to do the impossible by singing through his tears and sounding killer in the process. But when the trailer for the Dear Evan Hansen movie arrived, folks on social media took jabs at how “old” the 27 year-old actor looks in his signature role. When sharing a story from Vanity Fair about the upcoming movie musical, Platt responded to the backlash in a now-deleted tweet. It read:

Touche. It seems that the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen has resulted in a mixed bag of responses for Ben Platt. While there are plenty who can’t wait to see the emotional musical adapted for film, he clearly saw the memes and jokes about his age. Being a celebrity is certainly a double-edged sword.

Ben Platt’s response to the Dear Evan Hansen jabs was eventually deleted from the actor-singer’s Twitter, but we can surmise how he may be feeling since the trailer broke the internet. Reprising his role is a huge opportunity for Platt, and will allow his Tony winning performance to be immortalized on film. But it seems that the first glimpse into the movie has resulted in some hate coming his way.

In his deleted response, Ben Platt referenced one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time: Grease. That movie notably starred a cast of fully grown adults, who looked nothing like the young teens they were trying to portray. Adult actors have been playing teenagers for forever (yes, that’s a Dear Evan Hansen reference), so Platt’s upcoming movie isn’t unique in that regard.

You can check out the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen below, complete with Ben Platt’s signature vocals and brand spankin’ new wig.

Director Stephen Chbosky assembled a killer cast to fill out the world of Dear Evan Hansen, giving Ben Platt the opportunity to work with some A-list talent. As previously mentioned Last Man Standing’s Kaitlyn Dever will be playing his love interest Zoe, while we’ll also see performances from greats like Julianne Moore and Amy Adams.

Dear Evan Hansen’s trailer also went viral because so many were shocked to learn about its very serious content. The movie follows a teenager crippled by social anxiety, who accidentally gets involved in a grieving family following his classmate Connor’s suicide. One big lie snowballs, and the story is an emotional one with very high, human stakes.

Dear Evan Hansen is currently set to arrive in theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Movie musicals are a tried and true genre, which have the potential to be both critically and financially successful. Contemporary Broadway musicals like In The Heights and The Prom were recently given a film adaptation, and that trend continues with Stephen Chbosky’s Dear Evan Hansen. The movie features a killer cast including original star Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, and Amy Adams. And the first trailer showed Dear Evan Hansen is going to be a serious tear-jerker.

Dear Evan Hansen is a hit Broadway show from the musical minds of Pasek & Paul, who are known for their work on The Greatest Showman. It’s an emotional story that tackles issues like depression and suicide, and the first trailer showed those high stakes, plus some signature musical moments.

The trailer for Dear Evan Hansen is set to the backdrop of the Act I closing song "You Will Be Found." As the lyrics tell the movie's story about isolation and hope, the characters of the movie musical come together. Ben Platt's title character is a lonely high school student crippled by anxiety, who happens to have an encounter with classmate Conner Murphy (Colton Ryan) shortly before his suicide. Misunderstanding and tragedy set off a series of events that make for Dear Evan Hansen's many twists and turns.

Director Stephen Chbosky assembled a killer cast to bring Dear Evan Hansen to life on the big screen, and join original actor and Tony Winner Ben Platt. Julianne Moore plays his mother Heidi, a single mother trying to keep her head above water and monitor her son's mental health issues. The mixup with Conor puts Evan in direct communication with his grieving parents (Amy Adams and Danny Pino), and sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever).

As the trailer shows, Evan ends up lying to Conner's family, in hopes of giving them some sense of closure in the midst of a horrible tragedy. Eventually that lie snowballs, as a movement forms about Connor's suicide and Evan's message of hope. As you can imagine, there are plenty of tears along the way. Oh and lots of songs too, with Ben Platt's signature voice shining throughout the first Dear Evan Hansen trailer.

