Ben Platt is BOX! OFFICE! POISON!

A nice even number like that looks like the producer might have bought the grosses himself.

Cats movie had such bad pre-publicity people when to the theater to hate-watch it or just to see if it could really be that awful. Don't think Evan Hansen has that advantage. It will just die quietly.

Beanie! Bring me the axe!

He was too old to play a teenager. If they had filmed it 5 years ago it might have worked better.

What do you suppose is happening to Noah Glavin's hole at this precise moment?

And where do we go to follow the fangirl delusion that this is either great news or to be expected due to COVID or whatever other fiction they want to tell themselves?

I reserved tickets weeks in advance but the reviews and publicity were so bad I decided it wasn't even worth making the trip to the theatre even with my subscription.

Well it made twice as much money as the Clint Eastwood film.

So there's that.

Variety talks DEH, Cats, and In the Heights box office-

[quote] Marred by negative reviews and COVID-19 concerns, the film (DEH) fell short of expectations and collected a muted $7.5 million from 3,365 North American theaters in its debut. Industry experts predicted the movie musical would make at least $10 million between Friday and Sunday.

[quote] Even though the film seems unlikely to turn a profit in theaters, the losses won’t be catastrophic. “Dear Evan Hansen” cost $28 million to produce, a modest budget for a musical. That puts Universal in a much better position compared to its last movie musical, “Cats,” which opened to $6.5 million in late 2019 and ultimately lost the studio nearly all of its $100 million budget.

[quote] The critical response to “Dear Evan Hansen” has been vastly different than the glowing reactions that greeted the 2016 stage version, which netted six Tony Awards and cemented Ben Platt as a star. It underscores the struggle to bring even commercially popular musicals to the big screen. Earlier in the summer, the well-reviewed Warner Bros. adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit show “In the Heights” struggled to draw crowds while debuting simultaneously on HBO Max. The splashy song-and-dance spectacle cost $55 million, almost double the amount that Universal spent on “Dear Evan Hansen,” and opened to $11.5 million. It ended its box office run with $29 million in the U.S. and Canada and $43 million globally, losing millions for the studio.

🎵 "Here I come to save the day" 🎵

That means that Mighty Steve is on his way.

I think it’s time he join the cast and play Chad’s BFF. The only question is how it would identify itself.

And anyone hoping for a Greatest Showman type slow burn needs to remember that now streaming is a thing, this won't be left to run in the cinemas long enough for that to happen. Not that it was going to anyway. I really wish we could see what the grosses are like for the Broadway production now.

[quote]The critical response to “Dear Evan Hansen” has been vastly different than the glowing reactions that greeted the 2016 stage version, which netted six Tony Awards and cemented Ben Platt as a star.

Mainly because there are still some good film critics out there, whereas most theatre critics these days seem to see their job as to cheerlead whatever's fashionable politically and culturally, even if it's shit. It's annoying that too many critics are going down the 'what plays well in a theatre doesn't play on screen' route - no, the story has always been shit. It's just none of the theatre critics had the balls to point it out. I guess Universal doesn't buy enough full page ads.

[quote]whereas most theatre critics these days seem to see their job as to cheerlead whatever's fashionable politically and culturally, even if it's shit.

You don't think Diana has them sharpening their knives?

With the current generation of critics, I think it'll be more like sporks.

And perhaps, it depends how they go with it, if they push the female empowerment/patriarchy angle, then I imagine it won't get panned.

Let's see what Netflix has wrought.

I'm not going to pretend like I think it's going to be any good, but I'm happy to see something new after so long.

I honestly do feel bad that the movie turned into such a fart in the wind. Not so much for Ben, but because I do honestly like the music, though I know I shouldn't admit that here.

Ben Platt has little name recognition outside of Broadway. He was never gonna be able to sell the movie to a wider audience. Should have just cast a Disney heartthrob du jour in the role instead.

Or someone--anyone--with a little warmth to them.

Told you this talented kid could open a movie!!

R11 and r13 are the trolls who need to complain about anything they think is "woke" or "politically correct" (which basically means "I hate everything that isn't Fox News or a Clint Eastwood movie")

Given how the box office receipts have taken a hit due to the pandemic, the opening isn't that bad. It at least did better than Hugh Jackman's latest opus.

$7.5 million from 3,365 North American theaters in its debut doesn't even cover Ben's salary.

