The 25 Best Drama Movies to, Ya Know, Raise Your Blood Pressure Even More
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I think we can all agree that 2022 has been ex-treme-ly dramatic...and it's only February. Honestly, there are enough plot lines coming out of this year for about 1,000 different intense film scripts, so really it's only fitting that it has also a good time to stream a great drama movie.
From movies based on IRL murders for my true-crime junkies to psychological thrillers for people who like to get their stomachs tied in a knot, plus a few (much lighter) romantic dramas, there's a movie for everyone on this list—yeah, even if you're still quarantining with your S.O.'s family who can never agree on what to watch. So the next time you need a break from doom-scrolling and want to distract yourself with on-screen drama for 90 minutes instead, consider throwing on one of the best drama movies, below.
Parasite
Can you tell what this is about based on the trailer? No. You can't! But it's a worthwhile drama to stream ASAP anyway, because what seems like a straightforward con artist movie evolves and each twist and turn will have your heart racing.
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Knives Out
If whodunnits are more your speed, Knives Out is the gift that keeps giving. When a detective investigates the death of a wealthy older patriarch (who is also a bestselling mystery writer himself, ofc), a straightforward story gets more and more complicated... Also worth noting? Chris Evans's iconic cream sweater.
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Lady Bird
Few movies do "coming of age drama" as spot-on as Lady Bird, and while that'll have you cringing at times, it'll also have you thinking deeply about the old teenage drama in your own life.
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Moonlight
If there were ever a movie that somehow feels like a poem, it's Moonlight. This Oscar-winning Barry Jenkins masterpiece follows a young Black protagonist's journey into adulthood, and it will stay with you long after the credits roll.
The Assistant
This movie follows a day in the life of assistant (and aspiring film producer) Jane. Her job seems like a dream at first, but she slowly grows more and more aware of the abuse going on around her. If you followed every disturbing detail of the Harvey Weinstein case, you'll be into this movie.
Babyteeth
When terminally ill Milla falls for a smalltime drug dealer, her parents are horrified. But what seems like a disaster turns out to be the best thing that could have happened, and a serious lesson in finding happiness in the chaos of life. Catch up on our full review of Babyteeth here.
Bad Education
The fact that Allison Janey and Hugh Jackman co-star in this true-crime-inspired drama should be reason enough for you to hit play. A Long Island school district is about to be the country's most sought-after spot—meaning record college admissions and sky-high property values—which is great...until an embezzlement scandal threatens to take it all away.
Da 5 Bloods
In Spike Lee's masterpiece, four Black vets return to Vietnam, searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (played by Chadwick Boseman) and buried treasure, of course. Clear your schedule though, 'cause this film runs over two-and-a-half hours.
Emma
This remake of the classic Jane Austen novel is visually stunning, and obviously the story is fantastic, too. Watching Emma Woodhouse spend her time meddling, er, "matchmakin" her friends and family is delightfully campy—plus, there's Mr. Knightley's massive sideburns.
First Cow
When a cook travels west and joins a group of fur trappers, he connects with a Chinese immigrant looking for fortune. They hatch a plan to launch a successful business, which sounds great in theory except it relies on the unauthorized use of a wealthy landowner's prized milking cow.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
When Autumn finds herself unexpectedly pregnant without any support at home, she and her best friend embark on a journey across state lines to New York City.
Shirley
Elizabeth Moss plays horror writer Shirley Jackson. The author is right on the brink of her next masterpiece when she and her husband decide to take in a newlywed couple for some inspiration. Dun dun dunnnnnnnn.
Swallow
This psychological thriller will leave your skin crawling. Newly pregnant housewife Hunter seems to have it all, including a smokin' hot husband. But as domestic pressure mounts, she begins to crack, developing a condition that causes her to compulsively swallow inedible objects. Yeah, your stomach will definitely be in knots during this one. Read our full review of Swallow here.
Lost Girls
Based on a book by the same name, this movie tells the true story of a unsolved serial killer on Long Island and how the determined mother of one of the victims pushed the police to search for her missing daughter, leading to the discovery of several other murdered sex workers.
The Whistlers
A police inspector is also secretly working with the mob. He takes a trip to the Canary Islands to learn an ancient whistling language—which is exactly what he needs to pull off his next heist.
Young Ahmed
Thirteen-year-old Ahmed, who lives in Belgium, is stuck between his imam's beliefs and the temptations of life. He starts to embrace an extremist interpretation of the Quran and hatches a plan to kill his teacher.
I Still Believe
Whether or not you're a fan of real-life Christian music star Jeremy Camp, you'll DEFINITELY be a fan of watching Riverdale's KJ Apa portray him in this romantic drama.
The Way Back
High school basketball superstar Jack (Ben Affleck, ever heard of him?) walks away from the sport for reasons unknown to anyone else. Cut to a few years later and he's developed an alcohol problem and is stuck at a meaningless job. When an offer comes along to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, he realizes it's his chance to change everything.
Beanpole
It's 1945 Leningrad, and the city was destroyed by a World War II siege. Two young women, Iya and Masha, set out to try to rebuild their lives among the ruins.
Capone
A hauntingly good movie about the final days of notorious mobster Al Capone has he dealt with dementia. Prepare to relive some of the darker moments of his life through painfully tortured memories. Tom Hardy doesn't disappoint.
Sorry We Missed You
The 2008 financial crash was devastating for way too many people, including Ricky and his family. When an opportunity to start his own delivery-driver franchise comes, he takes it, but when he and his wife are pulled in different directions, their family reaches a breaking point.
The Photograph
After Mae's estranged famous photographer mother dies, she's left angry and full of questions. That is, until she finds an old photo in a safety deposit box that sets her on a journey to discover her mother's early life *and* leads to a passionate romance with an up-and-coming journalist along the way. Warning: Cosmo cover star Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield's chemistry may require you to take a cold shower as soon as the movie is over.
The Invisible Man
After Cecilia's (Elisabeth Moss) abusive ex stages his own suicide, he uses his creepy tech-y skills to turn himself invisible and terrorize her. She tries to report him but the police don't believe her, so she has to take matters into her own hands.
Tigertail
A Taiwanese factory worker fulfills his dream of moving to America, but years of hard work and a loveless, arranged marriage turn the once free-spirited young man into a shell of his former self. Worried that he will spend the rest of his life in solitude, he tries to reconnect with his past.
Promising Young Woman
After a tragic event throws Cassie's once bright future off track, it seems like she's resigned herself to a new life of living with her parents and working at a coffee shop. The thing is...at night, she's secretly seeking revenge on those who wronged her.
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