Obviously from the subject matter alone, Dear Evan Hansen is a far cry from what audiences saw with Pasek & Paul's The Greatest Showman back in 2017. But Dear Evan Hansen is a huge hit on Broadway, so there's definitely a very invested audience ready to see the film adaptation. It's currently unclear how much the story will be altered for the movie, but the important beats of the musical seemingly play out throughout the course of this first trailer. We'll just have to see which musical numbers end up cut, and which ones get their life in movie form.

Ben Platt's voice was the only one heard singing throughout the trailer, but Dear Evan Hansen should give musical moments to the ensemble cast, especially Kaitlyn Dever and Julianne Moore. Dever's Zoe is the female protagonist, who gets some lovely vocal features throughout the course of the show. As for Moore's character Heidi Hansen, she's very much an emotional core of the story. And smart money says she'll be able to shed some signature tears throughout the course of the movie's mysterious runtime.

Dear Evan Hansen is currently set to arrive in theaters on September 24th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The ongoing global health crisis brought the entertainment world to a screeching halt last spring. Various TV and film projects have since resumed filming, albeit with new health and safety protocols. Tony Award winning Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen is getting a film adaptation, with an all-star cast assembled to begin production. Booksmart and Last Man Standing's Kaitlyn Dever will be playing Zoe Murphy in the highly anticipated project, and recently shared what it's like working on the project in the midst of the pandemic.

The Dear Evan Hansen movie is being directed by Stephen Chbosky, who assembled a stellar cast to bring Pasek and Paul's stage musical to life on film. In addition to names like Juliana Moore, Kaitlyn Dever will be playing the title character's love interest in the upcoming movie musical. She recently spoke to that experience with all the new health protocols, saying:

Well, there you have it. It looks like Kaitlyn Dever and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen are on a strict lockdown as filming begins in both Los Angeles and Atlanta. Dever admits to isolating herself to keep the cast and crew safe, while everyone involved also rehearses with masks and undergoes regular COVID testing. That's moviemaking in the current climate, folks.

Kaitlyn Dever's comments to Variety help peel back the process on Dear Evan Hansen's movie adaptation. Filming in the midst of a pandemic is a tricky thing, which requires the cast and crew to alter the way they approach their jobs. This is simply the new normal, and it's exciting to see the TV and film industries getting back on the horse.

Later in her same interview, Kaitlyn Dever went on to explain why she's so happy about her Dear Evan Hansen role. Because despite having to work differently than any of her previous film sets, Dever will get to bring the beloved Broadway musical to film for the very first time. As the Unbelievable star went on to explain,

She's got a point. The cast and crew of Dear Evan Hansen have likely all been isolated for the past months, unable to work in the process. So returning to a set, even with new health precautions, is likely very energizing. Kaitlyn Dever certainly seems to think so, and it'll be interesting to see how this extra level of passion for the job translates when the movie finally hits theaters.

The Dear Evan Hansen movie will star The Politician actor Ben Platt in his Tony Award winning role as the title character. He's the only actor to be brought in from the original Broadway cast, with established film actors helping to flesh out the cast. In addition to Kaitlyn Dever Julianne Moore will be playing Evan's mother Heidi Hansen. Amy Adams will also return to the movie musical as Zoe's mother Cynthia Murphy.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Dear Evan Hansen as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

An accomplished actress who only continues to impress us with her versatile and distinguished talents, Amy Adams is one of our greatest and most revered working actresses. And thankfully, she has several intriguing and exciting new projects on the near horizon, many of which pique our curiosity.

From Hillbilly Elegy to Zack Snyder's Justice League, Amy Adams remains a busy and impressive woman, and we might be mere months away from the movie or TV show that finally turns this Academy Award-nominated actress into a future Oscar and/or Emmy winner. Things only continue to look bright and promising for the astonishing talent, and we're here to list just a few of the noteworthy titles that Adams currently has lined up on her growing resume. If you're a big Amy Adams fan, as well you should be, here's what we can look forward to seeing in the not-too-distant future.

