Deep down, everybody lives for the drama. And not the drama that's usually slapped across the covers of gossip magazines, but rather the more refined and nuanced turmoil depicted in movies that have a knack for breaking audiences' hearts. In a world where films of all kinds hit screens and streaming services consistently, drama still holds its ground.
And the genre still remains a darling of Awards season, from the Golden Globes to the Oscars. It seems like the movies that best tug at viewers' heart-strings quickly rise to the top and become staples in lists such as 1000 Movies To Watch Before You Die and IMDb's Top Rated Movies. Let's revisit this curious and complex genre by looking at ten of the best drama movies audiences fell in love with, according to the Rotten Tomatoes audience score.
Moonlight - Audience score 79%
Who can forget the 2016 Oscars, when this outstanding movie was almost robbed of its well-deserved Best Motion Picture Academy Award? Granted, La La Land was also incredible in its own right, but that's beside the point.
Moonlight was a heartbreaking masterpiece following the story of a black gay man as he struggles with his identity while facing all the trials and tribulations of growing up.
A Star Is Born - Audience Score 79%
It's hard to believe that a movie that has been made and remade so many times would stand a chance to become a hit. Yet, that's exactly the trajectory that Bradley Cooper's 2016 A Star Is Born took.
Lady Gaga stepped up to the occasion, delivering an award-winning performance as Ally, and Bradley Cooper didn't disappoint in his role as both a director and the troubled singer Jack. If you listen closely, the crying sounds of thousands of audience across the world can still be heard...maybe.
Gravity - Audience Score 80%
This 2013 epic starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney was such a smashing hit that it ended up taking home seven Academy Awards, including Best Achievement in Directing, Best Achievement in Cinematography, and Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
There's something about the notion of two people stranded and fighting for their lives that never fails in bringing the hardcore drama and push audiences to feel connected to the emotional journeys of the characters.
Dunkirk - Audience Score 81%
It's hard to come up with, direct, and produce a war movie that doesn't instantly fall under the drama genre. This, however, is only natural and doesn't stop studios from coming up with authentic cinematographic masterpieces.
Such a masterpiece is none other than Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, a 2017 war epic with an iconic soundtrack and unique perspectives from all sides of the story that come together in perfect harmony.
Call Me By Your Name - Audience Score 86%
Call Me By Your Name did something wonderful for Hollywood, bringing Luca Guadagnino's unique European style of filmmaking into the mainstream, and turning it into a huge success in the process.
The movie adaptation of the novel by the same name follows the thrilling, beautiful, and intense love story between two men trying to come to with their sexuality and eventually taking different paths in life. The soundtrack alone is enough to make anyone turn into a pool of tears and emotions.
The Irishman - Audience Score 86%
Martin Scorcese's latest project was eagerly awaited by audiences everywhere who were already familiar with his talent for putting together incredible films depicting the gangster life.
Lo and behold, The Irishman did not disappoint. Featuring A-listers such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, the movie ended up being nominated for 10 Academy Awards and further cemented Scorcese's status in Hollywood.
Citizen Kane - Audience Score 90%
It's been eight decades since Citizen Kane made its way to the public, and its popularity hasn't withered since. A spectacular drama with a thrilling narrative, this 1941 classic is a must-watch for fans of the genre everywhere.
Featuring some of the biggest stars of the era and directed and written by none other than the iconic Orson Wells, Citizen Kane will probably keep its upwards popularity trajectory for years to come.
Spotlight - Audience Score 93%
Movies based on true stories can either go completely south or make the ranks of some of the best films produced in the history of mankind. And 2015's Spotlight managed to snatch a place in the latter, thanks to many factors, including the spectacular cast.
Following the story of how reporters from the Boston Globe uncovered the horrors going on behind the scenes of the Catholic church, this movie hits so hard precisely due to its factual narrative.
Casablanca - Audience Score 95%
Rick and Ilsa will always have Paris, and audiences all across the globe will always have the opportunity to return to this timeless classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
A tale of lost romance and conflicting feelings that never grows old, Casablanca was the original tale as old as time that can give Beauty and the Beast a run for its money.
The Godfather - Audience Score 98%
Does it come as a surprise to anyone that The Godfather is one of the drama movies that audiences love the most? Francis Ford Coppola's iconic mafia movie will probably never be sured as the best within this scope.
Ranking number two on IMDb's Top Rated Movies list and winner of three Academy Awards, The Godfather paved the way for many of the mob films that came after.
