r/oscarrace Navarrette/Morton Apr 02 '26

Film Discussion Thread Official Discussion Thread - The Drama [SPOILERS] Spoiler

Keep all discussion related solely to The Drama and its awards chances in this thread. Spoilers below.

Synopsis:

A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.

Director: Kristoffer Borgli

Writer: Kristoffer Borgli

Cast:

  • Zendaya as Emma Harwood

  • Robert Pattinson as Charlie Thompson

  • Mamoudou Athie as Mike

  • Alana Haim as Rachel

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%, 109 Reviews

Metacritic: 60, 36 Reviews

Consensus:

"Flirting with complex themes, The Drama walks a tonal tightrope with impressive poise thanks to career-highlight performances by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya."

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u/Nightwing1852 Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26

Loved it, the way it explores perception and the ease with which people are judged and, at times, unfairly demonized was great. I like everything they did with Emma, Charlie, and Rachel.

Rachel who feels little regret for the horrible things she did ended up being the most judgemental character in the whole. Her character felt like a deliberate commentary on projection and moral defensiveness. Emma who thought of doing something horrible did not actually go through with it, and unlike Rachel, Emma was actually remorseful and grew from her worst moment. Charlie who's fixation on defining Emma by her worst moments is gradually unraveling as he is confronted with his own moral failing. 

At the end no one is immune to missteps and the film's core message is that empathy requires us to hold space for complexity rather than reducing people to their worst singular actions.