Hillbilly Elegy - November 2020 (Completed)

Based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by J.D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy is considered a modern exploration of the American dream as seen by three generations of an Appalachian family. The cast includes Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, Freida Pinto, and more, and it'll serve as the latest from director Ron Howard. Adapted to the screen by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Vanessa Taylor (The Shape of Water), this is undeniably expected to be an awards season hopeful, which is why Netflix is planning to release the movie sometime in November (the exact date isn't known at this time). As a six-time Oscar nominee, there's a chance that this role in this buzzworthy feature may be the one that finally turns Adams into an Oscar winner. Though, of course, it's much too early to know for sure. But we'll find out soon.

The Woman In The Window - Expected 2021 (Completed)

Once thought to be an awards season contender, The Woman in the Window has faced a number of unfortunate challenges and difficulties in the lead-up to its delayed release. Between a studio transfer, a scandalous exposé regarding the author of its source material, a number of poor test screenings resulting in disparaged rewrites, reshoots, and re-edits, and several release date pushbacks, Joe Wright's misfortuned potboiler thriller hasn't had an easy road to the big screen. Now, it's not going to the big screen at all. As it was announced earlier this year, Netflix is now set to release the movie on their site after Disney sold it to the streaming service, with its debut date left unconfirmed. Expectations have been dampened due to the hassles it has faced, but it's also hard not to remain intrigued.

Zack Snyder's Justice League - 2021 (Filming/Post-Production)

It has been a long and winding road for Zack Synder's director's cut of Justice League. From the blockbuster's troubled production to its upcoming HBO Max mini-series, this project's history is filled with many twists and turns. So much so that our managing director wrote a whole book about it. But it's finally happening. Sometime next year, the newfound streaming service will debut Snyder's intended vision for the project, notably after Joss Whedon took over reshoots and post-production duties following a tragedy in Snyder's personal life. The results of the final film were largely dismissed, and we'll have to wait to see if the Snyder Cut is ultimately better. But the director is reportedly in the midst of filming additional scenes, and the folks involved all seem excited. Time will tell. Meanwhile, Amy Adams is expected to reprise her role as Lois Lane.

Kings Of America - TBA (Pre-Production)

Well, it looks like Amy Adams is sticking with Netflix for the near future. In addition to Hillbilly Elegy and The Woman in the Window, Netflix is also set to produce Kings of America, a limited series set to star Amy Adams, who'll also serve as an executive producer. Meanwhile, Adam McKay reunites with his Vice and Talladega Nights star to direct the pilot. From creator Jess Kimball Leslie and showrunner Diana Son (Genius: Aretha, 13 Reasons Why), Kings of America will follow three women who find their lives interwoven with Wal-Mart: one is an heiress, one is a maverick executive, and the other is a longtime Wal-Mart saleswoman and preacher who fights against the company in the biggest class action lawsuit in U.S. history. It's currently unclear when production will start or when we should expect to see this new series on Netflix.

Dear Evan Hansen - TBA (Filming)

Following its Broadway theatrical run, which resulted in six Tony awards, including Best Musical, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood brought Dear Evan Hansen to the big screen. Sure enough, Universal Pictures is finally moving forward with its film adaptation, directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) with a screenplay by Steven Levenson, who also wrote the award-winning stage production. Likewise, Ben Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, is reprising his Tony-winning lead role, and he'll be joined by some outstanding supporting talents. Notably, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, Danny Pino, and Amy Adams will also star in this new musical drama, which started production back in late August, according to Ben Platt. Filming is expected to continue through Thanksgiving. No release date has been announced. Adams plays Cynthia, the mother to Platt's Evan and Dever's Zoe.

Disenchanted - TBA (Announced/Possibly Pre-Production)

It's honestly surprising that we haven't gotten a continuation to Enchanted yet. Disney's loving parody/homage to their brand of princess movies was a smart, appealing comedy with a radiant star-making performance from Amy Adams. Given the studio's love of milking sequels, one would assume that this film would've gotten at least two or three by now. Alas, the long-promised follow-up still remains dormant, somehow, with false starts and broken promises leaving a lot of fans disappointed in the 13-plus years since the original movie hit theaters. 

