Name: tick, tick... BOOM!
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: 2021-11-11T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Ben Levi Ross

The camera lingers on Andrew Garfield‘s sweat-streaked face as he belts out lyrics about time slipping away, and you realize: this isn’t just another musical. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut tick, tick…BOOM! is a heart attack in the best way possible—a film that pulses with urgency, love, and the kind of creative pressure that could make even the most stable artist hyperventilate into a paper bag.

Based on Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical, the film follows Garfield as Jon, an aspiring theater composer on the brink of turning 30. The year is 1990, and Jon is drowning in self-doubt, haunted by the ticking clock of his own mortality (“30/90”) and the fear that he’ll never create something great before time runs out. The film’s central tension—between artistic ambition and the pragmatic pull of stability—is one we’ve seen before, but Miranda and screenwriter Steven Levenson don’t let it feel tired.

What makes tick, tick…BOOM! resonate is its specificity. This isn’t just a story about an artist struggling to make it; it’s a deeply personal portrait of Larson himself, a man who poured his fears, hopes, and frustrations into his work. Garfield doesn’t just play Jon—he becomes him, channeling the character’s anxiety, passion, and vulnerability with a rawness that’s impossible to ignore. His performance is a masterclass in physicality, from the way he slumps into diner booths as a waiter to the manic energy of his rehearsals. The supporting cast, particularly Alexandra Shipp as Jon’s dancer girlfriend Susan and Robin de Jesús as his childhood friend Michael, bring depth and warmth to roles that could have been one-dimensional.

The film’s greatest strength is its authenticity. Miranda clearly loves Larson’s work—this is a love letter to Broadway, to the artists who bleed for their craft, to the ugly, beautiful chaos of creation. The musical numbers are staged with a sense of intimacy that feels rare in today’s cinematic landscape, especially in the standout sequence “Sugar,” where Jon’s frustration and longing explode into a full-throated cry for validation. Miranda’s direction is largely assured, his camerawork lingering on Garfield’s expressive face during quieter moments, pulling back to capture the vibrant energy of New York City when Jon’s world feels like it’s spinning out of control.

But tick, tick…BOOM! isn’t without its flaws. The pacing stumbles occasionally, particularly in the film’s second act, which struggles to maintain momentum as Jon spirals deeper into his existential crisis. Some of the supporting characters—particularly Vanessa Hudgens as Karessa Johnson and Joshua Henry as Roger Bart—feel underdeveloped, their arcs overshadowed by Garfield’s magnetic performance.

And while Miranda’s direction is largely assured, there are moments where his signature style feels intrusive. The handheld camerawork during Jon’s more frenetic scenes, for instance, occasionally veers into shakiness that distracts rather than immerses. These moments feel like a misstep from a director who clearly has a vision but sometimes lets his technical choices get in the way of the story.

The film also grapples with themes of self-doubt and the fear of failure, which are explored through Jon’s relationships with his friends and loved ones. Michael, now working in marketing, represents the pragmatic path Jon could take, while Susan embodies the creative life he’s fighting to maintain. These dynamics add depth to the narrative, grounding Jon’s struggles in real-world stakes.

Ultimately, tick, tick…BOOM! succeeds because it understands the terror and beauty of chasing a dream. It’s a film about the pressure to create something meaningful before time runs out, and Garfield’s performance alone makes it worth watching. The movie will resonate most with theater lovers and those who understand the agony—and ecstasy—of the creative process.