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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Anyone But You

Anyone But You is a 2023 romantic comedy film directed by Will Gluck and starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Anyone But You is a 2023 romantic comedy loosely based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. It became a box-office sleeper hit despite mixed reviews.

What it is

The film follows Bea and Ben, who initially clash after an early romantic connection and later pretend to be a couple at a destination wedding in Australia. The story draws loosely on William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, updating the classic comedy to a modern setting.

Key details

Directed by Will Gluck from a screenplay by Gluck and Ilana Wolpert, the film stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as the leads. The supporting cast includes Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Dermot Mulroney, Darren Barnet, Bryan Brown, and Rachel Griffiths. It premiered on December 11, 2023, and opened in U.S. theatres on December 22, 2023.

Why it matters

Despite mixed reviews from critics, Anyone But You performed strongly at the box office, grossing about US$220 million worldwide. Its success as a sleeper hit highlights the enduring appeal of romantic comedies in theatres and the star power of its leads, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell.

In short

  • Released in 2023, directed by Will Gluck.
  • Loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
  • Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell.
  • Grossed about US$220 million worldwide, a sleeper hit.
Canadian angle

The film had international theatrical distribution and is part of recent mainstream English-language romantic comedy cinema that also reached Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

What is Anyone But You about?
It is about two people, Bea and Ben, who pretend to be a couple at a destination wedding in Australia after an initial romantic connection goes badly.
Who directed Anyone But You?
The film was directed by Will Gluck.
Who stars in Anyone But You?
The lead roles are played by Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anyone_but_You
    Supports: Director, cast, release dates, adaptation basis, reception, and box-office gross.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anyone_but_you_2023
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, runtime, and U.S. theatrical release date.
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/anyone-but-you-2023
    Supports: Director, co-writer, loose adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, and basic plot description.