Published Apr 4, 2026, 8:37 PM EDT
Autumn Hawkins is a journalist and editor focusing on trending topics in television and film. Autumn has over five years of experience and has written for broadcast, digital, and print. She has also conducted interviews with actresses Meagan Good and Paige Hurd previously.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's film The Drama is stirring up some drama among its viewers with its unexpected and controversial plot twist.
The Drama is directed by Dream Scenario's Kristoffer Borgli and produced by Hereditary's Ari Aster. It stars Zendaya and Pattinson as an engaged couple (Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson) whose relationship is tested when Emma reveals a dark secret, and in turn, sets their wedding week on fire.
While fans who are familiar with the studio work of A24, which is known for its diverse storytelling and visual elements, many were caught off guard by how the film was marketed to viewers and what they witnessed on screen. The movie poster, which features Zendaya grinning in a wedding dress and Pattinson with a similar expression in a black tuxedo, seemingly ready to exchange vows, made many fans believe that it would be more of a romance film. And, while a dark twist was expected, they weren't ready for the reveal.
In The Drama, Emma and Charlie play a drinking game with their friends. The former reveals that in high school, she was planning a school shooting. She had moved to a new school, and the students did not take too kindly to her, and she was subjected to a lot of bullying. As a result, Emma planned to go to school with her father's gun to seek revenge on her bullies, which she shared in a manifesto.
Thankfully, she did not go through with her plans. However, the reason why she didn't do it had nothing to do with a change of heart or realizing that it was wrong. She decided not to go on a rampage because she didn't want to be overshadowed by another shooting that had happened in town.
Given the state of gun violence happening in schools across the nation, and what fans believed they signed up for when they bought a ticket, many felt misled. In a response to a viral Instagram post discussing the film, many viewers joined the discussion, with many sharing their feelings towards Emma's secret and whether it was in poor taste.
Moviegoers criticized A24's decisions, pointing out the significant amount of gun violence the country has suffered. Several users on Instagram also brought up how they have experienced personal loss due to shootings. Others also noted how the trailers for The Drama did not give any warning that gun violence would be such a big part of the film, saying that had they known, they never would have watched it. One user stated, "The marketing made us sick when we found out the plot twist."
While many felt blindsided by the film, some fans came to defend it. One fan didn't agree with how some fans believed that it was marketed as a romantic comedy. And, giving away Emma's secret in the trailer wouldn't have been an effective way to advertise a film, as the studio would want to avoid spoilers. A viewer also brought up how previews of The Drama did heavily imply that its protagonist did something very awful, commenting, "The marketing clearly alluded to her doing something that could be deemed unforgivable."
Since it is only the opening weekend of the film, there hasn't been a response from either Pattinson or Zendaya regarding the controversy. However, with the level of backlash it has received, a message from their representatives or A24 might be on the way.
The Drama is playing in theaters now.
Release Date April 3, 2026
Runtime 105 minutes
Director Kristoffer Borgli
Writers Kristoffer Borgli
English (US) ·