Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark wedding comedy is radiantly unsettling; sex, guns.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Drama
What's the Story?
In THE DRAMA, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) are happily in love and preparing for their wedding, which is just one week away. While finalizing the dinner menu with their best man, Mike (Mamoudou Athie), and maid of honor, Rachel (Alana Haim), and sampling too much of the wedding venue's wine, the friends introduce a test of unconditional love: Reveal the worst thing they've ever done. When some deeply unexpected answers are given, Emma and Charlie must decide whether you marry someone for the person they are today or who they were in the past.
Is It Any Good?
Playing a groom who gets the coldest of feet when his emotionally warm relationship suddenly lands on thin ice, Pattinson proves he's one of the best actors of his generation. The situation that sparks instant doubt in The Drama stems from a jaw-dropping confession, and writer-director Kristoffer Borgi deftly pulls every emotional reaction from Pattinson while putting his character, Charlie, through a Newton's cradle of comedic and dramatic extremes. The subject matter is sensitive, and it's handled with alarm and empathy, transforming wedding-day jitters into pointed social commentary.
The movie's plot nudges couples to question how well they really know each other—let's just say, the conversation afterward should be revealing. For older teens, though, it helps emphasize the importance of kindness and inclusion, as well as social media's dangerous ability to glamorize dark and disturbing behavior, especially for vulnerable young people whose sense of judgment isn't yet fully developed. The Drama is a rare film that makes you laugh, gasp, and rethink the way we treat each other—and it lingers in a way that just might last a lifetime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their thoughts on whether we should be judged for who we were in the past or who we are today. If you were in love with any of the four characters in The Drama, would their "reveal" stop you from saying "I do"?
How did the movie's violent images make you feel? Do you think entertainment, the media, and/or social media glamorize violence or help suggest violent fantasies to people who are at risk?
What does "unconditional love" mean to you? What do you think makes for a successful marriage? What boundaries do you think should exist around romantic commitment?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 3, 2026
- Cast : Zendaya , Robert Pattinson , Alana Haim , Mamoudou Athie
- Director : Kristoffer Borgli
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : A24
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, some violent/bloody images, language throughout, and brief drug use
- Last updated : April 9, 2026
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