Quick Review: The Drama (2026)

It’s interesting when you see two actors that you watched as a child be in a film like this. I remember as most people did seeing Robert Pattinson in the Twilight films and he has since then proved to be a phenomenal actor. Zendaya as well getting her start from Disney Channel with Shake it Up is also someone that’s proved to be a really strong actress as well. So seeing the two of them in a film together had me on board from the start. This was along side with the marketing this movie went for as it seemed like A24 was confident with this one. Not as crazy as Marty Supreme, but they definitely had a good marketing budget for it all. So with all those pieces in, I was curious to see what this film had to offer. After watching it, The Drama is an anxiety inducing time that really worked for me.

The Drama follows an engaged couple Emma and Charlie who are happily about to get married. However when the bride Emma reveals one of her darkest secrets, it takes what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives into a a test of their relationship and how it could change everything for them.

The story of The Drama is fascinating to watch all play out. I won’t talk too much in what goes on in the actual story because it is a huge spoiler and they have been marketing it as this crazy secret that you have to see to watch unravel, but I like how things are handled in this story. There’s themes of love and how much we know about a person that plays a huge part in the movie that I think is handled in a way that felt realistic and caring toward the subject. The movie talks about some controversial topics that has already started a discussion on how it’s handled in the film, but I think they do a good job addressing it and it made sense with the approach that it goes for. As for everything else in the story, it feels like watching a panic attack unfold for an hour and 45 minutes. This film had me put my hands on my head giving me secondhand embarrassment with what it decides to do so many times, but that’s what it’s trying to do and it did make me love it. So much chaos is happening in the story and especially the third act is when this film fully comes together and it’s fully chaotic. I see a lot of films struggle with it’s third act, but this film is not one of them and everything falls into place in a way that made everything else work. The story of this movie really worked for me.

The characters as well are complex and people will definitely be starting a discussion around them. I don’t want to talk about them too much as it gets into spoiler territory, but I think it’s all fascinating to watch play out. With that said, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are phenomenal in this movie. They both have come so far and I think this film really proves that sentiment. Seeing the dynamic between them really worked for me and as the story progresses, you could feel the tension around them played out incredibly well. They just bring out a lot in the material that I found exciting to watch. Also shout out to the supporting cast with Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie and Hailey Benton Gates as they have some great material to work with here as well. One other shout out to Jordyn Curet who really nails the material she has as well. Basically the small cast here is great and I think they all do a fantastic job.

One of the strongest qualities that I think the film has going for it though is the editing. The editing is kinda all over the place in this film, but in a good way. Scenes are chaotic and cut in crazy ways, but with the way that this story unfolds, it makes sense to show the story in that direction. We see characters thoughts play out and what characters are thinking they want to do at a certain moment and I think the way everything cuts together works wonders for the film. I think telling the story in any other way probably wouldn’t have been as effective and definitely would have given a different vibe to it all, so I’m glad it goes in the direction that it does. The editing of this film puts everything in perspective and gives it the necessary tone that it needs.

Honestly one thing that I wish the film explored more of is the other characters worst thing they did and one of the characters that’s introduced, but nothing is ever done with them. Emma’s worst thing is obviously the main focus of the film, but I think it would have interesting to explore the other characters worst thing that they’ve done because they do say some interesting things during the big scene. Especially Charlie who I thought his was going to come back later in the story, but it never does so I wish it did more of a exploration with that. Another thing is one of the characters that’s related to Alana Haims character feels like she’s going to play a bigger role in the story, but it never feels like it gets the proper exploration that it could’ve and I wish it did. Besides that, I think what the film does do is still great and I did enjoy overall everything else about it.

The Drama is a hilarious and stressful time. It’s a dark comedy that will make you have secondhand embarrassment, but it’s also part of what makes it so great. Make sure to check it out in the theater because when the big moments hit in this film, its fun to experience with a crowd.