10 Movies To Watch If You Like Dear Evan Hansen | ScreenRant
Reactions to Dear Evan Hansen, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, have been mixed. Some have praised the movie's talented cast and inspiring message about connection and openly discussing mental health. However, others have raised their eyebrows at the 27-year-old Ben Platt, the actor who originated the role onstage, playing a high schooler. The polarizing behavior of the titular protagonist only adds more fuel to the debate.
So, whether audiences were left cold by Dear Evan Hansen or loved it and are looking for other great musicals and films starring the cast, there are plenty of choices.
10 Hamilton (2020)
Hamilton is a live recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda's stage musical of the same name. Revolutionary for its use of hip-hop and rap and casting almost entirely all non-white actors in the roles of historical figures, the Broadway smash-hit tells the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (Miranda).
Broadway contemporaries, Hamilton won the Tony for Best Musical the year before Dear Evan Hansen took home the same honor. Both productions received praise for being entirely original stories — as opposed to falling into the trend of jukebox musicals or adaptations of popular Hollywood films. Many detractors of the Dear Evan Hansen movie point to the Hamilton recording as a better way of bringing the beloved musical to the screen. Musical fans who were put off by Platt's age-inappropriate casting may enjoy watching Hamilton in the format that made it a hit.
Available to stream on Disney+
9 The Hate U Give (2018)
Starring Dear Evan Hansen's Amandla Stenberg, The Hate U Give is the film adaptation of Angie Thomas's novel of the same name. The story centers on Starr Carter (Stenberg), a teenager who lives in a Black neighborhood and attends a mostly white private school. When Starr witnesses her good friend fatally shot by the police, she feels caught between her two communities as she tries to find her voice and honor her friend.
In Dear Evan Hansen, Stenberg plays Alana Beck, a character who is given much more dimension than her stage musical counterpart. Stenberg steals every scene she's in, particularly when singing "The Anonymous Ones," a song she co-wrote for the movie. Those who were moved by Stenberg's powerhouse performance will wholly appreciate her work in The Hate U Give, where her character is front and center.
Available to stream on Disney+
8 Booksmart (2019)
In Olivia Wilde's directorial debut, Molly and Amy (Beanie Feldstein and Dear Evan Hansen's Kaitlyn Dever) are two straight-A students who are horrified to learn that their hard-partying classmates also got accepted into Ivy League colleges. Wanting to make the most of their last hours as high schoolers, Molly and Amy vow to have the wildest night of their lives.
Just like her role as Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen, Dever brings a ton of heart to Booksmart's Amy. Though the former is a serious musical and the latter is a raunchy teen comedy, there are parallels between both of Dever's characters. Zoe feels like her entire life has been defined by her troubled brother Connor, while Amy has been living in Molly's shadow. Dear Evan Hansen viewers who wish they got more Zoe should check out this comedy.
Available to stream on Netflix
7 Les Misérables (2012)
Another film based on an acclaimed Broadway musical, Les Misérables boasts an A-list cast, including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway — who won an Oscar for her role as Fantine. In Les Mis, Jean Valjean (Jackman) is a prisoner who breaks parole and finds himself hunted by the determined Javert (Crowe) in 19th-century France.
Those who enjoyed watching familiar Hollywood faces Julianne Moore and Amy Adams in Dear Evan Hansen will love Les Mis's starry ensemble. And as divisive as Dear Evan Hansen is, many agree that the film's musical performances, particularly Platt's, are quite strong. Though not every actor in Les Mis shares Platt's vocal talent, the fact that all of Les Mis's songs were performed live should impress any musical fan.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
6 The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
Stephen Chbosky, director of Dear Evan Hansen, also helmed The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on his novel of the same name. In the film, Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a teenager with depression who chronicles his freshman year of high school and grapples with the suicide of his best friend.
Thematically, Dear Evan Hansen and The Perks of Being a Wallflower hit the same notes, as the former is also about a high school student with mental health issues and characters coming to terms with a suicide. But while critics gave Dear Evan Hansen largely negative reviews, Wallflower was received much more favorably and covers these serious topics in a superior manner.
Available to stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime
5 In The Heights (2021)
Another adaptation of a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical, In the Heights follows the lives of several characters in the predominantly Dominican Washington Heights neighborhood in New York. At the heart of it all is Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), a bodega owner with big dreams of returning home to the Dominican Republic.
Those who felt bogged down by the constant ballads of Dear Evan Hansen will enjoy the livelier songs of In the Heights. This film also addresses serious societal issues but does so in a way that's vibrant and colorful. Broadway lovers know that any project with Miranda at the helm is worth watching, and they'll enjoy his small yet memorable role as the piragua man.
Available to rent on Apple TV+
4 The Prom (2020)
Based on the Broadway musical, The Prom is about four failing Broadway stars (Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, and Andrew Rannells) who want to change their image and improve their careers. They attempt this by throwing their support behind Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pullman), a teenager who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom in her conservative Indiana town.
Though there is controversy surrounding straight actor James Corden's casting as a gay man, Dear Evan Hansen fans will likely find a lot to like about The Prom. Both musicals are stories about marginalized teenagers finding their voice, and while many are turned off by Evan's actions, it's hard not to root for Emma.
Available to stream on Netflix
3 Easy A (2010)
In Easy A, Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) is an unpopular teenager who tells a small lie about losing her virginity that spirals out of control. For the first time in her high school career, Olive finds herself at the center of attention and plays her new "promiscuous" reputation to her advantage. Of course, for every perk, there is a consequence as things get messier and messier not just for Olive but those in her circle.
As both Dear Evan Hansen and Easy A are about ignored teens thrust into the spotlight because of a lie, it's easy to compare the two films. But while Evan's lie focuses on mental health, Olive's poses questions about female sexuality and agency. It's a fascinating exploration, with Olive arguably making for a much more charming protagonist than Evan.
Available to rent on Apple TV+
2 Pitch Perfect (2012)
In Pitch Perfect, Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick) joins her college's all-female a capella group, the Barden Bellas. The Bellas have dreams of winning Nationals but must contend with the all-male Treblemakers, their fiercest rivals. Platt stars as Benji Applebaum, a college student desperate to be part of the Treblemakers.
A phenomenally gifted singer, Platt also has a talent for playing underdog characters like Evan and Benji. In Pitch Perfect, his talents are on full display, and the audience has no qualms about rooting for Benji, which is a welcome change from Evan and his lack of morality. Plus, Platt is actually the approximate age of his character, which makes the experience much less jarring.
Available to rent on Apple TV+
1 Rent (2005)
Jonathan Larson's Rent made such a splash on Broadway that it was only a matter of time before it received a film adaptation. Featuring most of the original Broadway cast, Rent centers on a group of Bohemian artists in 1980s New York who try to pursue their creative endeavors as they deal with sexuality, addiction, and illness.
In many ways, Dear Evan Hansen became the musical of its generation, as its themes spoke to audiences and was many young people's gateway introduction to theatre. Rent had this same effect in the '90s, and though the film adaptation didn't garner rave reviews, the memorable songs and story brought in a whole new audience. If they haven't seen it already, Dear Evan Hansen fans will get a lot from Rent.
Available to rent on Apple TV+