The Verdict
"Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are at the top of their game inBugonia, a bonkers entertainment that applies director Yorgos Lanthimos' whip-smart method to modern society's madness."
"Wildly audacious,Bugoniamay be the bleakest film yet in Yorgos’ filmography, sure to satiate fans of peculiar, deranged, and pessimistic satire."
Movie Review and Other Insights
Bugonia is a visionary Comedy, Sci-Fi film directed by the acclaimed Yorgos Lanthimos (Ed Guiney). Released in theaters on Oct 31, 2025, Wide, this cinematic experience offers a fresh take on the classic narrative. Produced by Focus Features and distributed by Focus Features, the film features a runtime of 1h 58m.
The story follows two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. Leading the cast are star performers Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, who bring depth and intensity to their roles.
Rated R for Bloody Violent Content|Suicide|Grisly Images|Language, Bugonia delivers a Dolby Digital audio experience presented in a aspect ratio. Critics have praised the film, stating: "Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are at the top of their game inBugonia, a bonkers entertainment that applies director Yorgos Lanthimos' whip-smart method to modern society's madness."
Images
Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews
"That point may be that human beings are intolerable, insignificant, and unnecessary. I guess I prefer my misanthropy more clever and less insincere."
"This takes me back to [Yorgos Lanthimos'] Dogtooth in the bold weirdness of it and the challenge of "Are you going to go with us on this trip or not?""
"Bugonia belongs to Jesse Plemons. The desperation, the righteousness and just the sweatiness makes Teddy both magnetic and repulsive."
"It’s a darkly comic thriller rooted in the cinema of the absurd. Some visual moments are nerve-wracking, some are strangely lyrical. A hint of danger is all-pervasive. The crackling dialogue offers a sense of menace that you don’t find in most thrillers."
"Gorgeously twisted, funny, and disturbing, this peculiar and pessimistic film is gleefully unafraid to push boundaries. It’s jaw-dropping, wildly creative, and batshit crazy, three hallmarks of a Yorgos Lanthimos classic."
"While there are moments of irony and absurdity, Bugonia is a very dark experience, poised always on the edge of violence, occasionally stepping over the line."
Audience Reviews
jaw dropping piece of film. emma stone is truly amazing on screen.
If you like Lanthimos’ other films, you’ll like this, too- it’s darkly funny, absurd, tragically sad, often grotesque. Impressive acting work (especially from Jesse Plemons). A wild and entertaining ride overall, though the cynicism here feels a bit self-satisfied (you can almost feel the giddy delight in how Lanthimos frames the death of every human on Earth).
The movie theme was a delight. Perhaps just a bit much of gibberish from Jesse. Still, it is eventually make sense.
Acting was great but the story was bad. Without a good story all the Oscar winners in the world cannot make a good movie.
I feel like it was sold as a horror movie but it is not. Its a kidnapping/hostage drama with excellent acting. The ending was entertaining, but its not for everyone.
Beware false advertising: It is misleading and cruel to label this film a comedy. Brutal, yes, traumatizing, yes, grinding, yes, needlessly and gratuitously graphic, yes but a comedy? I dont know what kind of sicko would laugh even once in the first hour or so in fact twice I came close to walking out - something I havent done since Inheritance. On the plus side, the film fairly DRIPS with pathos and tragic humanity, and it redeems itself in the last 40 minutes or so but comedy? No.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bugonia released?
Bugonia hit theaters on Oct 31, 2025, Wide. It became available for streaming on Nov 25, 2025.
How long is the movie and what is the genre?
The film has a runtime of 1h 58m. It falls under the Comedy, Sci-Fi genre, featuring a sound mix in Dolby Digital.
Who is the director of Bugonia?
The movie is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The script was penned by Will Tracy.
Who are the main actors in Bugonia?
The top billed cast includes:
- Yorgos Lanthimos as Director
- Emma Stone as Michelle
- Jesse Plemons as Teddy
- Aidan Delbis as Don
- Stavros Halkias as Casey
Why is Bugonia rated R?
It is rated R (Bloody Violent Content|Suicide|Grisly Images|Language)
Which studio produced the movie?
Bugonia was produced by Focus Features and distributed worldwide by Focus Features.
About the movie
NEWTwo conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Producers
- Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, Miky Lee, Jerry Kyoungboum Ko
- Screenwriter
- Will Tracy
- Distributor
- Focus Features
- Production
- Focus Features
- Genre
- Comedy, Sci-Fi
- Release Date
- Oct 31, 2025, Wide
- Run Time
- 1h 58m
- Rating
- R
- Sound Mix
- Dolby Digital