Nevertheless, sequel talks have been happening since 2010 (maybe even earlier) and we might soon be getting Disenchanted. Or maybe not? It was revealed back in March of this year that the Disney sequel is reportedly entering pre-production, though it's unclear if that's still the case amid COVID-related delays. Nevertheless, it's supposedly happening. But we'll have to keep waiting.

Nightbitch - TBA (Announced)

Now that's a title with a bite. Earlier this summer, it was revealed that Amy Adams would star in Annapurna's upcoming adaptation of Nightbitch, based on Rachel Yoder's forthcoming 2021 debut novel. The story is curiously about an unnamed former artist-turned-stay-at-home housewife who believes she's turning into a dog after the birth of her son. 

Details are limited otherwise, but it's hard not to be intrigued by that title and synopsis alone. Adams is currently the only name attached to the project at the moment. Currently, there are no screenwriters, producers, or director(s) attached (or, at least, announced) to the project. It's also unclear if Adams is involved strictly as an actress or if she's also producing, given that she's produced a couple of her recent/upcoming projects of late. Once more details are disclosed, we'll keep you posted. I wonder if that title will stick around.

The Most Fun We Ever Had - TBA (Announced)

Following the success of Sharp Objects, it's no surprise to learn that Amy Adams is returning to work with HBO. In addition to Zack Snyder's aforementioned Justice League over at HBO Max, Adams is signed on to star and executive produce The Most Fun We Ever Had, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Claire Lombardo, who will also adapt. 

Also set to star Laura Dern, this multigenerational saga follows four sisters as they struggle to exist in the shadow of their parents' idealistic marriage, notably when a son who was given up for adoption 15 years earlier returns into their lives, as it was reported by Deadline. Anya Epstein (The Affair, In Treatment) will serve as an executive producer and showrunner. It's not yet clear when cameras are expected to roll or who else might be involved.

The Poisonwood Bible - TBA (Announced)

In addition to The Most Fun We Ever Had, Amy Adams has another project lined up with HBO. Specifically, she's set to develop an adaptation of Barbara Kingsolver's novel, The Poisonwood Bible, into a limited series. The Pultizer Prize-nominated story, published back in 1998, follows the wife of an evangelical missionary (Adams) as she takes her four children to the Belgian Congo during colonial upheaval in 1959, as Deadline reported last year. 

In addition to playing the lead role, Adams is expected to executive produce this mini-series as well. Kingsolver and the aforementioned Anya Epstein, meanwhile, will serve as writers on this new project. It's unclear if the overlapping talent involved in this project and the one mentioned previously suggests that this new show fell through, but there haven't been any reports to suggest otherwise. Nevertheless, developments for this TV adaptation haven't been quick.

These are hopefully only a few of the upcoming projects we can expect to see Amy Adams in. As one of Hollywood's most respected Oscar-nominated actresses, she continues to expand herself with several intriguing, diverse, and exciting new movies and shows. We'll continue to keep you posted on what Adams has in store and more right here at CinemaBlend.

Next to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, one of Broadway’s recent hits has been Dear Evan Hansen, a musical about a teen with social anxiety who writes a personal letter that gets into the wrong hands. Since it debuted in 2016, the coming-of-age story has become a hot ticket, and Universal is currently developing it into a film written by the original writer Steven Levenson and directed by Perks of Being A Wallflower’s Stephen Chbosky.

The Dear Evan Hansen cast has been really shaping up. Check out what we know so far about who will star in the musical film:

Ben Platt

The lead of the film, playing Evan Hansen himself, will be Ben Platt, who played the role in the original Broadway cast and won a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. Now at the age of 26, Platt has admitted he’s starting getting a little old to play a high school student, but it will be something special to see the actor behind the original cast recording to star in the film. Platt started out in movies in 2012’s Pitch Perfect and has since established himself as a recording artist and star of Netflix’s The Politician.

Amy Adams

A particularly exciting addition to the Dear Evan Hansen cast announced per Variety is Amy Adams. The Oscar-nominated actress will return to a musical role for the first time since 2011’s The Muppets and previously starred in Disney’s Enchanted as Giselle. Adams will play Cynthia Murphy, the wealthy mother of Evan Hansen’s crush Zoe as well as Connor, who has a key role in the storyline.

