Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are back with visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos for Bugonia, a dark comedy thriller that’s already stirring up a frenzy with its bizarre plot and interactive marketing. You won't want to miss this one!
TL;DR- Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons star in Yorgos Lanthimos' new film, Bugonia, a twisted remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!
- The movie follows a high-powered CEO kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists convinced she's an alien destroying Earth.
- Get ready for a mind-bending, darkly comedic ride hitting select theaters on October 24th, 2025, with a wider release on October 31st, 2025.
In her most recent movie, Bugonia, Emma Stone plays a role that is extremely different from what she usually does. She also has a drastic hair change that everyone is talking about.
Get Ready for a Seriously Wild Ride with Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos
If you're a fan of mind-bending cinema, buckle up! Two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone is reuniting with her frequent collaborator, director Yorgos Lanthimos, for their latest cinematic venture, Bugonia. After wowing us with their work on films like Poor Things and The Favourite, this dynamic duo is diving into a twisted world of alien conspiracies, corporate greed, and some truly dark humor. And let's not forget the incredible Jesse Plemons, who stars alongside Stone in what's being hailed as one of his best performances yet!
Bugonia isn't just another movie; it's a remake of the critically acclaimed 2003 South Korean cult film Save the Green Planet!, known for its genre-bending story. Lanthimos and co-writer Will Tracy (known for The Menu) have given it a fresh, "deranged American life in 2025" twist that promises to make audiences squirm, laugh, and question everything they think they know about the world.
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Unpacking the Truly Bizarre Plot of This Alien Conspiracy Thriller
At the heart of Bugonia is Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), a high-powered, high-profile CEO of a pharmaceutical company called Auxolith. Michelle lives a life of sterile luxury, seemingly detached from the struggles of everyday people. Her world is thrown into utter chaos when she's kidnapped by two eccentric conspiracy theorists, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis).
Why the abduction? Teddy, an unwashed and unwell hobby apiarist, is convinced that Michelle isn't just a powerful executive—she's an alien from the Andromeda galaxy! He believes these "Andromedans" have secretly enslaved humanity and are slowly killing off the planet, evidenced by things like colony collapse disorder affecting his bees. Teddy, who's fallen deep into online conspiracy rabbit holes, plans to use Michelle to negotiate with her alleged alien mothership and save Earth. As you can imagine, Michelle vehemently insists she's human, leading to a tense, often darkly comedic, battle of wits in Teddy's isolated country house.
The film deliberately contrasts Michelle's pristine, corporate world with Teddy's squalid, rundown existence, highlighting a significant wealth gap and societal disconnect. This setup allows Lanthimos to explore themes of class struggle, the dangers of online extremism, and the blurred lines between delusion and a cynical reality.
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Meet the Talented Cast and Creative Minds Behind Bugonia
The film boasts a fantastic ensemble cast that brings this peculiar story to life:
- Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller
- Jesse Plemons as Teddy
- Aidan Delbis as Don
- Alicia Silverstone as Teddy's sickly mother (in flashbacks)
- Stavros Halkias
Director Yorgos Lanthimos is famous for his uniquely bizarre and often darkly humorous style. His previous works, like The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, showcase his knack for unsettling narratives and striking visuals. His collaborations with Emma Stone have been particularly fruitful:
- The Favourite (2018)
- Poor Things (2023) - which earned Stone her second Best Actress Oscar
- Kinds of Kindness (2024)
- And now, Bugonia (2025)
The screenplay was penned by Will Tracy (The Menu) and Jang Joon-hwan (who wrote and directed the original South Korean film). The film also features a notable producing team, including Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), Emma Stone herself, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Miky Lee, Lars Knudsen, and Jerry Kyoungboum Ko.
"Stone, who has done some of her best work with Lanthimos, masterfully juggles a tricky role — we sympathize with Michelle because she's been kidnapped, but we can also tell she's a deeply flawed individual without really learning much about her, and that's due to the icy way Stone plays her."
— /Film Review, praising Emma Stone's performance
Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons star in Yorgos Lanthimos' new dark comedy, 'Bugonia,' a twisted alien conspiracy thriller hitting theaters this Halloween. Discover the plot, cast, and immersive marketing!
