Dear John (2010 film)

Screen Gems
Company type	Film distributor
Industry	Film
Headquarters	United States
Area served	North America

Dear John is a 2010 American romantic war drama directed by Lasse Hallström, adapted from the 2006 novel authored by Nicholas Sparks. The movie features Channing Tatum portraying a soldier who develops a romantic relationship with a college student, played by Amanda Seyfried. Their connection is sustained through letters during his military deployment. Distributed in North America on February 5, 2010, by Screen Gems, the film was produced on a $25 million budget and earned $115 million worldwide, despite receiving predominantly mixed to unfavorable critiques.

Plot

The narrative unfolds partly in 2003, where Staff Sergeant John Tyree is wounded in Afghanistan while serving with the United States Army Special Forces. As he loses consciousness, a voice-over reveals his memories of a childhood visit to the U.S. Mint and his reflection on being like a coin.

Two years prior, in spring 2001, John takes leave in Charleston, South Carolina, and meets Savannah Curtis, a college student involved with Habitat for Humanity. They quickly develop a romantic bond during his time off. Savannah also encounters John's father, who has a deep interest in coin collecting.

A misunderstanding involving John's father and Savannah's neighbor Tim—who cares for an autistic son—causes tension between John and Savannah. However, they reconcile and agree to keep their relationship alive through letters after John returns to service.

Following the events of September 11, John prolongs his military deployment, resulting in an extended separation lasting several years. Savannah dedicates herself to working with autistic children and aspires to establish a therapeutic farm. Their letter exchange continues until Savannah sends a "Dear John" letter revealing she has fallen for someone else and is engaged.

In 2003, after being shot in Afghanistan, John reenlists despite advice to come home. Years later, he returns to care for his father following a stroke; his father eventually passes away. John visits Savannah and learns she married Tim, who is undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Though tempted to revive their relationship, they part amicably.

To support Tim's cancer treatment, John sells his father's coin collection—retaining only a valuable mule coin—and returns to military service carrying it as a talisman. Later, he receives a letter from Savannah informing him that Tim passed away shortly after treatment began.

Several months afterward, now out of the military, John reunites with Savannah at a coffee shop where they share an embrace.

Cast

Channing Tatum as SSG John Tyree
Amanda Seyfried as Savannah Lynn Curtis
Henry Thomas as Tim Wheddon
Richard Jenkins as Bill Tyree
Luke Benward as Alan Wheddon
- Braeden Reed as Young Alan Wheddon
Scott Porter as Randy
D.J. Cotrona as Noodles
Cullen Moss as Rooster
Gavin McCulley as Starks

Music

The musical score for Dear John was created by Deborah Lurie, recorded with the Hollywood Studio Symphony at Warner Brothers Eastwood Scoring Stage shortly after she completed work on 9. Relativity Media Group released an album featuring various artists on February 2, 2010; simultaneously, the score album was made available digitally.

Release

The movie debuted in the United States on February 5, 2010.

Box office

Dear John earned approximately $80 million domestically and close to $35 million internationally, reaching a global total near $115 million.

During its opening weekend, it generated over $30 million, securing the top spot at the box office and ending Avatar’s seven-week reign. This performance represented the strongest opening for any film adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel.

Additionally, it achieved the second-best opening weekend for a film released during Super Bowl weekend, trailing only behind the 2008 release of Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert.

Critical reception

The movie was met with predominantly unfavorable critiques. While some reviewers acknowledged the casting choices positively, most felt that the characters and screenplay were uninspired and formulaic.

On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 28% based on 137 critiques, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 10. The site's summary characterizes it as heavily reliant on familiar Nicholas Sparks tropes combined with a detached directorial approach from Lasse Hallström. Metacritic assigned it a score of 43 out of 100 from 34 reviews, indicating mixed or average opinions.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2010	MTV Movie Awards	Best Male Performance	Channing Tatum	Template:Nom
	MTV Movie Awards	Best Female Performance	Amanda Seyfried	Template:Nom
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie: Drama	Dear John	Template:Nom
		Choice Movie Actor: Drama	Channing Tatum	Template:Nom
		Choice Movie Actress: Drama	Amanda Seyfried	Template:Nom
		Choice Movie: Chemistry	Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum	Template:Nom
2011	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Drama Movie	Dear John	Template:Nom
	ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards	Top Box Office Films	Deborah Lurie	Template:Won
	CinEuphoria Awards	Top Ten of the Year – Audience Award	Lasse Hallström	Template:Won
		Top Ten of the Year – International Competition	Lasse Hallström	Template:Won
		Best Actor – International Competition	Channing Tatum	Template:Won

Home media

Dear John became available on DVD and Blu-ray formats on May 25, 2010.

External links