The “Twist” That Sparked a National Debate
Released last week, A24’s “The Drama”—starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson—opened to strong box office numbers and critical acclaim. However, the film is now mired in controversy over a central plot point that was carefully hidden from all promotional materials.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the movie follows a young couple on the verge of marriage. The “drama” begins when a dark secret from the bride-to-be’s (Zendaya) past surfaces: as a teenager, she planned and nearly executed a school shooting.
The Backlash: Survivors Speak Out
The revelation has sparked outrage among survivors of gun violence and advocacy groups, who accuse the filmmakers of exploiting real-world tragedies for “shock value.”
March For Our Lives: The advocacy group released a statement criticizing the film’s marketing as “deeply misaligned with reality,” stating they expected better from A24 and the high-profile stars involved.
Mia Tretta (Saugus High School shooting survivor): Speaking to USA Today, Tretta argued that the film’s title itself—The Drama—trivials mass violence. “A school shooting is not girls gossiping… it’s real people’s nightmares,” she stated, calling the plot a “gimmick.”
Jackie Corin (Parkland survivor): Corin expressed concern to The Hollywood Reporter that the film “flattens and distorts reality” by using such a sensitive topic as a dramatic device to make the story “palatable.”
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Zendaya and A24’s Stance
Despite the mounting criticism, the film’s creators have defended the narrative choices as a way to spark difficult conversations.
“Everybody has their own kind of feelings leaving the theatre… there’s so many conversations that are had after you watch it. I really hope that people don’t spoil it for each other so they’re allowed to… really experience The Drama.” — Zendaya on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Critics have largely praised the performances, noting that while the subject matter is “uncomfortable and polarizing,” it fits Borgli’s history of provocative, social-critique filmmaking.
Box Office Performance
While the controversy has led to calls for a boycott from some circles, it hasn’t stopped the film from becoming a commercial success. The Drama currently ranks as A24’s third-biggest opening weekend, trailing only Civil War and Marty Supreme. It faced stiff competition at the box office this week, sitting behind the blockbusters Project Hail Mary and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The Core Conflict: Art vs. Exploitation
The debate surrounding The Drama highlights a growing tension between artistic provocation and the ethical responsibility of studios when handling ongoing societal crises. For the survivors speaking out, the issue isn’t that the subject is “taboo,” but that using a near-atrocity as a “wedding-day secret” twist diminishes the gravity of the lived experience of hundreds of thousands of students.