RPAU ROUNDUP: Critics Reviews for Robert Pattinson’s Performance in The Drama *Updated 1 April 2026*
As usual, I will be setting out critics’ reviews of Rob’s performance in The Drama (and sometimes generalisations of cast). The first lot are since the embargo has been lifted post the LA and Rome premieres. I am expecting a LOT of reviews so I will be updating this post regularly. Latest reviews will be added to the top of each section.
The Sweet
1 April 2026
ABC (Aust): Pattinson, in particular, has never been better, mining all his freaky little eccentricities — not to mention his reputation as acting’s most notorious fabulist — for a memorable dramatic turn.
Rendy Reviews: Robert Pattinson continues to prove himself as a chameleon personified, slithering perfectly into Charlie’s patheticness – so slimy, loser-like, funny to watch, and, as is typical with Borgli’s writing, frustrating enough to feel real. Still, R. Patz is one of the best character actors alive and we really are not giving him enough flowers.
The Australian: Pattinson, … is Charlie, a bespectacled, mild-mannered art curator, convincingly unravelling in the aftershocks of his fiancee’s grim revelation. (Nikki Gemmell did not like the film 1/5)
Stephen Silver: The leads are both excellent, with Pattinson, one of the more handsome men in movies, playing something of a dork. There are at least a couple of scenes where Pattinson does things that Larry David would do on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Flickering Myth: Sold through stellar performances from all involved, these mixed emotions are also visualized in Kristoffer Borgli’s striking direction … (3.5/5)
Comingsoon.net: Pattinson, meanwhile, plays Charlie with a controlled unease, capturing the slow erosion of trust with remarkable subtlety. (8/10)
DC Film Girl: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson give two of the most memorable performances of the year in a film about toxic love, trust, forgiveness and all around unhinged craziness! (4.5/5 – Video review – no spoilers)
Boston.com: Pattinson is brilliant as Charlie, slowly morphing from a nebbish, bespectacled expat into a caged animal, pacing up and down the couple’s opulent multi-level Back Bay apartment. (3/4)
The Cinematic Reel: Anchored by two compelling performances and a premise that sparks conversation long after the credits roll, Borgli delivers a film that may divide audiences, but never feels disposable. (3/5)
IGN Movies: The film’s main event, however, is Pattinson at his idiosyncratic, pathetic best … (9/10)
Punch Drunk Critics: And Pattinson, who isn’t someone I necessarily think of as funny, portrays Charlie’s descent into madness with flair and impressive physical comedy. Zendaya and Pattinson have incredible chemistry and keep this film together … (3/5)
Exclaim!: As Charlie, Pattinson’s proven skills as an actor mixed with his trademark weird-yet-affable demeanour serves him well in forming the character with substance, complexity and goofy absurdity. (8/10)
The Film Verdict: Pattinson allows us to see both the cleverness and caddishness of Charlie …
Mamma’s Geeky: That said, this is arguably Robert Pattinson’s show. He takes the front seat here, delivering what I believe is the performance of his career.
Geeks of Colour: Pattinson and Zendaya complement each other like peanut butter and jelly, sharing the energy rather than competing for it. They’re comfortable with each other to a point where you forget they’re acting. Emma behaves the way Zendaya acts in interviews, and the same goes for Pattinson’s performance as Charlie. Their chemistry is so great, and Borgli’s writing is so natural that it feels unscripted. (10/10)
Reeling Reviews: Pattinson, in particular, is very good here … (C+ did not like the film)
JoBlo Movie Network: Pattinson’s nebbish character, who is so used to pseudo-intellectualizing things that when something real happens, he can’t deal with it. It’s a great performance, with him also quite funny at times as he gets more unhinged as the movie goes along—while also never really losing your sympathy.
31 March 2026
HeyUGuys: “Performance-wise, [The Drama] is exceptional. … Pattinson is magnetic in his ambiguity and quiet devastation, never overplaying his hand, but keeping you guessing throughout.” 5 stars
Variety: Pattinson gives one of the twitchiest performances in the history of twitchy performances”. *SPOILER ALERT*
Deadline: “As for the stars they could not be better, especially Pattinson who shows levels of vulnerability I have not noticed before. His journey into the dark side with his financee is pitch perfect as a guy who slowly learns he has been hit with a left hook.”
Switch (AU): Zendaya and Pattinson are absolutely phenomenal in ‘The Drama’ – not only is their chemistry delicious when the film gets wild, but they also perfectly deliver all the crazy directions the story takes … a deliciously twisted dark comedy that keeps levelling up in the most gloriously unhinged way. Go in knowing as little as possible. Trust us. ★★★★
IndieWire: Pattinson — so good as an indifferently handsome coward who’s never been at odds with his self-image before *SPOILER ALERT*
MammaMia (Aust): So much of the success of The Drama hinges on the stand our performances of Pattinson and Zendaya, who are truly magnetic to watch on screen together.
Empire: Zendaya and Pattinson both thrive in this environment, relishing the kind of dialogue exchanges you want to watch through your fingers.
ScreenDaily: Pattinson adroitly depicts Charlie’s growing doubt and confusion …Zendaya and Pattinson’s chemistry keeps the picture’s compelling ideas afloat.
USAToday: Both leads turn in strong performances…Pattinson is like a manic roller coaster on screen, increasingly off the rails as the weight of Emma’s reveal has Charlie questioning everything and reacting badly to the situation. (3/4)
FreshFictionTV: Pattinson, who’s one of the most versatile actors of our era, delivers terrific work as a guy caught between a rock and a hard place. He pulls inspiration from leading men in classic Hollywood farces (e.g. Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) as if he’s performing in a Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder or George Cukor film. He’s perfectly squirrely, neurotic and awkward while at the same time exercising complete control. It’s a joy to see his crash-outs.
