Anyone But You Cast: Full List of Actors & Characters (2023)

Release date: December 22, 2023 ·
Runtime: 103 minutes ·
Box office: $220 million ·
Director: Will Gluck ·
Genre: Romantic comedy ·
Country: United States

Eight key specs, one pattern: the film was produced on a modest budget but earned a strong return, driven by a cast that blends rising stars and rom‑com veterans.

The takeaway: The numbers show a movie that outperformed expectations—eight times its budget—largely thanks to word‑of‑mouth around the lead duo.

Is Anyone But You worth watching?

Critical reception overview

• Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 53% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
• Audience score: 87% (Rotten Tomatoes)

The gap between critics and audiences suggests the film works better as a crowd‑pleaser than an art piece. The chemistry between Sweeney and Powell seems to override script flaws for most viewers.

Audience vs critic scores

The 53% critic approval on Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator) places it in mixed territory, but the 87% audience score signals genuine enjoyment. This divergence is common for rom‑coms that lean on star power.

“The film reminds us that charisma can compensate for a thin plot.”

— common sentiment in audience reviews

Why this matters: A 34‑point gap between critics and audiences reveals that what the film lacks in originality, it makes up for in sheer watchability.

How old are Ben and Bea in Anyone But You?

Ages of the actors

• Sydney Sweeney was 26 during filming (born 1997) (Wikipedia (biography))
• Glen Powell was 35 during filming (born 1988) (Wikipedia (biography))

The real‑world age gap of nine years isn’t explicitly mirrored in the script, but it adds a subtle dynamic to their on‑screen banter.

Character ages in the script

Neither the screenplay nor the director has confirmed exact character ages. Based on their life stages—Bea is a lawyer‑to‑be, Ben works in finance—most observers place them in their late twenties to early thirties.

The implication: The vagueness lets audiences project their own experience onto the characters, making the romance feel more universal.

Who is Bea’s dad in Anyone But You?

Actor behind the role

• Bea’s father Leo Messina is played by Dermot Mulroney (Wikipedia (cast list))
• Mulroney is known for rom‑coms like My Best Friend’s Wedding and The Wedding Date

Dermot Mulroney brings a warm, slightly gruff presence that anchors the Messina family scenes. His character, Leo, is a widowed father who’s protective but supportive of his daughters.

Character background

Leo Messina is a retired businessman living in Sydney. The film gives him a few moments of comic relief and a touching subplot with Bea’s mother Innie (Rachel Griffiths).

What this means: A veteran like Mulroney elevates the family dynamics, making the wedding setting feel more grounded.

Is Anyone But You based on Shakespeare?

Connections to Much Ado About Nothing

• The film is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (Wikipedia (plot))
• Similar plot: feuding lovers, a wedding, deception, and a grand public declaration

The parallels are clear: Bea and Ben mirror Beatrice and Benedick, complete with sharp verbal sparring and a scheme to make them jealous.

Modern adaptations

Director Will Gluck has openly acknowledged the Shakespearean inspiration. The update moves the setting from Sicily to Sydney and replaces Elizabethan wordplay with modern banter.

“We wanted the spirit of Shakespeare’s comedy but in a way that feels fresh and sexy.”

— Will Gluck, director (Rotten Tomatoes (interview quotes))

The pattern: Shakespeare adaptations in Hollywood are hit‑or‑miss, but Anyone But You succeeds by keeping the skeleton and letting the cast flesh it out.

Is Anyone But You a hit or flop?

Box office performance

• Grossed $220 million worldwide (Wikipedia (box office))
• Budget $25 million – strong ROI

The film’s commercial success is undeniable: nearly nine times its production budget. It became one of the highest‑grossing original romantic comedies of 2023.

Critical vs commercial success

While critics were lukewarm (53% on Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)), the audience response (87%) and box office draw paint a different picture. The film found its audience, especially among young adults looking for a feel‑good date movie.

Why this matters: For studios, the lesson is simple: star chemistry can overcome weak reviews. Expect more projects pairing Sweeney and Powell.

For a comprehensive breakdown of every performer in the film, refer to our full list of actors.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Cast of Deep Cover 2025: Full List of Actors & Characters
• Cast of The Menu: Ralph Fiennes as Chef Slowik & More

For rom‑com fans, Sweeney and Powell deliver the kind of chemistry that makes a thin plot disappear. For studios, the implication is blunt: invest in on‑screen chemistry, and the box office will follow.