Dear John is a 2010 American romantic war drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, based on the 2006 novel by Nicholas Sparks. It follows the life of a soldier (Channing Tatum) after he falls in love with a young woman (Amanda Seyfried, who decide to exchange letters after he is deployed to Afghanistan. Dear John was released in North America on February 5, 2010, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed $115 million against a $25 million budget.