Screenrant: Zendaya and Pattinson’s chemistry is instantaneous, as is our investment in their characters’ bond. (9/10)
Mashable: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are well-matched in The Drama.
Awards Radar: Robert Pattinson is having a good time playing a meek man, though the script doesn’t add much in the way of layering to that, especially as he starts making absurd decisions in the back half of the movie. Their happier moments feature some excellent rom com style chemistry, while their awkward and strained ones find the cringe comedy in it all. (2.5/4)
Collider: Borgli has two incredible leads in Pattinson and Zendaya. … Robert Pattinson and Zendaya Are Excellent in This Complicated Love Story. (8/10)
Celebrity (Nine – Aust): It’s easy to see why this duo is cast in three films together this year; their chemistry is believable for every second. It never feels dull or forced. Even though Zendaya nails the awkward ambiguity of her character, it’s Pattinson whose the standout. He delivers a flawlessly neurotic performance as a man questioning everything about his world just a few days before the most important day in his life thus far.
SlashFilm: Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are perfectly cast, with each getting to play to their strengths. … At first, Charlie seems like a change of pace for him, the character appearing to be buttoned up and dull. After Emma’s revelation, however, Pattinson begins pulling at Charlie’s threads so hard that he becomes hilariously unhinged, a transformation that Borgli is all too happy to chronicle. (8/10)
The Wrap: Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are some of the most versatile actors of this generation, and the opportunity to gorge themselves on this much outer and inner conflict was too tempting to pass up. They devour “The Drama” in little nibbles and gigantic bites. There’s subtlety in their work and, for Pattinson in particular, also a few exaggerated, yet well-earned outbursts.
The Mary Sue: Both Zendaya and Pattinson strike a perfect balance between a loving couple you want to see figure it out and the right amount of tension that makes The Drama a fascinating watch.
The Independent: Robert Pattinson and Zendaya excel … (4/5)
MovieWeb: The Drama has superb character development. Pattinson once again proves his dexterity as an actor, presenting Charlie as an abstract thinker to a fault. (4/5)
High On Films: it’s Pattinson who steals the film with a bumbling, befuddled performance.
AV Club: Zendaya and Pattinson transmit intense chemistry (both romantic and manic) in their own right, but they also fulfill the two halves of Borgli’s cultural allegiances—particularly as Pattinson embodies Charlie with strikingly unaffected British accent and mannerisms.
Metro UK: tellar performances from both Zendaya and Pattinson help pull off the challenging balance of The Drama, with both actors expertly juggling the (bizarre) light and (darkest of) shade with their absurd situation in a way that – remarkably – rings completely true. (4/5)
RIOTUS: Pattinson’s Charlie is absolutely pathological and often pathetic, and yet in some ways you’ll sympathize with his attempts to reconcile his love with his fears.
WBUR: Pattinson has blossomed into the kind of mischievous character actor who can usually be counted on to have the silliest voice in a movie. (I mean this as a compliment.) But “The Drama” calls upon a different set of skills, positioning him as a conventionally handsome leading man and then watching him implode. It’s an incredibly witty and precise performance, collapsing in intervals from scene to scene as his tousle-headed appeal veers into dishevelment and hysteria.
Digital Spy: A large part of its success is down to Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, whose performances keep you engaged. You couldn’t think of a better actor than Pattinson to play the “weird little British freak” as Charlie is lovingly called …(3/5)
The Weekend Warrior: The Drama is the darkest of comedies, elevated by a thought-provoking script and a cast compelling enough to keep the viewer invested despite what might have been an off-putting subject matter. (7.5/10)
Awards Watch: Pattinson is fantastic as Charlie, delivering what is possibly a career-best performance that highlights his strongest traits as an actor. He balances perfectly on the film’s tonal tightrope, creating a character who is simultaneously a swoon-worthy romantic lead, a sharp physical comedian, and a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
ZoomTV Entertainment: Robert Pattinson brings a sense of warmth to his role and delivers a compelling performance as Charlie. The actor’s reactions, particularly in emotionally charged scenes, come across as genuine and believable. (3.5/5)
ComicBookResources: Pattinson, coming off another portrait of romantic dysfunction in Die, My Love, is excellent as Charlie.
Matt Neglia Letterboxd: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play off each other so well, generating crackling chemistry while balancing cringe-inducing comedy with open-hearted sincerity in every facet of their emotionally demanding performances.
Next Best Picture: the film would not be nearly as strong without Zendaya and Pattinson delivering these complex performances. Pattinson embodies Charlie’s quirkiness and neurosis with such ease that it seems the role was written specifically for his unconsolidated energy.
And Sour
1 April 2026
Associated Press: the on-screen chemistry between Pattinson and Zendaya is more sibling-like … (1/4)
Solzy at the Movies: I wouldn’t be surprised to learn how many Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, or Alana Haim fans bought tickets, only to discover what the film is really about. I personally should have walked out the moment the film lost me. Because once it did, there was no going back. [Note: Pretty sure none of the fans referred to above will walk into this film blind expecting a rom-com] (0.5/5)
The Daily Beast: Despite their natural charisma, Pattinson and Zendaya share no believable couple-in-love chemistry, nor much distinctive character, save for Charlie being somewhat squirrely …
31 March 2026
Roger Ebert: Most glaringly, “The Drama” has zero bite when it comes to Charlie. Pattinson is so good at playing wretched, often emotionally arrested men that he can pretty much add depth to any one-note variation of that form. … [Charlie] lacks a coherent emotional journey. (1.5/4) [May contain spoilers]
No appearances scheduled
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