By Mashable | Created at 2026-07-31 09:31:05 | Updated at 2026-08-03 09:22:46
3 days ago
Prepare for an uncomfortable at-home movie night, courtesy of A24.
By
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
on July 31, 2026
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Credit: A24
Table of Contents
The Drama has been stirring up drama online since a teaser dropped back in December. A24's dark comedy about a wedding gone awry stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson and promises an unexpected twist. If you've managed to steer clear of spoilers thus far, this isn't your typical "cold feet" romantic comedy. It's darker and heavier.
The best ways to watch 'The Drama' at home:
Best non-streaming option
Best non-streaming option 2
Best way to watch for free
Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month)
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama makes you question whether you really know the person you're about to marry. It's done surprisingly well at the theaters, besting Zendaya's 2024 hit Challengers. If you missed it or can't wait to watch it again, here's everything you need to know to watch the actual drama unfold from your couch.
What is The Drama about?
The Drama follows Boston couple Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) as they prepare for their wedding. At a food-and-wine tasting event, along with their best friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie), they play a game where each person confesses the worst thing they've ever done. While it's all in good fun at first, the game takes a dark turn when Emma admits her truth. Her confession throws the whole wedding and her relationship as a whole into question.
Check out the official trailer for a taste of The Drama:
How to watch The Drama at home
Credit: A24
As of July 31, there are a few different ways you can watch The Drama at home: buy it or rent it via digital-on-demand retailers or stream it. We've broken down the details below.
Buy or rent on digital
The Drama made its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on May 5, 2026. Originally, you could buy the film for your digital library for $24.99 or rent it for $5 less. Now, you can buy or rent it for much less. Note: If you choose the rental option, you'll get access for 30 days, but only 48 hours once you start watching.
Quick links to buy/rent The Drama on digital:
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Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Stream it on HBO Max
A24 recently renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases will exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. Following the same theater-to-streaming schedule as other recently released A24 movies (Marty Supreme, Sorry, Baby, and Bring Her Back), The Drama will make its debut on HBO Max on July 31, 2026.
HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month. However, there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.
The best HBO Max streaming deals
Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions
$109.99 per year (save $21.89)
$184.99 per year (save $36.89)
If you're ready to commit to an HBO Max subscription, the best way to save some money is to opt for the annual plan over the monthly plan. While a monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, you can get a full year for $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to $9.17 (about 16% in savings).
Want to go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, only the Premium option will unlock 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.
Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan
Credit: HBO Max / Cricket
Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan
It may not be the most convenient option, but switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.
Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads
$5.49 per month for 12 months
College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half the price of a normal subscription. Just use UNiDAYS to prove your student status, and you'll receive a unique discount code that'll drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month. Once the initial 12 months are up, the price will jump back to the full cost unless you cancel.
Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off
Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max
$19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads)
The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, remains one of the best deals in streaming. For just $19.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $15 cheaper than paying for each one separately. Prefer an ad-free viewing experience? It'll run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47 for all three. That's up to 42% in savings.
Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $10/month
Credit: Netflix / HBO Max
$10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.98 per month)
If you're a Verizon customer on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) to your plan for only $10 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's essentially like getting one streaming service for free each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.
Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month
Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max
$22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month)
Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action with Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package with Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $30.97 for all three, so you'll save about $8.97 monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
A24's The Drama has drawn in moviegoers around the globe, crossing the $100 million mark. It's only the studio's fifth film to ever hit the century mark in over a dozen years. So far, it's earned a 77 percent critic and 78 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which means people aren't just showing up for the film — they're actually enjoying it.
That being said, The Drama dabbles in some heavy themes and uncomfortable emotions, so it's certainly not for everyone. Whether it's worth a watch is debatable, as always, but one should certainly check trigger warnings before going in.
"Those tired of Hollywood happy endings or whimsical romances might appreciate A24's latest vision of the rocky road to commitment," writes Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Despite its flaws, she cheers on the film's ambiguity, hard-hitting ending, and acting performances.
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.
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