The Drama (2026)

​“The Drama” stars Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoë Winters.  Released on April 3, 2026, the film follows a couple whose unsettling secrets come to light before their wedding.

The film was written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, who also directed “DRIB”, “Sick of Myself”, and “Dream Scenario”.  Many relationships experience challenges that test the bonds between soulmates.  Some have a love strong enough to overcome misfortunes and secrets, while others see their love destroyed due to mishandled situations.  This troubling relationship is no different, even before the most important event of their lives, though that seems to be the least of their problems.  It’s no surprise that the wedding preparations can be stressful, but when someone's shocking secret comes to light, it’s only a matter of time before one’s mentality reaches its breaking point.  This sums up the latest drama from writer/director Kristoffer Borgli, featuring the two lovebirds being at each other’s throats days before they say “I do”.  Was this ambitious love story worth falling for, or should we cancel this eventful wedding plan?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on a happy couple who are preparing for the most important chapter of their lives.  Emma Harwood (Zendaya) is a bookstore clerk from Louisiana who meets and falls in love with Charlie Thompson (Pattinson), a British museum director.  As their wedding draws near, their healthy relationship takes a sudden turn when Charlie is left shaken by the unsettling truth about Emma’s past.  As a result, they’re caught in a spiral of chaos and mistrust that could spell the end of their relationship and even their marriage. 

I was initially planning to see “The Drama” last weekend, but I had to put it on hold to spend quality time with my family on Easter weekend.  Fortunately, since there aren’t a lot of big movies coming out this weekend, I decided to use that opportunity to do so.  I knew some of you had been waiting for my thoughts on this film for a while, especially since it features two of the most talented actors ever, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.  So, who am I to delay the inevitable?  Plus, I admired Kristoffer Borgli’s previous film, “Dream Scenario”, for his unique vision and metaphoric commentary, leading to my interest in what he had in store for “The Drama”.  So, now that I finally watched it, what do I think about this experience?  Well, I can tell you this: it certainly lived up to its title.  There’s plenty of drama involved, but it’s also about something more that led to this “quarrel”.

“The Drama” is one of the films that I would describe as “ticking time bomb” movies.  Once it’s lit up, it drags you to a spiraling state of anxiety and psychological stress until its explosive finale.  Since it’s an A24 movie, the finale restrains itself from being too overly explosive, but it is a pretty solid bang regardless.  Some events leading up to this moment may not be as effective in retaining its anxiety as others, but it’s still an engaging experience that reflects on the challenging trials that come with this commitment.  Of course, one of them is whether love can hold strong if a partner isn’t who they say they really are, even when it comes to their secrets.  It’s a movie that deconstructs the elements we usually see in rom-coms to reflect the reality of a flawed relationship and the awkwardness that stems from the characters’ actions.  Though its troubling themes may be polarizing, it presents a respectable approach to this type of story that invites reflection on both quality and commentary.

The element I remembered from Borgli’s vision, based on my experience with “Dream Scenario”, is that he provides a twisted sense of humor that’s far from insane but stems from a sense of realism and current subject matter.  “Dream Scenario” is a bizarre yet highly thought-provoking depiction of contemporary fame, with Nicolas Cage appearing in everyone’s dreams.  For “The Drama”, Borgli’s vision relies on the anxiety-inducing essence to depict its struggling, pressure-building relationship through snappy editing and discomforting topics.  There are several moments that quickly transition from one sequence to the next, with some dream-like hallucinations here and there.  But instead of being sloppy, this approach comes off as subtly uncomfortable, especially when it reflects Charlie's conflicting feelings upon learning of Emma’s past.  Combined with its impressive sound design and Borgli’s direction, the editing effectively creates a sense of uneasiness that may prompt audiences to question their own choices in their relationships.

Regarding Borgli’s screenplay, there’s no doubt that it’ll divide viewers with its handling of certain topics.  The main subject matter, in particular, is the uncomfortable “twist” behind Emma’s past.  I know the movie’s been out for a week, but I’m still going to try to explain it without giving too much away in case you haven’t seen it yet.  Emma's troubling backstory from high school plays a vital role in the story and its themes, leaving her and Charlie in disbelief and awkwardness throughout the film.  It shows that such experiences can have a negative impact on those who have gone through them, regardless of whether the actions were taken or not.  Of course, since it’s also a black comedy, it’s bound to have some laughs in its dark concept, right?  Well, not really.  While there are some moments of hilarity, Borgli couldn’t quite find the darkly humorous momentum suited for this kind of material.  The script can also be pretty limited in its exploration of the characters’ depth.  Nevertheless, its silver lining is its depiction of how flawed certain people can be, and whether empathy can still be earned from their actions.

Another highlight worth mentioning is the duo portraying the straining couple: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.  It bears repeating that Zendaya knows how to choose her projects wisely during her post-Disney days, not just in blockbusters like Spider-Man and Dune, but also in low-budget dramas.  It also helped that she has grown into a confident, well-rounded actress during her experience.  “The Drama” further showcases Zendaya’s impeccable talent in conveying the restraint and vulnerability of her characters, particularly Emma and her conflict with her disturbing secret.  The same can be said of Robert Pattinson, who’s also incredible at portraying Charlie’s anxiety and awkwardness, further underscoring his ability to fully transform into his distinctive characters.  When you have two strong talents appearing in a movie, there’s no doubt that sparks will fly in this broken relationship, and boy, were they flying.  Mamoudou Athie was also compelling in his role of Mike, and Hailey Gates did a great job conveying Rachel’s emotional restraint, especially during her passive-aggressive wedding speech sequence.

Overall, “The Drama” stirs up plenty of it with a disturbing yet uniquely engaging series of anxious events worthy of its magnetic leads.  It’s a shocking, discomforting twist on the romance genre that underscores how a partner’s past actions can distort the other’s perspective of them.  With Kristoffer Borgli’s direction and editing, the movie delivers a cinematic roller coaster of psychological pressure and anxiety that's sure to make people question their own relationships.  However, its uncomfortable subject matter relating to Emma’s past and its scattered dark comedy mildly falter in making much of an impact as its thought-provoking themes and characters.  Nevertheless, this is another ambitious love story that may not make everyone want to attend the wedding, but will likely satisfy those in need of some juicy drama before the big event.  If you’re a fan of the two actors or in the mood for something stressful and awkward to watch, this film is worth RSVPing.

B-