Dear Evan Hansen (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 17m (137 min)
- Director
- Stephen Chbosky
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $27.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Stephen Chbosky
-
Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen -
Ben Platt as Evan Hansen -
Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy - Colton Ryan as Connor Murphy
Also Starring in Dear Evan Hansen
· 8 more- Kaitlyn Dever Zoe Murphy
- Danny Pino Larry Mora
- Nik Dodani Jared Kalwani
- Amandla Stenberg Alana Beck
- Isaac Powell Rhys
- Avery Bederman Isabelle
- DeMarius Copes Oliver
- Liz Kate Gemma
More from Stephen Chbosky
More films directed by Stephen Chbosky, best-rated first: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder and Nonnas.
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).
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.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 39 Metascore
User score 5.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.2 /5
206 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$19.1M
70% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $15M
- International
- $4.1M
- Budget
- $27.5M
Dear Evan Hansen Trailers & Videos
18 videos: 2 trailers, 2 teasers, 2 clips, 7 featurettes and 5 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Teaser Waving TV Spot
- Teaser Home Video Trailer
- Clip Dear Evan Hansen | Extended Preview | Evan's First Day Of School
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What mental health struggles does Evan Hansen face?
Cars in Dear Evan Hansen
10 cars on screen, including the 2018 Jeep Wrangler and the 1997 Toyota Camry.
-
2018 Jeep Wrangler Important role -
1997 Toyota Camry Important role -
Jeep Grand Cherokee Minor role -
unknown Minor role
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 Show fewer
- 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?
Movies Like Dear Evan Hansen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Trevor: The Musical, 13: The Musical and Music.
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.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
