The Drama’s Opening Weekend Breaks Zendaya’s 8-Year Box Office Hot Streak

The Drama has caused some box office turmoil with its debut projections.

Kristoffer Borgli, the director of Dream Scenario, and Ari Aster, who produced Hereditary, are teaming up for a new A24 film called The Drama, set to release in 2026. The dark romantic comedy stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, a couple whose relationship is tested when Emma shares a shocking secret. The cast also includes Alana Haim (known for Licorice Pizza), Mamoudou Athie (Elemental), Hailey Gates (Marty Supreme), and Zoë Winters (Succession).

According to Deadline, The Drama is expected to make $14 million at the box office this weekend, landing it at No. 3. It’s trailing behind Project Hail Mary, which is in its third week and at No. 2, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is predicted to have a record-breaking opening at No. 1.

Zendaya’s new movie, The Drama, opened at number three in theaters, marking the first time one of her films hasn’t debuted at number one since Smallfoot came in second place in September 2018. Before this, her last six theatrical releases – including Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), Dune, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and 2024’s Dune: Part Two and Challengers – all opened at the top of the box office.

After a somewhat disappointing opening weekend, it’s unclear whether the movie will earn back its $28 million production budget – it likely needs to make around $70 million to break even. However, several things are working in its favor. Critics have generally liked the film, giving it a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. Initial international sales are also promising, with the movie expected to earn around $25 million worldwide in its first week. This is a better start than the opening weekend for A24’s upcoming romance, Materialists.

The recent film starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal opened with only $11.3 million but ultimately earned $107.9 million worldwide. If the new movie, The Drama, performs as well, it’s likely to become profitable quickly, even before it leaves theaters.

More to come…

Like ScreenRant’s box office reports? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for exclusive insights, predictions, and analysis – just be sure to select “Box Office” in your email preferences!

Read More

2026-04-04 19:19