To say 2026 is set to be Robert Pattinson and Zendaya’s year would be an understatement.

“The Drama,” directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, is one of three major releases this year featuring both actors – the others being “The Odyssey,” directed by Christoper Nolan, and “Dune: Part Three,” directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Unlike those films, however, “The Drama” is not a blockbuster epic with an ensemble cast and a marquee director. Rather, it is a relatively low-budget indie project produced by A24 and only Borgli’s fourth feature film.

The movie follows a young couple, Charlie and Emma (played by Pattinson and Zendaya respectively) who, in the days leading up to their wedding, find themselves engulfed in a series of increasingly stressful and dramatic events.

After getting drunk at their pre-wedding wine tasting, Emma reveals a shocking secret from her past to Charlie and their two closest friends. The confession causes immediate strife, destroying her friendship with her maid of honor Rachel, played by Alana Haim, who delivers an incredible supporting performance in the film. Furthermore, the revelation shakes Emma and Charlie’s relationship to its core, forcing them to confront both their past and their future as husband and wife.

As Charlie struggles to come to grips with what he has learned about Emma, he seeks advice. Everyone he consults with urges him to call off the wedding and end the relationship. He considers it, but ultimately remains determined to stay, attempting to convince himself she is still the same person he fell in love with despite her past.

In the process, some unfortunate – albeit hilarious – events unfold, including Charlie and Emma confronting their wedding DJ after inadvertently spotting her using heroin in the street.

The film’s pacing is impressive, with carefully placed flashbacks providing context and each day leading up to the wedding feeling monumental. However, Borgli’s patience in setting up the wedding – which is no doubt the film’s climax – combined with the less-than-two-hour runtime does lead to the final sequence feeling somewhat rushed.

Pattinson and Zendaya each deliver entertaining performances, though some critics say the chemistry between the two feels off. Tim Robey, a film critic for The Telegraph, even went so far as to call it “a match made in hell.”

But while “The Drama” isn’t a tale of star-crossed lovers swooning over one another, it is perhaps, in its own distinct and A24-ish way, a more realistic portrayal of modern romance. The film focuses less on the emotional idealism of love and more on the logistics of it – something that will likely resonate with younger audiences.

The film’s core themes – trauma, acceptance and forgiveness – all lie at the heart of what it means to love someone. Still, the biggest takeaway from “The Drama” may be even simpler: Wedding planning is not for the weak.

“The Drama” is out now and available to watch in theaters.