Exploring the Deep and Dark Themes of This Provocative Film
Bugonia delves into some potent themes that are incredibly relevant today. It's a sharp satire on the dangers of online conspiracy theories and how isolating oneself in digital echo chambers can warp reality. Teddy's character, with his YouTube-fueled research and conviction that Michelle is an alien, is a stark commentary on misinformation and the radicalization it can foster.
Beyond the alien premise, the film is a cynical look at human exploitation, corporate power, and the environmental crisis. The ancient Greek belief system of "bugonia"—where bees were thought to spontaneously generate from a beaten ox carcass—serves as a grim metaphor for the film's exploration of destruction and rebirth, or perhaps, the futility of it all. Michelle's detached corporate persona and Teddy's desperation highlight the growing chasm between the elite and the struggling working class.
Lanthimos, as always, doesn't shy away from uncomfortable moments, blending queasy laughs with genuinely mean-spirited scenes. Reviewers have noted its "undeniable hopelessness" and a "nihilistic take on the human instinct for survival," making it a memorable, albeit often uncomfortable, cinematic experience.
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Join the Human Resistance: Bugonia's Brilliant Interactive Marketing Campaign
Adding another layer to Bugonia's immersive world is Focus Features' incredibly creative marketing campaign, which has literally spilled into the real world. They've launched an in-universe website, HumanResistanceHQ.com, supposedly created by a "marco1487." This lo-fi conspiracy hub claims to be fighting an extra-terrestrial invasion!
The website is packed with "evidence" of an alien presence, including a page on Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone's character) as a suspected "Andromedan," "research" on these aliens, and links to alleged UFO sightings. It even includes a link to a fictional LinkedIn profile for Auxolith, Michelle's pharmaceutical company.
Beyond the digital, billboards featuring Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller for Auxolith have popped up in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. But these aren't your typical ads; some are defaced with graffiti that reads "Andromedan Filth" and "Join the Human Resistance." It's a fantastic, meta way to engage audiences and deepen the film's conspiracy-driven plot.
The Human Resistance HQ website also provided information on "suspected mothership viewings," which led visitors to a survey for a chance to catch an early screening of Bugonia on October 20th at one of five select locations, ahead of its limited release. Talk about embracing the absurdity!
Early Buzz: Critics Are Divided, But Always Intrigued by Bugonia's Unconventional Approach
While Bugonia has been screened at festivals like the BFI London Film Festival and Fantastic Fest, initial reviews show a clear division among critics, which is often the case with Lanthimos's distinctive style. Many reviewers praised the strong performances, particularly from Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, noting Plemons' "hair-raising live-wire" portrayal of Teddy.
The film is described as a "twisted dark comedy" with "queasy laughs" and a "sick and twisted enough to stick with you" vibe. Some critics found it "scattered" or "too damn cruel" in parts, particularly the first hour, but often lauded the "blood-soaked finale" and "delightfully morbid" twists, calling the final scenes "pure cinema." Aidan Delbis's portrayal of Don, an autistic character, also received praise for being a "moral center" and the "most sympathetic figure."
Ultimately, while some find Lanthimos's "schtick of overly peculiar tales" a bit repetitive, Bugonia is widely considered a "memorable 2025 movie" that showcases the director at his "most thoughtful and thematically ambitious." It's a film that definitely won't leave you indifferent!
When and Where You Can Catch This Unforgettable Theatrical Experience
Mark your calendars! Bugonia is set for a special limited theatrical engagement starting on October 24, 2025. If you miss that, don't worry, a wider release in theaters is slated for October 31, 2025, just in time for Halloween! So, get ready for a spooky, mind-bending treat.
The movie runs for approximately 118-120 minutes (around 2 hours). It has been rated R for its bloody and violent content, instances of suicide, grisly images, and strong language. This is definitely a film for mature audiences who appreciate Lanthimos's signature blend of the absurd and the disturbing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bugonia's Release and Content
- ScreenRant
- Dread Central
- /Film
- Marie Claire
- NY Post
- Time Out
- 48 Hills
- IGN
- Soundsphere Magazine
- HumanResistanceHQ.com (promotional website)