A24’s The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, premiered in theaters earlier this year in April. Now the romantic dark comedy is coming to HBO Max for streaming, which means you can watch it over and over again. The film drew lots of attention, discussion and criticism, with the surrounding theme of school shootings.
The Drama starts by asking one simple question: “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” And while characters like Charlie (Robert Pattinson), Mike (Mamodou Athie), and Rachel (Alana Haim) reveal bullying, locking kids in closets, and using ex-girlfriends as human shields during a dog attack, Emma’s answer shocked audiences and caused a stir in the film. After Emma (Zendaya) reveals that she planned a school shooting but decided not to follow through with it, her relationship falls apart mere days before her wedding.
The movie’s marketing was quite controversial, as viewers were led to believe the film was a lighthearted romantic comedy via the posters and trailer. While the twist was hinted at in the trailers, viewers weren’t quite sure what to make of the plot and Emma’s actions. While some thought the storyline was a bit much, others thought it was a necessary topic. “Art is supposed to make you uncomfortable” is the quote that people used when talking about the heavy theme of gun violence in the film. Despite the backlash, the film grossed over $132 million on a $28 million budget.
Aside from sparking criticism from audiences, the film also brought up many debates about who the real villain in The Drama is. Was it Emma, Rachel, Mike or Charlie? Considering the fact that Emma is the only one who didn’t actually follow through with her ‘worst thing,’ while the others did, does that make her less of a villain?
The Drama, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgliwill, is available to stream on HBO Max on July 31.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Jul 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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