The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Dear Evan Hansen’s box office performance ‘almost as bad as Cats’ after being savaged by critics
Many critics took issue with a 28-year-old Ben Platt starring as a teenage high-school student
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Dear Evan Hansen, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, is being pummelled at the box office after negative reviews from critics.
According to Deadline, the film opened on $3.6m (£2.6m) on Friday 24 September at the US box office and is now close to a weekend total of $7.2m (£5.3m).
The publication notes that this is not far away from the devastating box-office result for Cats, another Broadway film adaptation from Universal, which opened to a disastrous $6.5m (£5m) over the Christmas holidays.
In Dear Evan Hansen, Ben Platt reprises his role as high school student Evan, who feels anxious and isolated until a letter he wrote for a writing exercise falls into the hands of a grieving couple, whose son took his own life.
The decision to cast the 28-year-old Platt in the role of a 17-year-old caused some controversy. Platt defended the move by pointing out that the film “probably wouldn’t get made” if he had not been involved.
Reviews of the film have been largely negative. TheNew York Times called it “treacly and manipulative”, accusing it of turning “villain into victim and grief into an exploitative vulnerability”.
Screen Rant said the movie “lacks awareness about its central character” and has “nothing interesting or deep to say about mental health”.
Other reviews branded it “baffling”, “cringeworthy” and “painful”, with many noting the glaring issue of Platt’s age.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments