Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s The Drama will be the most-talked about movie of 2026

If you thought Wuthering Heights would be the most-talked about movie of 2026 for its horny/romantic spin on Emily Brontë’s classic novel, then The Drama is here to prove you all wrong. Before its release this week, the movie has already been making headlines – and that is likely to only be the start.

Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli (who has also been been making headlines due to a resurfaced essay), The Drama centres on Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) who are getting married in a week. But the build-up to their wedding, a stressful event in itself, takes an unexpected turn that puts their marriage in doubt.

The pivotal moment has not been shared in the marketing to date, so you won’t find it here. Any reporting that it’s a ‘twist’ isn’t quite accurate as it’s revealed early on and it’s really the plot driver, rather than a late-stage revelation. But you still won’t find the specifics of it here as it’s clearly aimed as something to be discovered, although there’s a fair discussion to be had about whether it should have been revealed, given what it is.

If that sounds frustratingly vague, then you won’t like the rest of this review. But what we will say is that even if you know what it is, that’s only really half the story. Not that it’ll stop endless debate about The Drama from both watchers and non-watchers alike, but that’s the modern world for you.

Initially, you’d think The Drama was an ironic name as we start off firmly in rom-com territory. As Charlie runs his wedding speech past Mike (Mamoudou Athie), we get a highlights tour of Charlie and Emma’s relationship, including a meet-cute that, in classic rom-com fashion, is either quite creepy or cute.

It’s not long until the pivotal moment, though, which happens during a final wedding-menu tasting, which shifts the movie into an often-uncomfortable, provocative drama laced with pitch-black humour. If the point of art is to create debate, then The Drama provides a feast for post-viewing discussion.

Anybody who’s seen Borgli’s previous work, such as Dream Scenario or Sick of Myself, will know what they’re getting themselves in for, tonally at least. The Drama is less of a satire on the modern era than those two, but still takes a fresh stance on a subject that has been covered extensively in media, both in fiction and in news. It won’t be for all tastes, but we can safely say it’s unlike anything else you’ve seen.

A large part of its success is down to Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, whose performances keep you engaged. You couldn’t think of a better actor than Pattinson to play the “weird little British freak” as Charlie is lovingly called, while Zendaya perfectly conveys the mysterious side of Emma that proves essential to the movie’s success.

Together, the duo manage to flesh out a relationship that is otherwise thinly-sketched, meaning you’re invested in the will-they-won’t-they aspect of The Drama. Their strong chemistry is essential as the movie goes through some narrative lulls, exploring different ideas but without a strong enough focus on any particular one. It does at least leave you unsure exactly where the movie is going, or the decisions that either character will make.

It’s a shame, then, that things get (a bit) more conventional in the final act as Borgli strays into more classic rom-com territory. There are enough interesting ideas raised here without the need for a late-stage road bump in Charlie and Emma’s relationship, one that – in the grand scheme of things – feels too basic by comparison to the rest of the plot.

The Drama certainly won’t be for everybody, and it might also frustrate those who want resolution. There’s not an easy answer to be found to the central issue that’s raised here, and nor should there be. It’s a movie made to be debated and mulled over, and while it’s far from flawless, we’ll always RSVP to a movie like that.

The Drama is released in cinemas on 3 April.

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