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Drama musical

Dear Evan Hansen (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Dear Evan Hansen (2021) movie poster

Dear Evan Hansen is a 2021 drama musical directed by Stephen Chbosky, starring Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen, Ben Platt and Amy Adams. It runs 2 hours 17 minutes and earned $19.1 million worldwide on a $27.5 million budget. Critics gave it 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
worldwide gross
$19.1M
Echo Score
65
Metascore
39
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Dear Evan Hansen (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 17m (137 min)
Director
Stephen Chbosky
Genres
Drama , Musical
Original language
English
Budget
$27.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dear Evan Hansen About?

The premise of Dear Evan Hansen without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Dealing with social anxiety and longing for connection, Evan Hansen’s life takes an unexpected turn when a classmate dies by suicide. In an attempt to comfort the grieving family, Evan makes a false claim of having been close to the deceased, a lie that spirals into an elaborate deception. As Evan becomes entangled in the family's grief, he must confront the consequences of his actions and the search for his own sense of belonging in a poignant and emotional story.

Dear Evan Hansen Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • suicide
  • social anxiety disorder
  • youth suicide
  • based on broadway musical
  • mental illness
  • social media
  • suicide of a teenage boy
  • high school
  • teenager
  • letter
  • mother son relationship
  • title appears in song
+38 more
  • teen drama
  • mental health
  • apple orchard
  • forest
  • community
  • love
  • letter to oneself
  • troubled teen
  • lie
  • disability
  • e mail
  • guitar
  • pop musical
  • arm cast
  • based on a stage musical
  • death of a teenage boy
  • teenage boy
  • self discovery
  • therapist
  • school locker
  • brother sister relationship
  • signing an arm cast
  • fake e mail
  • dead brother
  • wristband
  • anonymity
  • speech
  • loneliness
  • suicide note
  • confession
  • suicide attempt
  • drugs
  • sexuality
  • gay subtext
  • homosexual subtext
  • tree
  • laptop computer
  • broken arm
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Cast & crew

Dear Evan Hansen Cast & Characters

Julianne Moore leads the cast as Heidi Hansen, with Ben Platt as Evan Hansen and Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy. Directed by Stephen Chbosky; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Dear Evan Hansen

· 8 more
From the director

More from Stephen Chbosky

More films directed by Stephen Chbosky, best-rated first: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder and Nonnas.

Full filmography
Ratings

Dear Evan Hansen Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Dear Evan Hansen 39 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in rewatch factor (70) and weakest in art & craft (55).

65 /100

Dear Evan Hansen Echo Score Breakdown

Dear Evan Hansen presents a polarized viewing experience, with critics highlighting clumsy direction and manipulative storytelling while many audience members appreciate its emotional resonance and musical moments. The film’s production design and editing receive mixed remarks, reflecting both technical competence and perceived overreach. Performances, especially Ben Platt’s, draw praise from fans yet draw criticism for age incongruence. The narrative engages some viewers through poignant themes but feels contrived to others. Overall, the movie lands in a modestly positive middle ground.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 55

    In terms of art and craft, the film shows competent production values but suffers from uneven direction and editing choices. Critics point to a lack of finesse and overly engineered scenes, whereas viewers note effective set pieces and a visually coherent style. The cinematography is serviceable yet unremarkable, contributing to a perception of missed artistic potential. Consequently, the technical execution is judged as modestly below average.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    Character and emotional depth receive a split assessment. Reviewers criticize the lead’s age disparity and occasional flatness, labeling the performance as a misstep. Conversely, many audience members commend the cast’s vocal performances and nuanced moments that convey anxiety and isolation. Supporting characters are described as underdeveloped by some critics, yet fans find the emotional arcs relatable. Overall, character work lands near the midpoint with slight leaning toward favorable impressions.

  • Story & Flow 58

    The story’s coherence and pacing are viewed as uneven. Critics argue the plot manipulates sentiment and feels contrived, while some viewers describe the narrative as poignant and effectively tragic. Originality is praised for tackling mental‑health themes, yet the structure is called disjointed by several critics. The mixed feedback results in a story rating that hovers just below the neutral threshold.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    Sensory experience, especially the soundtrack, is a relative strength. Audiences highlight the music’s emotional impact and the film’s ability to integrate songs smoothly. Critics acknowledge occasional generic musical choices but note moments of magnetic pull. Sound design and visual style are generally described as competent, supporting the film’s mood without standing out dramatically. This leads to a moderately positive sensory rating.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    Rewatch factor is buoyed by the film’s emotional resonance and memorable musical numbers. Many users express a desire to revisit the story for its personal relevance, despite acknowledging flaws. Critics, however, find little incentive for repeat viewings due to perceived manipulation. The overall sentiment from the broader audience tips toward higher replay value, resulting in the highest aspect score.

