It was supposed to be a victory lap. When Dear Evan Hansen the movie was announced, the hype was massive. You had Ben Platt, the original Tony-winning lead, returning to his iconic role. You had a director, Stephen Chbosky, who already proved he could handle teenage angst with The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Then the trailer dropped.
The internet didn't just notice that Ben Platt was older; it obsessed over it. People were ruthless. The "Dear Evan Hansen the movie" discourse quickly shifted from excitement to a heated debate about nepotism and the "uncanny valley" of 27-year-olds in high school hoodies.
The age gap that broke the internet
Honestly, the age thing was the tip of the iceberg. Ben Platt was 27 when they filmed this. In the theater, you’re sitting in the mezzanine, and the distance allows for a certain "suspension of disbelief." On a giant IMAX screen? Not so much.
The cameras were right in his face. Every wrinkle and five o'clock shadow was visible, despite the heavy makeup and the "Evan Hansen" wig that many fans felt made him look even older. It felt jarring. It’s one thing to see an adult play a kid in Grease—where everyone looks 30—but in this film, Platt was surrounded by actors like Kaitlyn Dever and Amandla Stenberg who, while also adults, actually looked like they belonged in a cafeteria.
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A box office flop and critical cold shoulder
The numbers don't lie. Dear Evan Hansen the movie struggled to find its footing. It had a budget of roughly $28 million, but it only pulled in about $19.1 million worldwide. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a property that was once the hottest ticket on Broadway.
Critics were even harsher than the box office. The film currently sits with a dismal score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- The Problem: The stage version uses its songs as internal monologues.
- The Movie Result: When Evan breaks into song in a realistic-looking kitchen, the artifice of a musical clashes with the "gritty" tone of a teen suicide drama.
- The Character: Many critics felt that without the charm of a live performance, Evan’s actions—lying to a grieving family for months—felt less like a mistake and more like the work of a sociopath.
What they actually got right (and wrong) about the story
There’s a lot people get wrong about why this movie failed. It wasn't just the casting. The film made some massive creative choices that fundamentally changed the tone. They cut songs like "Disappear" and "Good for You."
Why does that matter?
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In the stage show, "Good for You" is the moment where the other characters basically scream at Evan for his selfishness. It holds him accountable. By cutting it, the movie made it feel like the filmmakers were making excuses for him. It felt like the movie wanted us to see him as a pure victim, which just didn't sit right with audiences in 2021.
However, it wasn't all bad. Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen and Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy were genuinely great. Moore’s rendition of "So Big / So Small" remains one of the few moments where the movie actually captures the raw, messy heart of the original Broadway show.
Mental health and the "Connor Project" impact
Despite the roasting it took on TikTok, Dear Evan Hansen the movie did spark a lot of real talk about mental health. The film partnered with organizations like the Child Mind Institute to provide resources for teens struggling with anxiety and grief.
The story is basically about a kid who feels invisible. That part still resonates. Whether you hate the movie or love the soundtrack, you can't deny that it forced a mainstream conversation about social isolation in the age of social media.
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How to watch it today
If you're curious and want to judge for yourself, the movie is widely available on digital platforms like Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple TV. It’s also a staple on various streaming services depending on your region.
If you want the "true" experience, most fans will tell you to listen to the original Broadway cast recording first. It gives you the context of the songs that were cut and helps you understand why the show became a phenomenon in the first place.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the soundtrack: Check out "The Anonymous Ones," a new song written specifically for Amandla Stenberg for the film—it’s actually a highlight.
- Compare the versions: Watch the "Sincerely, Me" sequence in the movie and then find a clip of the stage version. The difference in energy is wild.
- Read the book: There is a novelization by Val Emmich that fleshes out Connor’s perspective, which the movie mostly ignores.