"The Drama" And The State of Provocateur Cinema

Critical Darlings

This week, we’re confessing the worst thing we’ve ever done with Zendaya and Batman himself with The Drama. The twist premise of A24’s newest hit throws a grenade into the idyllic romance of a beautiful couple in Boston in the days before their wedding. The movie hinges on the question of whether we can really know the people we love, but the premise, the worst thing Zendaya’s character has ever done, is what audiences are talking about. Is it a purposeful provocation or an empty one?


We discuss the movie’s masterful marketing campaign and how it harnesses its premise as an extension of A24’s edgy branding. Beyond the marketing, much of the movie’s success must also be credited to Zendaya’s stardom. We go deep on her career and her big 2026 lineup before digging into director Kristoffer Borgli’s work as a provocateur, and ponder the current state of provocation in Hollywood today, before giving our recommendations for the week.


Next week, we’re off to the English countryside, discussing Mother Mary.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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This week, we’re confessing the worst thing we’ve ever done with Zendaya and Batman himself with The Drama. The twist premise of A24’s newest hit throws a grenade into the idyllic romance of a beautiful couple in Boston in the days before their wedding. The movie hinges on the question of whether we can really know the people we love, but the premise, the worst thing Zendaya’s character has ever done, is what audiences are talking about. Is it a purposeful provocation or an empty one?


We discuss the movie’s masterful marketing campaign and how it harnesses its premise as an extension of A24’s edgy branding. Beyond the marketing, much of the movie’s success must also be credited to Zendaya’s stardom. We go deep on her career and her big 2026 lineup before digging into director Kristoffer Borgli’s work as a provocateur, and ponder the current state of provocation in Hollywood today, before giving our recommendations for the week.


Next week, we’re off to the English countryside, discussing Mother Mary.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2026-04-16 90 min
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