If you’re going to simply call your movie “The Drama,” the tea involved better be hot. In this movie, it’s properly boiling.
In the latest film distributed by A24, Robert Pattinson stars as Charlie, a groom-to-be who’s deciding what to say in his vows to fiancé Emma (Zendaya). The two were introduced in a classic meet cute and have since grown to be the perfect couple. The film picks up with the couple only a week away from their wedding.
So far, the preparation process has been entirely routine, and the movie finds them trying out wines and entrees to include on their menu for the big day. They do the activity with a pair of friends, and all seems to be going well. That is until they play a game of revealing the worst thing they’ve done, and Emma reveals a dark part of her past.
It took 2025 12 whole months to produce a top-rated movie. The year 2026 did it in three. “The Drama” is an absolutely phenomenal cinematic experience, winning over an audience in every way as it explores heavy subject matter in exceptional fashion. It’s a spectacular effort from writer/director Kristoffer Borgli, who helmed 2023’s “Dream Scenario,” which made my honorable mentions list that year.
Welcome to the Top 10 section, dude. “The Drama” is a brilliant dark comedy, where in some moments it’s romantic and others its cringy. At times, its’s even a bit disturbing. But regardless of the feeling, a viewer is completely engrossed in what’s taking place. This is a film where an audience hangs on every word spoken.
Perhaps what’s most impressive is how well the film captures the downward spiral of Charlie. Once he learns of Emma’s past, his mind is constantly on if the relationship can work. He tries to rationalize it, weigh options and seek advice. Yet whatever he does to calm his nerves, he can’t escape an underlying worry and it makes things worse.
A lot of what Charlie is going here makes for a film that’s not only dramatic and comedic, but psychologically compelling, too. What Charlie experiences is very reminiscent of a person going through a major obsessive-compulsive episode.
As someone with OCD, Charlie not being able to put aside his concern because of a constant anxiety is done remarkably well, even in some of the more over the top scenes. The film manages to acknowledge Charlie’s feelings, too, in that there’s some foundation to his fears, but it still successfully shows him becoming mentally off kilter.
The film does this through its acting and dialogue, as well as clever visual cues. While there’s a spotlight on Charlie, it doesn’t mean Emma gets sidelined in terms of attention. What she’s going through is prominent, and it’s captivating, especially as we see her navigating the situation in the present, and in the past through flashbacks.
On that note, actress Jordyn Curet deserves plenty of credit for her work in portraying the younger version of Emma in the flashbacks. Of course, the present version has the most screentime, and Zendeya is absolutely phenomenal. All thing considered, this may be the best acting of her career so far, especially with what she pulls off in the movie’s highly engaging third act.
Pattinson is equally superb as Charlie as he goes through his aforementioned struggles. His ability to work with the film’s dark comedy and the more emotional moments, all with a great deal of authenticity, is award worthy. There’s a fine balance Pattinon strikes. He’s great in the more bombastic scenes, while also pulling off the gravity of the grounded ones.
He’s shown a great deal of talent in “The Lighthouse” and “The Batman,” and does so again here. Along with the two leads and a solid supporting cast, the movie benefits from the efforts from its leader, too. Borgli’s writing and direction shines, with dialogue, story and overall structure all high quality.
It’s especially remarkable how nicely Borgli weaves commentary on an important topic in America with the movie’s narrative, doing so in a unique way.
“The Drama” is a terrific film that excels throughout its runtime, from the first act that fully hooks one in, to a third that has an audience feeling every emotion, all with an extraordinary finish. It’s funny, awkward, intense and endlessly arresting. It may not be the biggest flick in terms of scope, as it really just centers on a single wedding weekend. However, it’s overflowing with substance. 5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 