Drama backdrop

Drama movies

Emotional and character-driven narratives that explore the complexities of the human condition and relationships.

Subgenres include: Psychological Drama, Professional Drama, Entertainment Industry Drama.

Brothers

1461. Brothers

Drama Thriller War Relationship Drama Domestic Thriller
7.1

20091h 45min

United States

Director: Jim Sheridan

When his helicopter goes down during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Marine Sam Cahill is presumed dead. Back home, brother Tommy steps in to look over Sam’s wife, Grace, and two children. Sam’s surprise homecoming triggers domestic mayhem.

Themes

Trauma and memory, Sibling bonds under strain, Duty vs family, Domestic fragility, Paranoia and trust, Violence and consequence

Available on

Kanopy
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Time Traveler's Wife

1462. The Time Traveler's Wife

Drama Romance Fantasy Passionate Romance Time-Rule Fantasy
7.1

20091h 47min

United States

Director: Robert Schwentke

Clare falls for Henry, the man who keeps vanishing into other moments of her life. At first she just wants to know when he’ll show up next. Then every missed dinner, every empty bed, every unexplained bruise on a future Henry turns into one question that eats her alive: what moment in time finally takes him from her?

Themes

Memory shaping relationships, Love across eras, Unstable marriage, Time as burden, Bounded agency, Infertility and loss

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Dogtooth

1463. Dogtooth

Drama Psychological Drama
7.1

20091h 38min

Greece

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Three teenagers are confined to an isolated country estate that could very well be on another planet. The trio spend their days listening to endless homemade tapes that teach them a whole new vocabulary. Any word that comes from beyond their family abode is instantly assigned a new meaning. Hence 'the sea' refers to a large armchair and 'zombies' are little yellow flowers. Having invented a brother whom they claim to have ostracized for his disobedience, the uber-controlling parents terrorize their offspring into submission.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Sexual exploitation, Family control, Linguistic indoctrination, Isolation pressures, Parental coercion

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

1464. The Girl Who Played with Fire

Drama Action Thriller Crime Mystery
7.1

20092h 9min

Denmark, Germany

Director: Daniel Alfredson

Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of Millennium magazine, has made his living exposing the crooked and corrupt practices of establishment Swedish figures. So when a young journalist approaches him with a meticulously researched thesis about sex trafficking in Sweden and those in high office who abuse underage girls, Blomkvist immediately throws himself into the investigation.

Themes

Power dynamics, Investigative persistence, Institutional corruption, Sex trafficking exposure, Surveillance and privacy, Domestic abuse aftermath

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Agora

1465. Agora

Adventure Drama History Historical Drama Historical Event
7.1

20092h 7min

Spain

Director: Alejandro Amenábar

A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.

Themes

Clashing belief systems, Power dynamics within empire, Intellectual defiance under oppression, Master-servant tension, Misogyny under persecution, Intellectual inquiry restricted

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Everybody's Fine

1466. Everybody's Fine

Drama Family Drama
7.1

20091h 39min

United States

Director: Kirk Jones

Eight months after the death of his wife, Frank Goode looks forward to a reunion with his four adult children. When all of them cancel their visits at the last minute, Frank, against the advice of his doctor, sets out on a road trip to reconnect with his offspring. As he visits each one in turn, Frank finds that his children's lives are not quite as picture-perfect as they've made them out to be.

Themes

Loneliness and connection, Familial deception, Aging and mortality, Parental expectations versus autonomy, Generation gap communication, Care versus independence

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Thirst

1467. Thirst

Drama Horror Thriller Vampire Horror Mindfuck Thriller
7.1

20092h 14min

South Korea

Director: Park Chan-wook

A respected priest volunteers for an experimental procedure that may lead to a cure for a deadly virus. He gets infected and dies, but a blood transfusion of unknown origin brings him back to life. Now, he’s torn between faith and bloodlust, and has a newfound desire for the wife of a childhood friend.

Themes

Moral ambiguity under pressure, Religious guilt versus craving, Public faith versus private desire, Private betrayal and danger, Deception under scrutiny, Bodily transformation and ethics

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Nowhere Boy

1468. Nowhere Boy

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.1

20091h 38min

United Kingdom

Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson

A rebellious teenager, future Beatle John Lennon lives with his Aunt Mimi in working-class mid-1950s Liverpool, England. Mimi's husband suddenly dies, and John spies his mother Julia at the funeral. Despite Mimi's misgivings, John intends to have a real relationship with his mother. Julia introduces him to popular music and the banjo and, though a family conflict looms, young John is inspired to form his own band.

Themes

Intergenerational mentorship, Family custody tensions, Early fame pressures, Mother absence longing, Trauma and anger, Creative identity formation, Band formation dynamics

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Messenger

1469. The Messenger

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Bittersweet Romance
7.1

20091h 53min

United States

Director: Oren Moverman

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.

Themes

Romance amid loss, Military trauma and coping, Bereavement and communication, Duty vs empathy, Protocol vs humanity, Boundaries and vulnerability

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Adam

1470. Adam

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Bittersweet Romance
7.1

20091h 39min

United States

Director: Max Mayer

Adam, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome, develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth.

Themes

Relationship boundaries, Autism isolation, Space exploration fixation, Upstairs neighbor romance, Asperger syndrome stigma, Children's book author

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.