[quote]Given how the box office receipts have taken a hit due to the pandemic, the opening isn't that bad. It at least did better than Hugh Jackman's latest opus.

Fangirl excuse #1.

I'm sorry the bad box office takes for this and for "In the Heights" are likely to hurt the chances for musicals in the long run. The trouble is that neither of these are very good musicals--they are pretty much lesser work. I can think of other, much better musicals that would make fine films ("Wicked," & "Hamilton" being the top two), but I worry the weak b.o. of these two is going to hurt the chances for the other two being filmed.

It should be said that neither of these two musicals had a genuinely strong storyline, well-known lead performers, or even a breakout song everyone knows (like "Popular" or "The Room Where It Happens") going for it. DEH might have had a chance had they cast someone more genuinely relatable to teenagers (and in the actual age range for the character) than Ben Platt in the leading role; but his and his father's vanity doomed the project.

I'm not a fangirl. Just pointing out that plenty of other recent films have done even worse. Are you mad that I called you out on being a Fox News troll?

[quote]Just pointing out that plenty of other recent films have done even worse.

And this still tracked 25% lower than what Universal was hoping for.

[quote]I can think of other, much better musicals that would make fine films ("Wicked," & "Hamilton" being the top two), but I worry the weak b.o. of these two is going to hurt the chances for the other two being filmed.

The problem is that ever since at least Les Mis, if not Chicago, movie musicals have had to be mostly be serious, serious, serious and as close to realistic as possible. Even Cats was tying to be Les Mis despite that that, well...Hal, it's about cats.

I think that's why people liked Hamilton and Come From Away were so well liked (and why I'm actually somewhat interested in Diana), just because they were just theater without any of the pretense.

R18 Sucks for you then that my post history proves you wrong. Whereas yours shows you as the person defending nepotism in the old thread. Bullshitting on here isn't going to keep Ben away, Noah.

It shit the bed because Amy Adams and Julianne Moore are in it. They are the worst,

It would have done better without Covid. My friends and would have definitely gone but not right now and we are all Broadway and movie fans all having worked in theaters. Not now.

They tried that excuse with In the Heights too, but it doesn't work when other films are doing well.

I don't think the addition of a few Broadway queens would have made all that much difference to the box office. It just doesn't have mass appeal.

The critics are relentless in their dragging of him…and the film. The rest of the cast is getting better reviews than he too…

Has anyone seen the play? Wasn’t he given a Tony for his performance?

I hope that he’s a strong man who can deal with the slings and arrows.

Him too, not he too…

R19 Ben's salary shouldn't be anywhere near millions for any movie. He's not there. Probably never will be. He should stick to the stage.

Nepotism was all over this piece, from the theater version to the movie. Ben Platt’s Daddy, Marc Platt (Broadway and film producer) shoved his kid into the project and made certain he and the show got accolades. I’m glad the movie failed and hope this no talent kid will disappear and let struggling professionals have the work.

[quote]I’m glad the movie failed and hope this no talent kid will disappear and let struggling professionals have the work.

Not if I have anything to say about it!

R2 I have to start using the phrase "hate watch." Thank you for making me chuckle.

I HAD A DREAM! A DREAM ABOUT YOU, BABY!

[quote]people liked Hamilton…because they were just theater without any of the pretense.

I hope R23 was being sarcastic here.

It's a filmed version of the show. No pretense of not being theatrical.

God, he’s also poison to Sondheim.

If Sondheim can survive M, he can survive anything

If they had cast someone else in the lead role and to appease Ben's ego, give him a featured role, it might have turned out better. But it just looked ridiculous with Ben in the lead role.

This could have given a young actor a great opportunity but they chose to be safe and go with Ben.

The movie musical has been up and down the last 20 years with highs (Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Dreamgirls) and lows (Cats, this film).

I just don't think this film had any mass appeal. Same with In the Heights, which I did see onstage and really enjoyed, but it was not an easy sell even back in 2008.

Even Dreamgirls was a real mixed bag, r40.

Depressing. He's one of my favorites.

The Broadway theater community still feels incredibly relevant when for the most part they are not.

