The Drama (2026)

Consider yourself warned: The Drama isn’t a date-night movie. It’s a relationship stress test disguised as a romantic comedy. If you decide to test your loyalties, then check your partner’s text messages and keep a therapist (or a lawyer) on standby. You'll thank me later.

Kristoffer Borgli, the filmmaker behind Sick of Myself and Dream Scenario, returns with The Drama, an emotionally prickly romantic comedy from A24 that dares to ask: how well do we really know the person we love? And perhaps more dangerously, how much do we actually want to know?

"messy, uncomfortable, hilarious, and sorely human"


At first glance, The Drama feels like a familiar setup. British expat Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson), a museum curator with a quiet charm and a carefully curated life, meets Emma Harwood (Zendaya), a literary editor with a complicated past, in a cozy Cambridge café. Sparks fly, banter flows, and before long, the two are swept into a whirlwind romance that lands them on the fast track to wedding planning. It’s the kind of meet-cute that romantic comedies thrive on: equal parts charming and aspirational.

But Borgli isn’t interested in giving us a “happily ever after.” Nope. He jerks the rug out from under us with one defining moment: a drunken party game, the innocent “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” What follows is less a stupid joke and more a nuclear detonation. Emma’s confession sends their seemingly perfect relationship into a tailspin, unraveling trust, exposing insecurities, and transforming wedding preparations into an emotional minefield.

Borgli builds his film on the back of emotional unease. And one of its greatest strengths is how deeply it makes us "feel." It’s hard for films to make us feel, but there’s an undercurrent of tension that runs through nearly every scene: awkward silences, loaded glances, and conversations that feel like tightrope walks. Much of this is owed to the phenomenal performances of Zendaya and Pattinson, who bring raw vulnerability and sharp comedic timing to their roles. Who knew of their chemistry?The Drama (2026)

Zendaya’s Emma is a fascinating contradiction: outwardly composed but internally rattled, shaped by an awkward upbringing in a military family that left her unsure of herself. Pattinson’s Charlie is a man of structure and privilege, someone who believes he understands the world, until he realizes he doesn’t even fully understand the person he loves. The twist that Emma’s confession affects Charlie more than it affects her is both ironic and deeply revealing, flipping traditional romantic dynamics on their head.

And yet, for all its discomfort, The Drama is genuinely funny. Borgli has a knack for mining humor from painfully real situations, and that continues with arguments that spiral into absurdity, passive-aggressive conversations, and the quiet humor of two people trying (and failing) to act “normal” while their relationship implodes. It’s romantic comedy filtered through dread and the pitfalls of the stupid telling the truth game, where laughter often comes through clenched teeth.

Borgli amplifies the film’s tension with some bold filmmaking choices. Extreme close-ups trap us in the characters’ discomfort, forcing us to confront every flicker of doubt and embarrassment. The fractured narrative emphasizes the instability of Charlie and Emma’s relationship. And underpinning it all is a sharp, pulsing score from Daniel Pemberton, which underscores the film’s emotional volatility.

The Drama isn’t just about one couple on the brink. It’s about all of us. It leaves us with a question that’s as unsettling as it is universal: is there anything you could learn about your soulmate that would make you question your love for them? It’s the kind of question that lingers in the car ride home, in the quiet moments, in the spaces between conversations.

The Drama is messy, uncomfortable, hilarious, and sorely human. It reminds us that love isn’t just about finding the right person. That’s the easy part. It’s about deciding, again and again, whether we can live with the truth of who they are. And that’s the hard part. And sometimes, that truth is where the real drama begins.

4/5 stars

 The Drama (2026)

4k details divider

4k UHD4K Ultra HD DigiPack Edition

Home Video Distributor: A24
Available on Blu-ray
- July 7, 2026
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH: Spanish
Audio:
 English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Video: Dolby Vision HDR
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; single-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free

A24 continues its tradition of treating physical media like a collector's item with The Drama, packaging the film in one of the studio's handsome Digibook-style editions.

The premium presentation opens to house the 4K UHD disc alongside a set of beautifully illustrated collectible postcards, making it feel more like an art book than a standard home video release.

Thankfully, the contents are more than just shelf candy. A24 has packed in a healthy selection of bonus features, including an insightful crew commentary, an engaging making-of featurette, wardrobe and camera tests with commentary, promotional materials, the in-universe Charlie & Emma wedding video, and the exclusive illustrated postcard set.

It's exactly the kind of thoughtfully curated release collectors have come to expect from A24, proving once again that physical media can still feel like a special event.

VIDEO

A24 gives The Drama the kind of 4K presentation that makes physical media fans grin from ear to ear. Shot on 35mm film, Kristoffer Borgli's unsettling relationship drama retains every bit of its wonderfully organic, filmic appearance.

The transfer wisely resists the temptation to scrub away the natural grain, leaving a consistently pleasing texture and avoiding the waxy look that excessive digital processing can create. Dolby Vision HDR elevates the image even further, revealing remarkable fine detail in faces, clothing, and environments while providing rich contrast without ever feeling artificial. Blacks are deep, highlights remain controlled, and colors have a natural, cinematic warmth that perfectly complements the film's uneasy atmosphere.

If the movie asks how well we really know the person we love, the disc confidently answers a far easier question: this is a reference-quality 4K transfer that treats the source material with the respect it deserves.

AUDIO

A24's presentation of The Drama includes both Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 English audio tracks, and while this isn't the kind of film designed to rattle the walls or give your subwoofer a workout, it's an excellent showcase for subtle, immersive sound design.

Dialogue remains crystal clear throughout, ensuring every awkward confession, uncomfortable silence, and emotionally charged exchange lands exactly as intended. The Atmos mix excels at creating a convincing sense of space, with ambient environmental sounds gently filling the room without ever drawing attention away from the performances.

Rather than relying on bombastic effects, the soundtrack uses restraint to enhance the film's intimate tone, making the listening experience feel natural and enveloping.

It's a polished, nuanced mix that serves the story perfectly and proves that great surround sound isn't always about how loud it can get.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • See beow for details

Special Features:

  • Commentary with Costume Designer Katina Danabassis, Production Designer Zosia Mackenzie and Co-Editor Joshua Raymond Lee
  • Unpacking The Drama
  • Wardrobe and Camera Test with Commentary by Katina Danabassis
  • Relationship Hotline Promo
  • Charlie and Emma Wedding Video

4k rating divider

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  5/5 stars
  Audio 4/5 stars
  Extras 4/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

4/5 stars

 Art

The Drama (2026)