492 Best Dramatic Movies to Watch (Page 22)

If your inner drama queen is craving some stimulation and you’re looking for a movie that guarantees all the feels, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best emotionally and narratively dramatic movies and shoes to stream now.

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316. The Deepest Breath, 2023

Freediving is a particularly cinematic sport because it taps into something beyond what the human body is capable of. Skilled divers hold their breath for long enough to reach more than 100 meters deep, and watching footage of that incredible feat is exhilarating, to say the least. The Deepest Breath capitalizes on that very spectacle—being exposed to death and conquering it—and banks on using archival footage of world records and training. It's a smart move, as it keeps the spectator on edge, but it can also be a cruel way to put thrills over ethics. The editing is kept suggestive, but sometimes, shamefully, at the cost of misrepresenting Alessia Zecchini and toying with the viewer's expectations to the point of callousness.

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Alessia Zecchini, David Attenborough, Natalya Molchanova, Stephen Keenan

Director: Laura McGann

Rating: PG

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317. The Buccaneers, 2023

Starting the series off with an electric guitar scored wedding, The Buccaneers seems, at first, a vapid cousin to the hit period series Bridgerton. The modern-day scoring, period-inaccurate hairstyles, and the sorority dynamic of the five female protagonists might feel too jarring for viewers looking for a more classical feel. There are certain moments at the start that needed more emotional resonance, like after Nan’s shoe fell into the cake. However, these jarring contrasts smooth over as the series progresses, as the show reveals its melancholy at society’s hypocritical, rigid expectations, but also its care and endearment for these girls’ friendships.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Barney Fishwick, Christina Hendricks, Guy Remmers, Imogen Waterhouse, Josh Dylan, Josie Totah, Kristine Froseth, Matthew Broome, Mia Threapleton

Rating: TV-14

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318. Snowfall, 2023

Created by Boyz N’ The Hood director John Singleton, Snowfall is an epic crime drama that tracks the rise of the crack epidemic in the United States, mostly through the lens of Franklin Saint (Damson Idris). Over the seasons, we follow Franklin and a host of characters separately but equally involved in the drug trade. There's someone from the government, someone from the other side of the border, and someone from a gang. These sectors and more are represented in this large-scale examination of crime and corruption, and though the show initially struggles to tie connections in a cohesive way, it eventually rises to the occasion in compelling ways.

Snowfall is the type of show that only gets better each turnout, so if you're not so sure about the first season, you might want to give the next ones a shot to make sure you don't miss out.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Alejandro Edda, Amin Joseph, Angela Lewis, Carter Hudson, Damson Idris, Devyn A. Tyler, Gail Bean, Isaiah John, Michael Hyatt, Sergio Peris-Mencheta

Rating: TV-MA

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319. Ray, 2021

Ray is a captivating anthology series that pays tribute to the genius of renowned Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. With four distinct stories, each directed by different acclaimed directors, the series showcases Ray's signature blend of human drama, mystery, and social commentary. The performances by the talented ensemble cast bring Ray's nuanced characters to life. From tales of love and betrayal to stories exploring the complexities of human nature, Ray offers a rich and diverse viewing experience. With its engaging narratives, stunning visuals, and thought-provoking themes, there is bound to be an entry in the series for every mystery lover.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Ali Fazal, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kharaj Mukherjee, Manoj Bajpayee, Manoj Pahwa, Radhika Madan

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320. Presumed Innocent, 2024

You can tell showrunner David E. Kelley, who played a part in legal dramas and mysteries like Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, and Big Little Lies, is a master of the genre. Presumed Innocent is carefully paced, confidently performed, and smartly written, making it a thrilling watch regardless if you’ve seen the 1990 feature and 1987 novel of the same name. It’s not without its misses though, the biggest one being the lack of believable chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Reinsve, who seems miscast in this series. As much as I loved her in The Worst Person in the World, she seems to exude an awkward sensuality that affects the realism of the series. On the other hand, Ruth Negga, who plays Gyllenhaal’s wife, and Peter Sarsgaard, who plays his political rival, command every scene they’re in and perfectly match Gyllenhaal’s crazed intensity. Whenever the show skews formulaic, it’s their solid performances that save the scene.Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Actor: Bill Camp, Chase Infiniti, Elizabeth Marvel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Nana Mensah, O.T. Fagbenle, Peter Sarsgaard, Renate Reinsve, Ruth Negga
Rating: TV-MA

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321. Monsieur Spade, 2024

It takes Monsieur Spade some time to settle into its skin. The first few hours are dedicated to introducing as many side characters and backstories as possible, and though this could have been more elegantly executed, it eventually pays off. The main mystery, once you get to it, is layered and complex, and watching Spade physically and verbally spar with Philippe is its own kind of reward. Their curt but cutting dialogue harkens back to past noirs, and it’s a delight to see that tradition live on in the genre.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Cara Bossom, Chiara Mastroianni, Clive Owen, Denis Ménochet, Jonathan Zaccaï, Louise Bourgoin, Matthew Beard, Rebecca Root, Stanley Weber