To resuscitate the annual low ratings of each successive Tony Awards broadcast, the Powers That Be decided to trot out.... Jennifer Fucking Holiday for the millionth time, to sing the only song she seems to know the words to, a ratched, ugly song that was chewing the scenery FORTY YEARS AGO! I don't ever need to hear it screeched and hollered at me ever again, it's not even a good song, and Holliday is a complete unknown to the under 50 crowd! Of course my NY theater friends were all like "Genius!","Yaaaasss Queen!"(what else!) The show, now mostly hidden on Peacock, garnered the smallest audience in Tony Award history, of course!

[quote]If they had cast someone else in the lead role and to appease Ben's ego, give him a featured role, it might have turned out better.

The father?

The Platts must be the most hated people on Broadway right now.

He even got naked in The Premise he was so desperate to happen.

Vertificatia?

LPSG has dick pics. Not bad at all.

You're next Ratboy.

R48 Aside from what it's attached to. And his disgustingly caked-with-dirt fingernails

Thank you r43. So sick of that fucking song. Scream and growl and sweat your way through it and the queens will wet themselves.

^^^there’s nothing wrong with this song. It’s one of the few Broadway tunes I know of…and that I actually like.

FNF, I couldn't agree with your about Holliday at the Tony's. I thought she couldn't be more over the top with that damn song than she was at the Clive Davis tribute at Radio City some years ago (at one point she drew a breath so long that I swore she sucked up all the oxygen in the room), but damn if she didn't go bat-shit diva crazy on Sunday. There's too much about Broadway musicals that's centered on "I'm going to bring the house down with every number if if kills me...and everyone else!" And Broadway queens just keep eating it up - oversinging is king.

Regarding DEH, I did like the show, but I think the energy onstage and the commitment in the performances managed to blunt some of the less savory aspects of the central character's actions. The film manages to magnify them, as a film was likely to do. Platt's casting doesn't work as he has to "act" the awkward teen in a way someone younger wouldn't.

Yes, Hansen does something despicable, but I think an actor who really is the age of the character might be able to convincingly convey the kind of immaturity and lack of self-awareness that many teens have, which can lead them to start something out of some kind of need and desperation and not realize what they're getting themselves and other into. Platt doesn't manage to do that in the film.

I would also say that cutting some of the songs was a big mistake: "Good For You", where Evan's mom and two friends really lay into him about his behavior and which forces him to confront himself, and "Disappear" which gives Evan some additional motivation for continuing his charade.

Correction: meant to say, "FNF I couldn't agree with you more..."

R43 I have always found Jennifer Holliday terrifying as a performer. I feel like the drapes, the wigs, the fans, everything are going to be sucked right off the walls with each breath. When I used to play “No Frills Love” as a DJ I felt like I should handout seat belts to everyone on the dance floor

Platt went splatt!

Shit, yeah! That big sucking in of air at the end of the song is so bizarre and hammy and TERRIFYING!

I don't think it's a good stand-alone song, although of course it works mostly within the context of the show. I saw the original production with Roz Ryan playing Effie, and she was doing the exact same damn thing emoting and screaming and sucking air all over the place.

With Dreamgirls, the Michael Bennett Broadway production was always a lot better than the (perfectly decent) show itself.

It's a wonderful film and Platt is great in it. Not once does he seem too old to play the part. His young looking face and slight build work just fine. Easily passing as a high school student. Far more than anyone in GREASE. And I'd much rather see the original actor in the part than some newbie who's actually a teenager. Platt knows the part inside and out, like Tim Curry in Rocky Horror or Ellen Greene in Little Shop. His performance is a revelation and it's right it should be preserved on film. The rest of the cast is up to it, the music is great and the film is well directed. The problem is that it's such a downer and has no easily digestible pop songs that can cross over as hits. The story that he lies about his friendship only seems creepy when taken literally. On stage it came across more as his inner monologues. How he wished things had been. A sweet valentine of the truth. Film audiences are not as forgiving and demand realism, ruining the dreamlike quality. Philistines. It's more of a small art piece that worked on the stage. Surprising they made a film of it. It's not the catastrophe of CATS.

Hi Ben r58!

[quote] He even got naked in The Premise he was so desperate to happen.

What is The Premise? Any screen caps?

I’m guessing R58 is either Ben or his father.

[quote] Regarding DEH, I did like the show, but I think the energy onstage and the commitment in the performances managed to blunt some of the less savory aspects of the central character's actions. The film manages to magnify them, as a film was likely to do. Platt's casting doesn't work as he has to "act" the awkward teen in a way someone younger wouldn't

Theater requires a suspension of disbelief that allows leeway on certain things, whereas film makes everything literal. It’s a lot easier to buy a nearly-thirty actor as a teenager from the back of the theater. Adaptations have to be carefully thought-out, or you end up with something as monstrous as ‘Cats!’

