The Drama (2026)
In writer/director Kristoffer Borgli's new film The Drama, Charlie (Robert Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are a happy couple just a week away from getting married. However, while getting drunk with the best man (Mamadou Athie) and maid of honor (Alana Haim), they play a game where each person reveals the worst thing they've ever done. When Emma takes her turn, everyone at the table is shocked and appalled, leaving Charlie to wonder if he knows the woman he's about to marry at all.
Even though this scene occurs 25-30 minutes into the movie, trailers are not revealing the specifics of Emma's confession, so spoilers will be avoided here. However, the film does pose an interesting question for viewers to chew on: what confession could a loving romantic partner make in an otherwise happy relationship that would be a dealbreaker? The script also touches on the fascinating concept of "moral luck," the idea that whether or not anyone ends up a "good" person owes a lot to chance and situation.
For the film to work, viewers have to care about Charlie and Emma, and both Pattinson and Zendaya are very good here. While some of the comedy is certainly uncomfortable, there are a lot of laughs to be had. A highlight is an extraordinarily awkward photo session the couple endures the morning after Emma's confession.
The Drama manages to go to dark places without being ugly or
misanthropic. It's a humanist movie throughout and is exactly the kind of
adult-oriented film moviegoers should be supporting in theaters.
