The Drama is serving plot twists both on-screen and at the box office.
A24’s bold, R-rated romantic comedy-drama The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, has shocked skeptics by delivering a strong opening despite heavy pre-release controversy. The film earned an estimated $14.4 million domestically in its first weekend (April 3–6, 2026) and an impressive $28 million worldwide in just three days — making it A24’s third-highest opening ever, behind only Civil War and Marty Supreme.
Credit: A24
As of April 13, 2026, The Drama has climbed to $43 million globally on a reported $28 million budget, already turning a profit and proving that star power plus buzzy (even divisive) material can still drive audiences to theaters.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama follows a couple whose wedding plans implode after one partner drops a shocking, painfully honest revelation during the rehearsal dinner. The film’s first-act twist — involving themes of trauma, school shootings, and emotional honesty — sparked heated online debates weeks before release, with some critics calling it “mishandled” while others praised its raw, uncomfortable honesty.
Credit: A24
That controversy clearly translated into curiosity. Zendaya’s massive fanbase showed up in force, helping the film achieve one of the strongest opening days in A24 history on its discounted Tuesday. Early word-of-mouth has been mixed but passionate — exactly the kind of conversation starter A24 loves.
At the domestic box office this past weekend, The Drama held in third place with $8.7 million (a solid 29–44% hold depending on the day), while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continued dominating at No. 1 and Project Hail Mary stayed strong at No. 2.
Credit: A24
This performance is a major win for original, mid-budget adult comedies in 2026. It also strengthens the argument that Zendaya is becoming a true theatrical movie star — capable of opening films without relying on franchises like Dune or Spider-Man. Her upcoming reunion with Pattinson in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey just got even more intriguing.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson just proved controversial movies can still win at the box office — but was The Drama worth the hype for you? Drop your review (no spoilers!) in the comments below 👇 Will you see it this week?
Watch The Trailer Here:
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