I know this, and I’m just some guy who hasn’t been to the theater in years. How is it that these professionals don’t get this?

[quote] Ben Platt is BOX! OFFICE! POISON!

I reject this assertion, since it implies he had any relevance at all, even negatively.

Now get rid of fat, homely Beanie. She's not a star Hollywood and you know it.

Beanie is getting very good reviews (as is the entire cast) in "The Humans."

[quote]Now get rid of fat, homely Beanie. She's not a star Hollywood and you know it.

But Broadway knows I'm the greatest star.

[quote] I know this, and I’m just some guy who hasn’t been to the theater in years. How is it that these professionals don’t get this?

The problem is that, not just in Hollywood, ego fights with professionalism, and in most cases ego wins. Daddy Platt only financed DEH with his precious son as lead. Ben was right when he said that without him as lead, there would be no DEH movie, because daddy would've pulled his funding.

There are a lot of professional people in this world, but they have to answer to insecure egomaniacs and humor them and their demands.

R60: A show on FX on Hulu. You can see his ass.

[quote] I’m guessing [R58] is either Ben or his father.

Or Noah Galvin's gaping hole.

When is the sing-a-long version being released?

At The Tonys Jordan Fisher presented and he was Evan when the show closed and will open it in December. He looks 30 now too.

Link to the naked pics please. LPSG only has butt photos I can find.

Does he even have a good body?

Who knows?

His age doesn't keep me from seeing it nor the bad reviews. It's the twisted, convoluted off-putting premise of the story.

[quote]I'm sorry the bad box office takes for this and for "In the Heights" are likely to hurt the chances for musicals in the long run. The trouble is that neither of these are very good musicals

For a musical to be successful today, it has to have songs that appeal to the general public, and it has to have stars in the leads. The average person couldn't name one song from DEH or In the Heights. When I saw that Jimmy Smits was the biggest star in INH, I knew it was going to bomb.

Wicked remains the only viable musical that could connect with the general public, but they need to cast well-known actresses/singers as Elphalba and Glynda. If they go with B-listers like Anna Kendrick or Amanda Seyfried, it will bomb.

They need to go with Idina Melzel and Kristin Chen.

Here is Ben Platt presenting hole. He has a big tramp stamp.

Here is Ben Platt presenting hole. He has a big tramp stamp.

But aren't Idina and Kristin too old, by DL logic? Shouldn't those parts be played by embryos?

Billie Eilish and Zendaya

[quote]Wicked remains the only viable musical that could connect with the general public, but...

Wicked remains the only viable musical that could connect with the general public, but... it's a TERRIBLE BORING show with a lugubrious libretto (Mary!) and a bunch of whoopin', hollerin' and coon-shoutin' posing as a score. There are a couple well-composed songs but the whole thing is such a dreary affair. All the characters are sad, moody, angry and victimized! It will lay a huge egg like the film version of "Phantom". Oh, you didn't know they actually released a film version of "Phantom"? They did!

The Greatest Showman clicked because it had catchy songs, and it had a good cast that appealed to all ages (Efron, Zendaya, Hugh). It was also refreshing to see a musical made for screen instead of being adapted from stage.

[quote]It will lay a huge egg like the film version of "Phantom".

Add "Into The Woods, "Sweeney Todd" and "A Little Night Music"aka The Elizabeth Taylor musical to the list.

The alleged pic

It's so nice that Datalounge reduces everyone to cock and ass shots. Where's the shots of Harvey Milk presenting hole?

Is it too late for West side story to be released on Disney+?

At least cats had J-Hud, Judy Dench, and Taylor S

He doesn’t look that old here at the MET Gala. So why does he look so bad and so old in the film?

The nails.

R87 But he does Blanche he does look OLD!

Woefully unattractive.

He's not my type but he does look good on the new cover of OUT.

Okay, Noah.

R91 is the same Be...I mean poster (R58) who said Platt easily passes as a high school student in the film

Is he a gay or just plays one in the film?

Actually the only decent thing in CATS was Robbie Fairchild.

Platt has been out to friends and family for years but only came out publicly a year or two ago.

It didn't even make $750K at the box office, Friday.

It's vanished like a fart in the wind.

