How Long Will the 'Dear Evan Hansen' Movie Be in Theaters? It's Getting Lukewarm Reviews

Eccentric theater kids and introverted film nerds collide when Broadway musicals are adapted into films, and the most recent case of this is 2021's Dear Evan Hansen, which was just released in theaters today, Sept. 24, 2021. The six-time Tony-winning musical initially gained much attention in December 2016 for its raw portrayals of depression, social anxiety, and adolescent uncertainty, along with teen suicide as a major plot point.

The story follows Evan Hansen, a painfully awkward high school senior who writes a private letter to himself as an assignment from his therapist. After another outcast student mistakenly reads said letter, he takes his own life. This tragic event jumpstarts a lie that then completely consumes Evan's life. With dark undertones and heart at its foundation, America was obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen.

Well, you can now take said obsession (and a cast with "CONNOR" written on it if you're really geeky) to the movie theaters and sing along, but how long will the film adaptation be in theaters?

Dear Evan Hansen premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9, 2021, and was released in theaters today, Sept. 24, 2021, in the U.S. and Canada. Though there is currently no exact date known for its removal from theaters, the Universal Pictures-distributed film is expected to eventually stream on Peacock.

Sadly, the reviews are looking so-so, as it currently holds a barely lukewarm Rotten Tomatoes score of 37 percent. If we're being real, critics ripped the film a new one. AV Club writer Caroline Siede titled her review "Dear Evan Hansen Is a Misfire on Just About Every Level," while The Wall Street Journal writer Joe Morgenstern titled his slashing of the film "Dear Evan Hansen Movie Review: High School Musical Muddle." It just seems to be a big "yikes" all around.

Critiques seem to point out Ben Platt's age, which has been a controversy since it was announced that the 28-year-old would be reprising his Broadway role of teenager Evan Hansen, a role that earned him a history-making Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2017.

Not only that, but many critics have called the movie "hollow," which is not ideal when a story juggles very sensitive topics. Joe Morgenstern called it "a ponderous movie that turns earnest into maudlin, lyrical into lugubrious." Unfortunately, such rough reviews might mean that the film will get less time in theaters.

Whether or not you care about critic reviews (isn't everyone a critic?), you can't deny that the cast is jam-packed with incredible actors. The star-studded cast includes Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Kaitlyn Dever, and Amandla Stenberg. We love to see Hollywood veterans mixed with stellar newcomers.

Whether you're a diehard Broadway stan or a casual moviegoer, we think you should be the judge on how the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen holds up.