Kaitlyn Dever

Playing the daughter of Amy Adams’ character and Evan Hanson’s crush, Zoe, is Kaitlyn Dever, a 23-year-old actress who is coming off a massive year as the star of Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart and the Netflix hit Unbelievable. The actress is also well known for growing up on Last Man Standing as Tim Allen’s daughter, Eve. Evan’s relationship with Zoe is certainly a highlight to the musical, and we can’t wait to see Dever take on the role.

Colton Ryan

Playing the son of Amy Adam’s Cynthia and sister to Kaitlyn Dever’s Zoe is Colton Ryan, who also has roots in the Broadway musical. Colton Ryan was an understudy for the roles of Evan Hansen, Jared Kleinman and his role in the movie, Connor Murphy. Ryan has appeared in Homeland, 2019 comedy Adam and the AppleTV+ show Little Voice.

Amandla Stenberg

Amandla Stenberg has also recently joined the Dear Evan Hansen cast as Alana Beck, a shallow classmate Evan Hansen comes into contact with. She will reportedly have an expanded role in the movie that was not present in the Broadway musical. Stenberg got her start in The Hunger Games as Rue before growing up and starring in book adaptations for Everything, Everything, The Darkest Minds and The Hate U Give. The 21-year-old also starred in Netflix’s The Eddy earlier this year.

Danny Pino

Portraying the husband of Amy Adams’ character, Larry Murphy, will be actor Danny Pino. In another change from the Broadway play, Pino will be playing Zoe and Connor’s stepfather instead of biological father. The actor is best known for playing Scotty Valens on Cold Case, Nick Amaro on Law and Order: SVU from 2011 to 2015, Universal’s Gone series and Mayans M.C.

Nik Dodani

Evan’s closest friend in the play is Jared Kleinman, who will be played by Nik Dodani. The actor is best known for his role in Netflix’s comedies Atypical and Trinkets. He was also in a number of 2018 episodes of Murphy Brown and the 2019 thriller Escape Room. He got his start as a stand-up comedian and has performed his set on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore filled the last principal role in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, when it was reported the Oscar-winner would be playing the role of Evan’s mother, Heidi Hansen. The part originated by Rachel Bay Jones in the original 2016 run earned her a Tony win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, along with the musical nabbing Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and Ben Platt’s win. Moore is the Still Alice and Far From Heaven award-winning actress, who will soon star with Amy Adams in Woman in the Window as well.

Isaac Powell

In the midst of the filming of Dear Evan Hansen, the movie has added a Broadway breakout star Isaac Powell to play the role of a high school jock named Rhys. The casting announcement will mark the actor’s first movie following his critically acclaimed work in the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story and previously being a part of the 2017 Broadway revival and Grammy-winning cast album of Once On This Island.

It’s an exciting cast being assembled for the upcoming musical. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates on Dear Evan Hansen.

Movie musicals are a tried and true genre in filmmaking, which often results in critical attention. Countless Broadway shows have been adapted for the big screen over the years, including Chicago, Les Miserables, and the upcoming In the Heights movie. But one contemporary musical that fans are hoping to see on the big screen: Dear Evan Hansen. The show earned The Politician actor Ben Platt a Tony Award for Best Actor, but he recently admitted that the original Broadway cast might be getting too old for their roles.

Dear Evan Hansen is focused on the high school aged title character, who unknowingly gets himself involved in a lie regarding his classmate who killed himself. It's a deeply emotional story, but one that focuses on a number of high school students and their parents. Ben Platt is currently 26 years old, and recently admitted that the cast's age could prevent them from appearing in a movie adaptation. When addressing a Dear Evan Hansen movie, Platt got honest, saying:

Well, that was honest. It looks like the powers that be need to make Dear Evan Hansen into a musical sooner rather than later. At least if they're hoping to bring on original cast members like Ben Platt, Laura Dreyfuss, and Mike Faist. Because in his words, they're getting a bit "long in the tooth" to be playing high school students on the big screen.