R4 it kinda worked for me.

[quote] It didn't even make $750K at the box office, Friday.

Does that even cover Ben’s salary for the film? I’m sure it covers Julie Anne More and Amy Adams combined.

"Daddy, I want a musical, a movie based on the musical, a video game based upon the film, and action figure merchandise."

"This is cheaper than the rehab/therapy/pony package so please buy me these things."

[quote]It's vanished like a fart in the wind.

Hopefully Ben will too

Bet the producers of that Merrily We Roll Along film are feeling sick right now.

Ben has had 2 hit records, and one sold out tour- plus a concert special.

And you?

I dunno, R101. The gimmick of the movie should be able to sell it on its own. They have more to worry about with Blake Jenner and the stories that might come out about him being abusive. But you never know. We might look back as those allegations in the future and assume they were making a mountain of a molehill.

R26: "It would have done better without Covid. My friends and would have definitely gone but not right now and we are all Broadway and movie fans all having worked in theaters. Not now."

Well gorsh darn it, that explains it all! If you and your friends had gone, then it would've done better!

Some of these are HI-LARIOUS.

Has anyone here listened to his first CD? Wonderful.

So clue me in please. What's this story about?

Thank you kindly. You can make the description as snarky as you like.

Why don’t you just go watch the movie, you lazy cunt?

That TikTok of Platt/Hansen running is hilarious! He looks like Tina Belcher.

[quote]Ben has had 2 hit records

Peaking at 18 and 84 on the Billboard 200 counts as a "hit record" does it?

Going to need some proof all his dates were sold out.

3 and 8 on Billboard. Check again, hunty.

[quote]Platt has been out to friends and family for years but only came out publicly a year or two a

Platt has been out to anyone with a head for years.

R111 Looks like you're the one who needs to check again. And I note you provided nothing to back up your claim about the tour being sold out. Try harder Ben.

I just can't wait for Ben's remake of Yentl.

Followed by an off-off-Broadway production of Oliver.

There are too many SCTV predictions coming true for me to contain myself. Go Ben!

Just you wait, Ben will dazzle us all as .... ANNIE!

Please don't make me watch a movie about HIGH SCHOOL. Good gawd. You are cruel. Now I am justified in joining in on all the ridicule you are getting, BP.

Okay okay I did eventually watch that movie with the evil conniving vengeful music director - I did enjoy that. Can't even remember the name. Just looked it up - Whiplash. THAT was Miles Teller?

He sounds like he swallowed a vibrator.

Just watched "Come Far Away". I had zero interest in it. Holy shit, what a fabulous show and fuck "Dear Evan Hansen" for stealing all their thunder.

The very talented Andy Karl lost the Tony to Platt (Karl was in the musical adaptation of Groundhog Day, a weak show, but he was terrific).

Karl must be laughing his ass off at the film reviews.

R118, where did you watch it? Is it streaming?

It’s on AppleTV+.

Yes Apple TV full shot on Broadway. Wonderful TV direction. The Tony Committee should have awarded the entire cast a Special Award like they did LMM's stupid improve show this year.

DEH is now available on Amazon Prime Video for rental. It's still in theaters (as of Thursday), so the inflated rental price is $19.99 for 48 hours.

It has been in theaters for about 22 days.

[quote]DEH is now available on Amazon Prime Video for rental. It's still in theaters (as of Thursday), so the inflated rental price is $19.99 for 48 hours.

I have sufficient.

Total box off as of Thursday was $14 million dollars. It's not playing outside of the US, so there is no foreign box office results.

The cost to produce the movie was $28 million. With marketing and costs to run it in theaters, the box office needed to break even may be $60 million? (The multiplier used to be 2 times production cost.)

Now it's up to streaming, rentals, and DVD/streaming purchases to recoup more of the costs.

R125 Not gonna happen especially if they want to charge $19.99 just to RENT digitally.

Much like he is in bed.

Looks like Ben will be the one-hit wonder I thought he’d be.

All too soon, he’ll be like another Macaulay Culkin. hair mostly gone, too much eye shadow, overweight, kind of slurred speech.

And whenever anyone asks about his father, he’ll snarl, “Don’t get me started!”

The reported numbers are grosses, and those are shared with the distributors.

Any money this movie takes in is GROSS.

[quote] Looks like Ben will be the one-hit wonder I thought he’d be.

What hit was that again?