Rating: TV-MA

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322. Mary & George, 2024

After the likes of The Favourite six years ago, modern historical portrayals have now become more interested in the salacious side of real life deceased nobles, focusing on the sex, gore, and violence, so it’s unsurprising that James I, who was unpopular in part due to his alleged homosexuality, would eventually be depicted. Mary & George depicts this from the perspective of those who sought his favor, and while it is one of many of these modern period pieces, it is well done, with fantastic performances from the cast, and all the costumed social climbing that we enjoy. Mary & George is just great television.Genre: Drama
Actor: Adrian Rawlins, Alice Grant, Amelia Gething, Daniel Jordan, Jacob McCarthy, Julianne Moore, Laurie Davidson, Mark O'Halloran, Mirren Mack, Niamh Algar, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicola Walker, Rina Mahoney, Samuel Blenkin, Sean Gilder, Simon Russell Beale, Tom Victor, Tony Curran, Trine Dyrholm
Rating: TV-MA

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323. Manhunt, 2024

Everyone grows up learning about the theatric death of President Lincoln—while enjoying a play with his wife, the actor and Confederate soldier John Wilkes Booth shoots him straight in the head, dashes to the stage, and escapes into the wilderness before eventually getting caught. But most people tend to gloss over that last part when, in fact, Booth’s capture was a wild ride that involved the rabid participation of thousands of troops and civilians. Ironically, it united a nation that was still grappling with the loss brought by war. Through seven episodes, Manhunt zooms in on that moment in American history and closely follows the cat-and-mouse chase between Booth and Secretary of War Edward Stanton. It’s a powerfully performed piece, as one would expect from Emmy-winning actor Menzies, but the surrounding characters are just as colorful and impassioned. They capably bring life to a near-forgotten piece of history and make it feel just as urgent and important as the day it happened.Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Anne Dudek, Anthony Boyle, Brandon Flynn, Hamish Linklater, Lili Taylor, Lovie Simone, Tobias Menzies
Rating: TV-MA

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324. Lust, Caution, 2007

During wartime, war supersedes everything, including love. Wartime would have people ending relationships, forgoing potential dates, and seducing enemies to lead them to downfall, all in order to win, but sometimes, this rarely goes as planned. Lust, Caution is one such story, with the novella’s emotional repression making it a great match for director Ang Lee, main actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Japanese informant, and main actress Tang Wei, who made her breakthrough here. It’s not an easy watch. There are moments that falter and the film is a tad too long. But the smoldering stares shared by the two leads, with the lush production design and the beautiful direction, makes Lust, Caution a difficult contemplation of love and sexuality as Wang’s, and the nation’s, double-edged sword.Genre: Action, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Actor: Akiko Takeshita, Anupam Kher, Cheng Yu-Lai, Chih-ying Chu, Chin Ka-lok, Chung Hua Tou, Hayato Fujiki, He Saifei, Jacqueline Zhu Zhi-Ying, Joan Chen, Johnson Yuen, Johnson Yuen Tak-Cheung, Kar Lok Chin, Ko Yu-Luen, Lawrence Ko, Lawrence Ko Yu-Luen, Lee Hom Wang, Leehom Wang, Lisa Lu, Liu Jie, Saifei He, Song Ruhui, Tang Wei, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tou Chung-Hua, Tou Tsung-Hua, Ven Kao, Vince Kao, Wang Lin, Wei Tang, Yan Su, Ying-hsien Kao
Director: Ang Lee
Rating: NC-17

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325. Line of Duty, 2021

Though it may be self-serious nearly to the point of parody, Line of Duty is that rare hard-boiled police show that actually works because of its commitment to being cold and clinical. As each season focuses on a new case of corruption within the police, it chooses not to focus on character but on packing as much meticulous detail as possible into its investigations. The result is a slower paced drama that may take some getting used to, but it's one whose every additional clue or revelation makes the nature of this modern police work feel that much more draining to the soul—a great change of tone from the heroic police shows we tend to see on TV.Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Actor: Adrian Dunbar, Claire Keelan, Craig Parkinson, Fiona Boylan, Gina McKee, Gregory Piper, Jessica Raine, Kate Ashfield, Keeley Hawes, Kelly Macdonald, Lennie James, Martin Compston, Neil Morrissey, Nigel Boyle, Owen Teale, Paul Higgins, Saffron Davies, Thandie Newton, Vicky McClure
Rating: Not Rated, TV-MA