It's not unusual for stage productions to cast adults as high school students, allowing for an adult with an open schedule to take on roles in projects like Mean Girls, The Prom, or Be More Chill. The cast of Dear Evan Hansen was no exception in this regard, with the actors playing teenagers in their mid to late twenties. But film is a different beast, especially in regards to suspension of disbelief.

Unfortunately, the film industry has come to a screeching halt, with films sets and movie theaters shut down amid global health concerns. As such, there doesn't seem to be any development for a Dear Evan Hansen movie to become a reality. And the clock is ticking, as the original cast continues to age with time. In fact, both Ben Platt and Laura Dreyfuss can be seen in Netflix's The Politician, with Season 2 taking them out of high school and into a real election.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Dear Evan Hansen as more details become public. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Ever since she left Last Man Standing, comedic actress Kaitlyn Dever has been in high demand. The actress starred in Netflix’s Unbelievable and we recently learned she’s putting together a brand new series called Monsterland. However, the latest report has her headlining an even bigger project – at least for the musical theater crowd. Kaitlyn Dever is currently in talks to star in Dear Evan Hansen. She’s not the only one either.

While Dear Evan Hansen’s official casting isn’t confirmed as of yet, the big screen adaptation could star both Kaitlyn Dever and Ben Platt. Platt actually starred in the stage version of the hit production and would be reprising his role as the titular Evan Hansen. If Dever were to sign on, the guess is that she would play Zoe Murphy.

Dear Evan Hansen is set in a high school in which the main character ends up connected to a character, Connor, who later commits suicide. Hansen is awkward and anxious, with few friends, and ends up fabricating a relationship with the deceased Connor in order to fit into his family, which includes his sister Zoe. The Broadway musical was a big smash success a few years ago and took home several Tony Awards.

The big screen version is expected to be directed by Stephen Chbosky and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who created the musical, would be involved with music and lyrics. Steve Levenson, who was also involved in the musical, will write the script, per Deadline.

As for Kaitlyn Dever, the actress has been slowly shedding her teen persona on TV and film in recent years. In Booksmart her character heads off to college and in Last Man Standing she graduated from the Baxter home into the Air Force Academy. She’s 23 in real life, so it makes sense she wouldn’t be playing a high school aged student as often anymore.

Meanwhile, Ben Platt is now 26 and sort of aging out of high school roles as well, so we’ll have to wait and see if this casting happens exactly as it seems to be lining up at this point.

If it does move forward, Dear Evan Hansen would be the next in a wave of musicals heading to the big screen. There’s the Disney+ Hamilton taping – which is more of a live theatrical event. Then In The Heights is also being made into a movie and recently had to postpone its release due to global events.

As for Kaitlyn Dever, the actress still strives to pop up in Last Man Standing when she can and did appear in a few 2020 episodes of the longtime comedy. Meanwhile, she has the aforementioned Platform and Monsterland coming up and she also recently signed on with the guys who did The Peanut Butter Falcon, Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, to star in The Wildest Animals in Griffith Park. That would be another half-hour sitcom about secretly living in LA’s famous park.

At a time where Cats may convince some audiences musicals and movies don't mix, it's worth noting the two mediums have had a relatively fantastic relationship over the years. There have been several musicals that have made for wonderful movies, and some fantastic movies that have been adapted into successful musicals. Just because Cats flopped doesn't mean the world should give up on adapting popular musicals!

This is especially considering that some of the best musicals out there still have yet to be adapted for film. While Cats may not have been a worthy choice, I can confidently say the ones found below are worth a look. The overall results of how he would perform would vary, but they are definitely worth of being brought to the big screen.

The Book Of Mormon

The Book Of Mormon is, without question, one of the most popular musicals of the past decade. In a world where Hamilton never existed, it may even be the most popular musical for people who only see a handful in their lifetime. A lot of that success is thanks in no small part to two of its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who are also mastermind television's consistently irreverent animated comedy South Park.