Plot

Dear Evan Hansen Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Dear Evan Hansen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Seventeen-year-old Evan Hansen (played by Ben Platt) grapples with severe social anxiety and depression, making it tough for him to find direction in life. To help him cope, his therapist, Dr. Sherman, suggests a method: writing letters to himself, outlining the reasons why each day could bring something positive. Following the advice from his mother, Heidi (played by Julianne Moore), Evan is encouraged to have his classmates sign his cast after breaking his arm in a tree fall, hoping this might foster real connections. At school, he writes a candid letter, reflecting on his desire for notice and connection, pondering if anyone would care if he simply vanished into thin air: > “Waving Through a Window.”

Full summary

The whole story of Dear Evan Hansen, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Dear Evan Hansen Box Office & Budget

Dear Evan Hansen grossed $19.1 million worldwide on a $27.5 million budget, 70% of what it cost. $15 million came from the US and Canada and $4.1 million (22%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$19.1M

70% of its budget back

US & Canada
$15M
International
$4.1M
Budget
$27.5M
US & Canada 78% Rest of the world 22%
Videos

Dear Evan Hansen Trailers & Videos

18 videos: 2 trailers, 2 teasers, 2 clips, 7 featurettes and 5 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 18 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Final Trailer
  • Teaser Waving TV Spot
  • Teaser Home Video Trailer
  • Clip Dear Evan Hansen | Extended Preview | Evan's First Day Of School
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dear Evan Hansen?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What mental health struggles does Evan Hansen face?

Cars

Cars in Dear Evan Hansen

10 cars on screen, including the 2018 Jeep Wrangler and the 1997 Toyota Camry.

All 10 cars
  • 2018 Jeep Wrangler in Dear Evan Hansen 2018 Jeep Wrangler Important role
  • 1997 Toyota Camry in Dear Evan Hansen 1997 Toyota Camry Important role
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee in Dear Evan Hansen Jeep Grand Cherokee Minor role
  • unknown in Dear Evan Hansen unknown Minor role
Details

Dear Evan Hansen Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Дорогой Эван Хэнсен” and “致埃文·汉森”.

Also known as
  • Дорогой Эван Хэнсен
  • 致埃文·汉森
  • 親愛的艾文漢森
  • Querido Evan Hansen
  • Дорогой Эван Хансен
  • Milý Evane Hansene
  • Cher Evan Hansen
  • Caro Evan Hansen
  • 디어 에반 핸슨
  • Дорогий Еван Гансен
  • אוון הנסן היקר
  • Kedves Evan Hansen
+13 more
  • Drogi Evanie Hansenie
  • Dragi Evan Hansen
  • ディア・エヴァン・ハンセン
  • Αγαπητέ Έβαν Χάνσεν
  • Sevgili Evan Hansen
  • Dārgais Evans Hansens
  • เดียร์ เอเว่น แฮนเซน
  • Brangusis Evanai Hansenai
  • Evan Hansen Thân Mến
  • 給自己加油的信
  • Dragă Evan Hansen
  • डियर एवन हैंसन
  • عزيزي إيفان هانسن

Seen Dear Evan Hansen?

FAQ

Dear Evan Hansen FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Dear Evan Hansen, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dear Evan Hansen?

Dear Evan Hansen runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).

When was Dear Evan Hansen released?

Dear Evan Hansen was released on September 24, 2021.

Who directed Dear Evan Hansen?

Dear Evan Hansen was directed by Stephen Chbosky.

More films by Stephen Chbosky

Who is in the cast of Dear Evan Hansen?

Dear Evan Hansen stars Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen, Ben Platt as Evan Hansen and Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Dear Evan Hansen make at the box office?

Dear Evan Hansen grossed $19.1 million worldwide ($15 million domestic, $4.1 million international) on a budget of $27.5 million.

How is Dear Evan Hansen rated?

Dear Evan Hansen has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 39 on Metacritic, 63% on TMDB and 2.2/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Dear Evan Hansen have a post-credit scene?

No. Dear Evan Hansen has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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