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326. La Femme Nikita, 1990

Before assassin protege Mathilda in Léon the Professional, humanoid Leeloo in The Fifth Element, and superpowered drug mule Lucy in her titular film, Luc Besson first discovered his love for the badass female assassin in La Femme Nikita. Scored by European synth and shot with cinematography that still looks fresh today, the action thriller delivers pure adrenaline– the guns, the kills, and the drama of the hidden life– but the stylish spy film transcends the genre through the Pygmalion-esque transformation of Nikita’s femininity, a faux identity forged and crafted in the service of the government machine, yet both attracts the idea of and clashes with the want for genuine freedom and a good, normal life. It’s because of these existential ideas that La Femme Nikita became one of the most iconic femme fatales of the 20th century.Genre: Action, Thriller
Actor: Alexis Dupuy, Anne Parillaud, Bruno Randon, Christian Gazio, Edith Perret, Éric Prat, Gérard Touratier, Hubert Gillet, Iska Khan, Jacques Boudet, Jacques Disses, Jean Bouise, Jean Reno, Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean-Luc Caron, Jeanne Moreau, Marc Duret, Maurice Antoni, Mia Frye, Michèle Amiel, Murray Gronwall, Olivier Hémon, Patrick Buiquangda, Patrick Chauveau, Patrick Fontana, Patrick Pérez, Patrick Serrière, Pavel Slabý, Pétronille Moss, Philippe Dehesdin, Philippe du Janerand, Philippe Leroy, Pierre-Alain de Garrigues, Rénos Mandis, Roland Blanche, Stéphane Fey, Tchéky Karyo, Vincent Skimenti
Director: Luc Besson
Rating: R

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327. Heartbreak High, 2022

It’s tempting to say that Heartbreak High, with its gloriously unfiltered takes on relationships of all kinds, is just another Sex Education replica, especially since both shows don the same multicolored fashion and Commonwealth accent. But while Heartbreak High isn’t breaking new ground by having kids and adults talk openly about sex and gender, it’s also bold, funny, and insightful in its own right. The characters are well-drawn and the problems are relatable; the show itself is sometimes annoying but also, more importantly, authentic. It’s perfectly imperfect in that contradictory teens can only be.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Asher Yasbincek, Gemma Chua-Tran, Josh Heuston, Rachel House, Thomas Weatherall, Will McDonald

Director: Adam Murfet, Gracie Otto, Jessie Oldfield, Neil Sharma

Rating: TV-MA

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328. Gomorrah, 2008

In the crowded genre of Mafia movies, Gomorrah finds its originality in not romanticizing anything. It's authentically gripping, violent without being excessively violent, and something that can only be described as a masterpiece of Italian cinema.  It follows different protagonists' entry into organised crime in Naples, with the two main ones taking their inspiration from American gangster characters.  Just to give you a sense of how well-rooted this movie is, after it was done shooting, many of the characters (including the guy who plays the clan boss in the movie), were arrested. In his case, he was caught trying to collect  "pizzo", otherwise known as mafia tax.Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Alfonso Santagata, Carmine Paternoster, Ciro Petrone, Fortunato Cerlino, Gianfelice Imparato, Gigio Morra, Giovanni Venosa, Giuseppina Cervizzi, Marco Macor, Maria Nazionale, Riccardo Zinna, Salvatore Abbruzzese, Salvatore Abruzzese, Salvatore Cantalupo, Salvatore Ruocco, Salvatore Striano, Toni Servillo, Vincenzo Fabricino
Director: Matteo Garrone, Maurizio Braucci
Rating: Not Rated

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329. Fatal Seduction, 2023

Diving straight into the mystery, never holding back on the steamy scenes, Fatal Seduction is a quick, addictive melodrama. It's no exaggeration to call this series an erotic thriller as it follows marriage deteriorated by secrets and miscommunication, with a web of lustful characters caught in the crossfire. But under the flings and affairs is the fallout from the heinous death of a child. Although there's the exploration of sexuality and sexual desires, the show offers much more as it tackles miscarriages, infidelity, and trauma. From its opening scene, we know Nandi is arrested and with every twist and melodramatic reveal, the series is easily binge-able - if only to see how many secrets can be unearthed in seven episodes (before Volume 2).

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Frances Sholto-Douglas, Keenan Arrison, Kgomotso Christopher, Liza Scholtz, Nathaniel Ramabulana, Ngele Ramulondi, Prince Grootboom, Rizelle Januk, Thapelo Mokoena

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330. Culprits, 2023

Before, then, and now — these are the three points in time that twisty TV heist thriller Culprits zips between. That remixed chronology (the convergent point of which is an audacious £100 million robbery) is both a strength and a stumbling block for the series. While it helps liven things up, it also takes some getting used to, which means the first episode requires more effort than expected as we work to get our bearings. By the time we’re on Culprits’ wavelength, though, the other attractions of the show reveal themselves: an intrigue-infused plot, charismatic characters, and adrenaline-pumping action.

The one constant in this whirlwind is David (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) — or Joe, or Muscle, all names he goes by depending on the timeline. A London-dwelling bodyguard recruited to undertake a mega-heist by shady mastermind Dianne (Gemma Arterton), we actually meet him long after it’s (seemingly) completed. Now living in Washington and sporting a just-passable American accent, he’s a family man who goes by Joe and bears no signs of his criminal past. Piecing together the puzzle of his transformation — and the threats that have somehow followed him across the globe — is Culprits’ greatest pull, one that wouldn’t be possible without its nonlinear storytelling, an initial hurdle that’s worth jumping over.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Eddie Izzard, Gemma Arterton, Kamel ElBasha, Kevin Vidal, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Ned Dennehy, Niamh Algar, Tara Abboud

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