Meanwhile, some great news for A24: “The Drama” has legs. The Zendaya- and Robert Pattinson-starring vehicle just surpassed the $100M mark at the global box office. The budget was only $25M.
That’s what you call exceeding expectations, especially since reviews for the film weren’t all-out raves — they were mostly good, but nothing that would indicate these kinds of legs. The plot twist and the sheer cringe nature of “The Drama” — watching this film with a packed audience is fun — seem to be what’s driving the buzz.
“The Drama” is now only the fifth A24 movie to surpass the $100M mark at the box office. It’s only recently that the indie studio started increasing its budgets, which has resulted in hits (“Marty Supreme”) and misses (“The Smashing Machine”). Their next big swing will be the $100M+-costing “Elden Ring”; also upcoming is an equally pricey “Death Stranding” adaptation, directed by Michael Sarnoski.
Last year, A24 had a $3.5 billion valuation, and reports indicated that it was pushing to expand beyond its traditional low-budget auteur model into bigger, more commercial projects. Historically, A24 thrived on modest $15–20M films that delivered decent profits and helped build brand prestige.
To justify its valuation, the company is now leaning into higher-budget movies and broader audience appeal — such as with “Elden Ring” and “Death Stranding.” More enticingly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they lean hard into mid-budget fare — a “lost” category that Hollywood has largely shifted toward streaming.
Of course, this pivot into “blockbuster” territory is a risk. Some skeptics believe moving too far toward the mainstream could dilute A24’s distinctive brand. However, “The Drama” proves that they don’t necessarily have to veer too far toward IP to make a lot of money — they just need to make movies that build buzz, get people talking, and can do so without sacrificing artistry.
HIGHEST GROSSING A24 MOVIES
1) Marty Supreme - $180M
2) Everything Everywhere All at Once - $145M
3) Civil War - $127M
4) Materialists - $106M
5) The Drama - $100M
6) Talk to Me - $91M
7) Hereditary - $81M
8) Lady Bird - $80M
9) Moonlight - $65M
10) Babygirl - $64M
Malkovich, a two-time Oscar nominee, fought back tears while the audience cheered him, which has become a first-stop tradition to kick-start an Oscar campaign — tears need to be shed!