Zendaya’s Latest Film Just Pulled Off What Challengers Couldn’t
Zendaya’s latest A24 romance has surged past $100 million worldwide—a milestone that eluded Challengers—becoming the studio’s fifth nine-figure hit and extending her box office hot streak.
So, Zendaya has hit another box office milestone, and this time, it’s with a movie that isn’t exactly your typical swoon-fest romance. The film, 'The Drama,' just pulled in over $100 million worldwide—something even her tennis love triangle flick 'Challengers' couldn’t manage. Let’s break down what’s going on here, and why this movie deserves a spot on A24’s short list of financial heavy-hitters.
Big Numbers, Big Company
'The Drama' is now officially a $100 million movie globally, putting it in the rarefied company of only four other A24 releases that have crossed that barrier. The last time the studio saw these kinds of numbers was with:
- 'Marty Supreme': $181 million
- 'Everything Everywhere All at Once': $148 million
- 'Civil War': $127 million
- 'The Materialists': $108 million
What’s even more impressive? 'The Drama' just leap-frogged over the final box office total for 'Challengers,' which ended its run at $96.1 million. Talk about one-upping yourself.
Behind the Scenes: Not Your Everyday Romance
This one comes from Kristoffer Borgli, who both wrote and directed. Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, and Tyler Campellone produced it—so you know there’s some serious indie muscle in play. The movie’s budget clocks in at $28 million net, which, by Hollywood standards, is actually pretty tight for anything with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s names attached.
If you’re walking in expecting a formulaic romance, you’re in the wrong theater. The gist: it’s about whether people can really accept the person they fall in love with, or whether the past is always going to haunt things. Slightly existential, totally not a romcom, and apparently exactly what audiences wanted to see.
How 'The Drama' Is Playing to Crowds—and Where
The marketing and Zendaya-Pattinson team-up obviously helped. The film opened with $14.3 million in the US, which matches up pretty closely with the $15 million domestic launch of 'Challengers.' Worldwide, it pulled a solid $28 million right out of the gate. Jump to today: $40 million domestic, $60 million international.
Here’s where things get a little weird, box office-wise:
- In the UK, 'The Drama' had the best opening for any A24 movie ever at $2.8 million, and it’s up to $10.6 million and counting there.
- France gave it the second-biggest launch for the studio with $1.8 million (only 'Marty Supreme' did better, and that’s now at $5.3 million).
- For Italy, the opening was $1.4 million, another second-best for A24 in that country.
Who’s Actually Buying Tickets?
A24 put out some numbers on its audience, and a few things stand out:
- About 60% of ticket buyers are women.
- A whopping 80% are under 35. (So, Gen Z and Millennials are basically keeping this movie afloat.)
- Four out of five people said they specifically came for Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Not shocking, but still: that’s major star power at work.
The Bottom Line
What’s the takeaway? 'The Drama' isn’t just another win for Zendaya—it’s now officially one of A24’s all-time box office champs. And it did it by being weird, a little daring, and way outside the usual romance template. If you’re looking for another reason to keep an eye on whatever Zendaya chooses next, here you go.