The Book Of Mormon would be one of those movie adaptations where it feels like developing it would be rather straightforward. The backdrop of Uganda wouldn't be hard to pull off, and the story should flow much like a usual movie. Honestly, it's a bit surprising this film adaptation hasn't already been made, and it wouldn't be surprising to hear of one being in development before the end of this decade.

Starlight Express

There's a good number of people who went to Cats just to witness the sheer insanity of it all, and while the movie is struggling at the box office, perhaps there's a chance it'll recoup some money by being a cult classic. There is a niche for movies being so bad people watch them just to poke fun. Now that Cats is infamous once more in the mainstream, perhaps another Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, Starlight Express, could capitalize that and make some money at the box office.

Imagine Cats, but if everyone were a steam engine. Starlight Express is sort of like that, except it's framed as an underdog love story. I suppose modern CGI could make everyone an actual steam engine, though the traditional way to perform the musical is with actors on roller skates. If Hollywood was looking to replicate Cats, I would suggest the latter, though I'd have to say it may be just as big of a theatrical disaster in either case. I'm not saying this musical deserves a movie because it'd be commercially successful, I'm saying people might really get a kick out of seeing something try and out-crap Cats.

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen follows a teenager tasked with writing letters to himself as a therapy project to cope with his social anxiety. The story quickly spirals out of control when a fellow students suicide is tied in with Evan's letters, and the teen's white lie about his relationship with the departed student leads to a lot of changes in his life.

With original Evan Hansen, Ben Platt, currently starring in Netflix's Ryan Murphy series The Politician, the streaming service should really look into Platt's interest of adapting the award-winning production into a movie. He's already done a couple musical numbers on The Politician, so maybe there's some interest on the side of Murphy for directing a project like this as well. Get some meetings going, Netflix, this could be a big get!

Miss Saigon

Widely regarded to be a classic, Miss Saigon tells the story of a romance that takes place during the Vietnam War. It's the second production from Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, the duo most famously known for their musical production Les Miserables. While not quite as popular, Miss Saigon is still in the top 10 alongside Les Miserables as one of the highest-grossing musical franchises of all time.

On a short-list of highly successful musicals that still haven't gotten a film adaptation (or wasn't a film first), Miss Saigon is one of the few left on the list. Though there are concerns about cultural sensitivity in regards to the subject material, many high-profile Hollywood directors have eyed their shot at being the person to finally bring this musical to theaters. Danny Boyle was one of the more recent names to be involved, though not much has been heard on his efforts to develop a movie in some time.

Assassins

Have you ever wondered what the people who killed or attempted to kill U.S. Presidents were all about? Assassins will give a fictionalized scenario in which some of these infamous individuals are all hanging out together, and educate the audience a bit on these people and their motives for trying to kill the most important men in United States history.

Assassins probably wouldn't work as a traditional story given how it's told on stage, but I think there's a market for telling it in a different way. Put a few well-known comedians in the roles of these criminals and give the whole thing a comedic Drunk History spin, and I think that's a Hollywood hit. It'd probably work better as a feature being released directly on streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, or Netflix, but one I'd love to see brought to life nonetheless.

She Loves Me

Set in Budapest, two people cross paths completely oblivious to the fact they are their secret pen pals and in love. What follows is a story of these two and the people around them, and of course, the eventual reveal that they are the secret people they've been looking for. If this sounds like a touching love story, it is, but there are some other storylines that help spice things up!

She Loves Me has technically been adapted in Hollywood, though not in the strictest sense. The story was previously made into a very successful romance movie by the name of You Got Mail. That alone should justify this musical being made into a movie, or maybe even justify a musical version of You Got Mail? Either one of those sounds fantastic, so hopefully there's someone out there willing to bring one of these projects to consumers in the near future.

Related: Why Zac Efron Was High School Musical Co-Star Ashley Tisdale's Worst On-Screen Kiss

Do you have a suggestion for a musical that needs to be made into a movie? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies.