Drama: 385

The American biographical drama film, Mank (2020), directed by David Fincher and based on a screenplay written by his late father Jack Fincher, tells the story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’s development of the screenplay for Citizen Kane. In 1940, RKO grants Orson Welles complete creative control for his next project. Welles enlists Mankiewicz, who is recovering from a car accident in Victorville, California, to write the script while dictating it to his secretary Rita Alexander. However, Alexander ...

We Are Who We Are (2020), co-created and directed by Luca Guadagnino, is a 2020 miniseries on HBO and Sky Atlantic. It’s a coming-of-age drama set on a fictional U.S. military base in Chioggia, Italy in 2016, focusing on two American teens. Through their experiences of friendship, first love and identity, the series captures the thrill and heartache of being a teenager. Although the story could take place anywhere in the world, this specific setting offers a glimpse into this unique American community within Italy. Fraser Wilson and his mothers, Colonel Sarah Wilson and Major ...

The New Pope (2020) is a satirical drama TV series by Paolo Sorrentino for Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+. A continuation of The Young Pope (2016), it was originally announced as the second season. Starring Jude Law and John Malkovich as fictional popes Pius XIII and John Paul III, respectively, it was co-produced by The Apartment Pictures, Wildside, Haut et Court TV, and Mediapro. Despite nine months and multiple unsuccessful heart transplants, Pius XIII remains comatose but has garnered a devoted following who ...

Kitbull (2019) is an animated short and viral video created by Rosana Sullivan, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the third film in Pixar’s SparkShorts program. A feline resides among the trash cans behind a building in San Francisco’s Mission District. While scavenging for food on the streets, the cat is offered a meal by a passerby but quickly flees. It takes shelter in a cardboard box within a rundown building’s garbage heap. Eventually, a friendly pit bull joins the cat in a doghouse behind the building. Despite initially ...

Radioactive (2019) is a British biographical drama film directed by Marjane Satrapi and written by Jack Thorne. Based on the 2010 graphic novel Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by American artist Lauren Redniss, the film follows the life of Marie Curie. After collapsing in her Paris laboratory in 1934, she reflects on her past experiences. Despite facing frequent rejection for funding in 1893 due to her shared attitude with Pierre Curie, Marie ultimately finds solace in their joint ...

Downton Abbey (2019) is a historical drama film written by Julian Fellowes, the series creator and writer of its TV counterpart, and directed by Michael Engler. Produced by Carnival Films and Perfect World Pictures, the movie picks up where the series left off, bringing back much of the original cast. Set in 1927, the Crawleys are thrilled to learn that King George V and Queen Mary plan to visit Downton as part of their royal tour of Yorkshire. Amidst preparations by the servants, Lady Mary feels Barrow, the house butler, is ill-prepared for such an important event and ...

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) is an American biographical drama film directed by Marielle Heller, centered around TV presenter Fred Rogers. In 1998, during an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers showcases a picture board with five doors. Three are opened to reveal familiar faces – Lady Aberlin, King Friday, and Mr. McFeely. The fourth door reveals the face of Lloyd Vogel, a troubled new friend of Mr. Rogers sporting a black eye and cut near his nose. Lloyd has been hurt (though not necessarily on his face) and is struggling to forgive the person who hurt him. After defining ...

Richard Jewell (2019), an American biographical drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood and written by Billy Ray, follows the story of Richard Jewell. In 1986, he starts off as an office supply clerk at the Small Business Administration where he forms a friendship with attorney Watson Bryant. Eventually, he leaves to pursue a career in law enforcement. Although he briefly works as a sheriff’s deputy, he ultimately gets discharged. In early 1996, Jewell takes on a security guard position at Piedmont College but is terminated due to multiple complaints of ...

Directed by John Crowley, the American drama film The Goldfinch (2019) showcases Peter Straughan’s adaptation of Donna Tartt’s 2013 novel of the same name. Following the tragedy at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art where thirteen-year-old Theodore Decker’s mother is killed in a bombing, Theo is urged by a dying man to take a painting—The Goldfinch—and his engraved ring. He is then placed into foster care with the Barbours, the family of his best friend Andy, and forms a close bond with Mrs. ...

The American drama television series, The Morning Show (2019–2024), premiered on Apple TV+ on November 1, 2019. It also aired as Morning Wars in Australia and Indonesia. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, the show is based on Brian Stelter’s book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV. The series delves into the behind-the-scenes world of a network morning news program and explores various perspectives ...

