The Drama (2026) A24/Comedy-Drama RT: 106 minutes Rated R (language, sexual content, some disturbing thematic material) Director: Kristoffer Borgli Screenplay: Kristoffer Borgli Music: Daniel Pemberton Cinematography: Arseni Khachaturan Release date: April 3, 2026 (US) Cast: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, Zoe Winters, Anna Baryshnikov.
Rating: ** ½
This is going to be a tricky review to write. No doubt, you’ve all seen the trailer for The Drama and know that the plot hinges on a secret revealed by one of the main characters. It sets in motion everything that happens from that point on. I’m sure you’re all very curious what it could be. There might even be some that want me to reveal it. NOT GONNA DO IT! I don’t do spoilers. This presents something of a challenge as I’m going to have to talk around it. Fine, challenge accepted.
I’ll say only this about the secret. It’s something that touches many a nerve in this day and age of horrific incidents involving teens and violence. It certainly raises the ire of at least one character. You see, The Drama isn’t about the specific secret; it’s about how others react to it, how it changes their perception of the individual involved. Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) takes it to absurd lengths in this darkly funny and frequently uncomfortable film that is sure to divide audiences. Would you expect anything less from A24?
The Drama centers on a young couple about to be married. We start off with the groom Charlie (Pattinson, Die My Love) writing his wedding speech. He talks about the day he first met his bride-to-be Emma (Zendaya, Dune) in a coffee shop. She’s reading a book. He Googles it so he has a reason to approach her. He awkwardly tries to engage her without realizing she can’t actually hear him. She’s deaf in one ear and has a bud in the other. Once that’s cleared up, they go on their first date. Two years later, they’re about to be husband and wife. That’s when their relationship changes.
The happy couple is having dinner with best friends Rachel (Haim, Licorice Pizza) and Mike (Athie, Black Box) when Rachel dares everybody to admit the worst thing they’ve ever done. They all go along with it, but Emma hesitates when it’s her turn. Her worst thing is pretty bad. When she finally says it out loud, the temperature in the room immediately changes. Rachel is furious with her. Charlie is too shocked to say much of anything. It certainly causes him to rethink their future together. Should there even be one?
Most of The Drama deals with Charlie and Emma trying to navigate their way through the fallout resulting from her confession. Both parties make bad choices going forward. Their attempts to have a dialogue about it never go well. Charlie tries to smooth things over with Rachel but only ends up making things worse. By the time the big day arrives, the feeling of inevitable disaster is palpable.
I have mixed feelings about The Drama. It held my interest despite my dislike of the characters. POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT! At the very least, I should have felt sympathy for Emma who didn’t actually DO anything. She was a troubled teen. All teens have awful thoughts. A person’s brain isn’t fully developed until they’re about 25. I get all that. Sadly, I cannot feel sorry for Emma because she’s a liar and a hypocrite, the latter stemming from a situation involving the wedding DJ. Emma wants forgiveness and understanding for her transgression yet she’s incapable of showing it towards someone else. How are we expected to root for this character? Maybe we’re not. I’m still unclear.
I get that Borgli is making a statement about society’s tendency to vilify somebody for their thoughts. Emma admits to thinking something terrible and immediately she’s a bad person undeserving of forgiveness. The filmmaker’s point comes across loud and clear. The problem is it’s only half-realized. There’s more to consider. Specifically, I’m talking about race. As a woman of color who grew up in the South, Emma’s situation should be more complicated. It’s never brought up, not even once. I’m kind of surprised. For a movie clearly designed to push buttons, it’s astonishing that it ignores this hot button issue.
I already told you I don’t like any of the characters in The Drama. I get the impression this is the intent of the director. If it is, mission accomplished. The cast, individually and as a whole, does a fine job. Pattinson is quite good as Charlie, a passive sort referred to by one character as a pussy. He really is. He can’t even stand up for himself much less the woman he claims to love. He quietly falls apart and loudly implodes. His is a very precise performance. Zendaya is always good. She always has an air of mystery about her, a quality she brings to all the characters she plays (e.g. Challengers). She definitely does that here. You never know what she’s thinking when you look at her. Given her big revelation, it’s scary. The two leads have great chemistry. Haim also delivers a great performance as the friend who does a complete 180 with Emma. The passive-aggressive toast she offers up at the wedding is really something.
The editing in The Drama is controlled but loopy. Scenes abruptly end before the characters finish reciting their lines. Past and present blend together in scenes that play out like bad dreams. One cringey moment has adult Charlie caressing teenage Emma. It’s weird, but I’m guessing that’s precisely the point. There is nothing conventional about The Drama. That’s a good thing even if it doesn’t always work.
I’m not saying The Drama is a bad movie, but it’s not a good one either. It’s not a triumph but it’s not a failure. It’s interesting is what it is. Parts of it work and parts of it don’t. I can’t say that I enjoyed watching it, but I don’t regret seeing it either. The only thing I can suggest is too see it for yourself and make your own judgment.
