Spoilers ahead for The Drama.
Zendaya has had a big year in movies in 2026, including the recent release of both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But she had another big movie earlier this year with Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama. I finally was able to stream the project with my HBO Max subscription, and while the movie's big twist packed an emotional punch, I was shocked by how much I laughed throughout its 105-minute runtime.
The Drama got a big reaction from critics, largely thanks to its subject matter. The movie's titular drama comes just days before the wedding of Charlie and Emma, played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, respectively. At the final tasting of the menu, Emma reveals that she planned a failed school shooting as a young person, to the horror of her fiancé and the maid and man of honor. Gun violence is a sensitive subject, so I didn't expect so many comedic beats to crack me up.
Despite The Subject Matter, The Drama Brings The Laughs
The trailers for The Drama guarded the movie's twist, and I was lucky enough to stream it without the reveal of Emma's secret getting spoiled. I was truly shocked when she revealed the worst thing she'd ever done: planning a school shooting that (thankfully) never happened. There was plenty of disturbing content about her fascination with guns as a young person, but this revelation also served as fodder for a number of hilarious moments as Charlie struggled with the truth just days before their wedding.
Case in point: the scene where the couple meets with their wedding photographer Frances, played by Succession star Zoë Winters. The couple is struggling with Emma's revelation, and are (understandably) triggered when she keeps talking about how she'll "shoot" various members of their families during the nuptials. Zendaya is shown hilariously chugging water, followed by the most delightfully cringeworthy photo shoot ever committed to film.
Some other funny scenes include a montage of Zendaya's laugh, as well as the passive-aggressive speech that maid of honor Rachel (Alan Haim) makes during the wedding, where she not-so-subtly criticizes the bride and groom's character. I also got a kick out of how young Emma kept appearing to Charlie, changing the way he saw their entire relationship.
Gun violence is a terrifying subject for so many of us, and while The Drama was billed as a dark comedy, I didn't expect to laugh so much after learning the big twist. In some ways, it's what makes the movie so remarkable; this serious subject brings both high-stakes drama and comedy. And that's why the film is ultimately one of my favorites of the year.
The Drama is streaming now on HBO Max as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see if folks agree with me, and if it manages to get any attention during Awards Season.