The Tomorrow Man (2019), an American drama written and directed by Noble Jones in his directorial debut, features a star-studded cast including John Lithgow, Blythe Danner, Derek Cecil, Katie Aselton, Sophie Thatcher, and Eve Harlow. Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2019, the film was later released by ...

Bombshell (2019), a film by Jay Roach with screenplay by Charles Randolph, follows the story of Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson in the aftermath of the 2016 Republican debate. Kelly faces backlash from Donald Trump after questioning him about his offensive comments toward women during the debate. Despite receiving death threats and unwanted paparazzi attention, she later reconciles with Trump under pressure from the network. On the other hand, Carlson is removed as co-anchor of Fox & Friends and placed on a less popular show due to rampant sexism both on and off air, ...

Marriage Story (2019), a drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, also produced by David Heyman. The play, helmed by Charlie Barber, successful theater director of Exit Ghost in New York City, stars his wife Nicole who used to be an actress but is now content with not acting. However, their marriage is suffering as they seek mediation and are advised to write down what they appreciate about each other. Despite agreeing to go through the process together, Nicole declines to read her words aloud and they decide to skip counseling altogether. Later, Nicole receives ...

Tommaso (2019) is an internationally co-produced drama written and directed by Abel Ferrara. This compelling film features award-winning actor Willem Dafoe as the main character. Making its debut at the prestigious 72nd Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2019, it later became available to American audiences on 5 June 2020 through Kino Lorber. The plot centers around a married couple living in Rome – an American artist and his young European wife – and their three-year-old daughter. According to review aggregation website Rotten ...

Euphoria (2019–2024) is a teen drama television series on HBO created and primarily written by Sam Levinson, inspired by the Israeli miniseries with the same title from Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin. It delves into the complicated life of 17-year-old Rue, recently out of rehab but not committed to staying sober. Alongside Rue, we meet Jules, a transgender girl searching for her place in the world; Nate, a jock battling both anger issues and sexual insecurities; Chris, a football star struggling with the transition from high ...

Ben Is Back (2018), an American drama written and directed by Peter Hedges, follows Holly Burns as she returns from church on Christmas Eve to find her son Ben in the driveway. After spending months in rehab for prescription drug addiction, Ben’s sponsor suggested he take a trip home. While happy to see him again, Holly is also cautious of his past struggles and their effect on their family. She agrees to let him stay for 24 hours, under the condition that he does not leave her side. During a holiday shopping trip at the mall, Holly unexpectedly comes across Ben’s former doctor who is now suffering from ...

Created by Jesse Armstrong, Succession (2018–2023) is an acclaimed American comedy-drama TV series that aired from June 3, 2018, to May 28, 2023 on HBO. The show follows the Roy family as they navigate the unpredictable world of their global media and entertainment empire, Waystar RoyCo. With its impressive writing, acting, humor, music, directing and production quality, Succession has received widespread critical praise throughout its four seasons. It has also been recognized with numerous awards and nominations such as the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama and Primetime Emmy for Outstanding ...

Vice (2018) is an American biographical political satire comedy-drama film that follows the career of Dick Cheney. Directed, written and produced by Adam McKay, the film is narrated by Kurt, a fictional veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi wars. In 1963, after dropping out of Yale University due to his struggles with alcoholism, Cheney works as a lineman in Wyoming. However, after being pulled over for driving while intoxicated, his wife Lynne gives him an ultimatum to get his life together or she will leave him. Six years later in 1969, Cheney lands a job as a White House intern during the Nixon Administration where he ...

The Professor (2018) follows the story of Richard Brown, an English professor at a New England college. During a visit to his doctor, he receives devastating news of advanced stage 4 lung cancer that has spread throughout his body and is terminal. Given a life expectancy of six months without treatment, Richard’s hope is renewed when the doctor suggests that cancer treatment could potentially extend it to 12-18 months. After taking a walk through town and into a pond in shock, Richard returns home for dinner where he plans to share the somber news with his wife, Veronica, and their daughter Olivia. However, Richard’s plans are interrupted by Olivia’s ...

Vox Lux (2018), an American musical drama film, follows the story of a tragic incident in early January 2000. Cullen Active enters his school in Staten Island and shoots his teacher and classmates before taking his own life. Amidst the chaos, 13-year-old Celeste Montgomery calmly speaks to Cullen and offers to pray with him. Despite her efforts, the shooting results in multiple casualties and Celeste herself is injured. As she recovers, she turns to music for solace and begins writing songs with her older sister Eleanor. During an event honoring the victims, Celeste performs one of their original pieces titled ‘Wrapped Up’. The song receives instant ...