AceShowbiz - The weekend box office, dominated by major blockbusters like Project Hail Mary and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, saw a notable entry that aimed to captivate an older, primarily female audience. This film, The Drama, stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple whose upcoming wedding is disrupted by a shocking revelation from the bride-to-be. The unexpected twist has ignited vigorous discussions online, with opinions divided between praise for its satirical edge and criticism for perceived poor taste. Despite the controversy, the buzz appears to have positively influenced the film’s commercial performance during its opening weekend.

Project Hail Mary continued its strong showing by grossing over $30 million in its third weekend, pushing its domestic total beyond $200 million. This milestone allowed it to surpass the lifetime domestic earnings of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and featuring Ryan Gosling, the sci-fi film secured the number two position at the box office this weekend.

Meanwhile, the top spot was claimed by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2023 blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which had previously amassed $1.3 billion globally. The sequel, featuring voice talents such as Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Charlie Day, earned approximately $190 million over the extended five-day Easter holiday period.

Coming in third place was The Drama, a dark comedy directed by Kristoffer Borgli. The film opened to mostly positive critical reception, holding a 77% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus highlights that The Drama “flirts with complex themes” and “walks a tonal tightrope with impressive poise,” thanks largely to standout performances by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya. Collider’s Ross Bonaime praised Borgli’s direction, calling it “one of the most excruciatingly uncomfortable and wonderfully honest approaches to a romance story to come around in quite some time.”

The cast also includes Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie, supporting the leads in a narrative that explores the unraveling of assumptions about love and commitment. The Drama earned an estimated $14 million during its opening weekend, which is notable given its reported production budget of $28 million. This figure places it in close proximity to the box office results of Zendaya’s 2024 film Challengers.

In comparison, another A24 release from 2026, We Live in Time, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, grossed roughly $4 million in its first wide-release weekend. The Drama represents the third-largest opening in A24’s history, surpassing the performance of Materialists but trailing behind the openings of Marty Supreme and Civil War. Given these figures, The Drama stands out as a significant achievement for the indie studio, especially amid stiff competition from blockbuster franchises.

The storyline of The Drama centers around an engaged couple, Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson respectively. Their seemingly secure future is shattered when an unexpected event forces them to reexamine their relationship during what should be a celebratory week leading up to their wedding. The film runs for 105 minutes and is written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli. It is produced by Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, and Tyler Campellone under the A24 banner.

The film’s blend of dark humor and emotional depth, combined with its provocative narrative twist, positions it as a unique offering in the current cinematic landscape. While it contends with the massive commercial power of family-friendly franchises, The Drama fills a distinct niche for adult viewers seeking complex, character-driven stories.

As the box office continues to evolve with diverse content options, The Drama exemplifies how independent films can generate meaningful conversations and achieve respectable financial success despite competing against blockbuster giants. Audiences and critics alike will likely continue to dissect the film’s themes and its controversial elements in the coming weeks.

For ongoing coverage and updates on the performance of The Drama and other upcoming releases, stay tuned to Collider, where industry trends and box office analysis remain a key focus.