The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›Tick, Tick... Boom!
Entertainment • Film

Tick, Tick... Boom!

Tick, Tick...

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tick, Tick... Boom! is a 2021 American biographical musical drama film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his feature directorial debut. It is based on Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical stage musical of the same name and stars Andrew Garfield as Larson. The film follows a young theatre composer facing career pressure as he approaches 30.

Premise

The film centres on Jonathan Larson as a young theatre composer in New York City, balancing work, relationships, and the pressure to create a major musical before time runs out.

Production

Written by Steven Levenson and directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film is adapted from Larson’s stage musical and was produced by Netflix with Imagine Entertainment.

Cast

The ensemble includes Andrew Garfield, Robin de Jesús, Alexandra Shipp, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, Vanessa Hudgens, and Bradley Whitford.

Release

Tick, Tick... Boom! premiered at AFI Fest, had a limited theatrical release, and then became available on Netflix in November 2021.

Key facts

  • The film marks Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut.
  • It adapts Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical stage musical.
  • Andrew Garfield portrays Jonathan Larson in the lead role.
  • The film premiered at AFI Fest on November 10, 2021, and streamed on Netflix from November 19, 2021.
  • The story follows a young theatre composer facing career pressure as he approaches 30.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was distributed globally by Netflix, making it widely available to Canadian viewers through the streaming service.[1][8]

Frequently asked questions

Is Tick, Tick... Boom! a film or a stage musical?
It is a 2021 film adapted from Jonathan Larson’s earlier stage musical of the same name.
Who directed Tick, Tick... Boom!?
Lin-Manuel Miranda directed the film in his feature directorial debut.
Who stars as Jonathan Larson?
Andrew Garfield plays Jonathan Larson.
What is the film about?
It follows a young theatre composer in New York as he tries to create a breakthrough musical while navigating personal and professional pressures.
When was it released?
It premiered on November 10, 2021, and streamed on Netflix beginning November 19, 2021.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick,_Tick..._Boom!_(film)
    Supports: Director, cast, format, premiere date, and Netflix release
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8721424/
    Supports: Release year and plot summary
  3. Netflix — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJserno8tyU
    Supports: Official trailer description, cast, and release context
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick,_Tick..._Boom!
    Supports: Source work and adaptation context
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81149184
    Supports: Availability on Netflix and synopsis