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.

The Cutting Edge

2581. The Cutting Edge

Romance Comedy Drama
6.9

19921h 41min

United States

Director: Paul Michael Glaser

Two former Olympians, one a figure skater and the other a hockey player, pin their hopes of one last shot at Olympic glory on one another. That is, of course, if they can keep from killing each other in the process...


Newsies

2582. Newsies

Drama History
6.9

19922h 1min

United States

Director: Kenny Ortega

A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.


Radio Flyer

2583. Radio Flyer

Drama
6.9

19921h 54min

United States

Director: Richard Donner

A father reminisces about his childhood when he and his younger brother moved to a new town with their mother, her new husband and their dog, Shane. When the younger brother is subjected to physical abuse at the hands of their brutal stepfather, Mike decides to convert their toy trolley, the "Radio Flyer", into a plane to fly him to safety.


Light Sleeper

2584. Light Sleeper

Drama Crime
6.9

19921h 43min

United States

Director: Paul Schrader

John LeTour is a recovering drug user who suffers insomnia and still deals to a high-end New York clientele, even though he’s trying to move on from the business. John’s professional midlife crisis becomes something more acute — and dangerous — when he re-encounters an old flame while a string of seemingly drug-related murders rocks the city.


My Own Private Idaho

2585. My Own Private Idaho

Drama
7.0

19911h 44min

United States

Director: Gus Van Sant

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.


Slacker

2586. Slacker

Drama Comedy
7.0

19911h 37min

United States

Director: Richard Linklater

Austin, Texas, is an Eden for the young and unambitious, from the enthusiastically eccentric to the dangerously apathetic. Here, the nobly lazy can eschew responsibility in favor of nursing their esoteric obsessions. The locals include a backseat philosopher who passionately expounds on his dream theories to a seemingly comatose cabbie, a young woman who tries to hawk Madonna's Pap test to anyone who will listen and a kindly old anarchist looking for recruits.


High Heels

2587. High Heels

Drama Comedy Crime
7.0

19911h 54min

Spain, France

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

After being estranged for 15 years, flamboyant actress Becky del Paramo re-enters her daughter Rebeca's life when she comes to perform a concert. Rebeca, she finds, is now married to one of Becky's ex-lovers, Manuel. The mother and daughter begin making up for lost time, when suddenly, a murder occurs...


The Quick and the Dead

2588. The Quick and the Dead

Western Action Drama Romance Thriller
6.5

19951h 47min

United States, Japan

Director: Sam Raimi

A mysterious woman comes to compete in a quick-draw elimination tournament, in a town taken over by a notorious gunman.


Dangerous Minds

2589. Dangerous Minds

Drama Professional Drama
6.5

19951h 39min

United States

Director: John N. Smith

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.

Themes

Class inequality, Discipline versus curriculum, Urban education challenges, Gang influence on youth, Reward-based motivation, Mentor dynamics

Available on

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

Higher Learning

2590. Higher Learning

Drama Crime Thriller
6.5

19952h 8min

United States

Director: John Singleton

African-American student Malik is on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge, a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and challenges his views about race and politics in America.