The cinematic pairing of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson has proven to be box office gold. Their new film, the romantic thriller The Drama, has officially entered the rarefied air of A24's all-time domestic box office Top 10. The film's strong second-weekend performance pushed its North American total past the $30 million mark, securing its place among the indie studio's most successful commercial releases.
A Major Milestone for A24
This achievement underscores A24's growing prowess in the mid-budget film arena. Once known primarily for daring arthouse fare, the distributor has steadily built a reputation for films that blend critical acclaim with substantial audience appeal. The Drama joins recent A24 successes like Civil War and the studio's current all-time champion, Marty Supreme, which have demonstrated that thoughtful, adult-oriented stories can still draw crowds to theaters.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama centers on a couple, played by Zendaya and Pattinson, whose engagement is thrown into chaos by a shocking pre-wedding confession. The film mixes tense romantic drama with darkly comedic and cringe-inducing moments, tackling themes of modern relationships and social performance. Its provocative plot has sparked significant online debate, echoing the cultural conversations generated by other A24 hits like Past Lives and Materialists.
By the Numbers: A Box Office Breakdown
With $30 million earned domestically and $65 million globally, The Drama has now surpassed the $28 million total of Babygirl on A24's domestic charts. Its current position places it just behind other studio standouts like The Iron Claw ($35M) and Materialists ($36M). Topping the list are behemoths like Everything Everywhere All at Once ($77M) and Marty Supreme ($96M). This financial success is particularly notable given the film's reported production budget of $28 million, showcasing a very healthy return on investment.
The film's performance is a testament to its dual appeal. It holds a solid 77% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, paired with an even stronger 80% audience score. This suggests the film's blend of star power and provocative storytelling has resonated widely. The cast, which also includes Alana Haim and Mamadou Athie, has received particular praise for navigating the film's tricky tonal shifts.
Star Power and Future Projects
For Zendaya, this box office win adds to an already monumental year. The actress recently returned to screens in the latest season of the hit HBO series Euphoria, and she has a packed slate ahead, including roles in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the anticipated Dune: Part Three. Robert Pattinson continues to balance major franchise work with intriguing indie projects like this one, solidifying his status as a versatile leading man.
The success of The Drama is part of a larger trend of audience-driven hits finding their footing. Similar to how 'The Cleaning Lady' found new life on Netflix, or how 'Project Hail Mary' earned a special IMAX encore, it shows that compelling stories with strong execution can break through. It also stands in contrast to the high-stakes gamble of tentpole films, a topic explored in our look at Hollywood's biggest box office bombs.
As A24 continues to carve out its unique space in Hollywood, The Drama serves as a perfect case study: a film with artistic ambition, major stars, and a subject matter that gets people talking, all while achieving commercial success. Its entry into the studio's Top 10 is a clear signal that this model is working, promising more ambitious mid-budget films for audiences eager for something beyond the standard blockbuster.
