Hold onto your tinfoil hats, because Yorgos Lanthimos is back with BUGONIA, a sci-fi comedy thriller that’s equal parts unhinged and irresistible. Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, this wild ride is slated to hit theaters in a limited release on October 24, 2025, before going wide on Halloween, October 31, perfect for a spooky season mind-trip. As someone who’s been rattled by Lanthimos’ twisted genius since The Lobster made me question love and lobsters, I’m already bracing for BUGONIA to mess with my head. Here’s why this film is shaping up to be the must-see cinematic fever dream of 2025.
A Conspiracy-Fueled Nightmare I Can’t Resist
BUGONIA is a remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!, and it’s got a premise that feels like it was ripped from my late-night Reddit binges. Two conspiracy-obsessed dudes kidnap a high-powered CEO, convinced she’s an alien hell-bent on destroying Earth. Emma Stone plays Michelle, the CEO who might—or might not—be hiding an extraterrestrial secret, while Jesse Plemons likely takes on one of the paranoid kidnappers. I’ve had my own moments of side-eyeing “shady” execs during corporate meetings, but this takes paranoia to a whole new level. The cast also includes Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone, adding extra layers of chaos to this already bonkers setup.
The first teaser, unveiled at CinemaCon, gave me chills and a weird urge to laugh. It opens with serene garden scenes—flowers, buzzing bees, and a voiceover (Plemons?) droning about pollination and dying colonies. “The bees are dying as the workers desert the queen,” he says, while we see Stone’s Michelle strutting out of a mansion, all CEO swagger, only to get tackled into bushes. Then, in a gut-punch moment, her head is shaved, revealing a pale, terrified face that might not be human. I still remember the time I shaved my head for a charity event and felt oddly exposed—this scene hit that same raw nerve, but with an alien twist. Shot in VistaVision on 35mm by cinematographer Robbie Ryan, BUGONIA promises to look as gorgeous as it is unsettling.
Lanthimos and Stone: A Match Made in Weird Heaven
Yorgos Lanthimos is the mad scientist of modern cinema, and I’m obsessed with how he turns the mundane into the macabre. From Dogtooth’s claustrophobic family horror to Poor Things’ Frankenstein fever dream, he’s got a knack for making me squirm and cackle at the same time. BUGONIA marks his fifth collaboration with Emma Stone, who’s basically his cinematic soulmate. Their run—The Favourite, Bleat, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness—is a masterclass in bold, bizarre storytelling. Stone’s Oscar win for Poor Things proved she can handle Lanthimos’ wild monologues (though she’s admitted they terrify her), and I’m dying to see her tackle a maybe-alien CEO.
Jesse Plemons, fresh off a Best Actor win at Cannes for Kinds of Kindness, is another perfect fit. I first fell for his understated menace in Breaking Bad, and his ability to play unhinged everymen makes him ideal for a conspiracy nut. The script, penned by Will Tracy (Succession, The Menu), promises sharp satire and dark humor, which feels like the exact vibe I’d get if my old college roommate—who swore the government was hiding aliens—wrote a movie. Add producers like Ari Aster (Midsommar) and Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney, and BUGONIA is a certified freak-fest.
Why Halloween Is Perfect for This Madness
Originally set for November 7, BUGONIA’s shift to Halloween is genius. October 31 is when I’m already hyped for scares, costumes, and general weirdness, and Lanthimos’ brand of darkly funny chaos fits like a glove. Focus Features is rolling out a limited release in New York and L.A. on October 24, followed by a wide expansion, giving it a weeklong “cinematic event” vibe. X posts are buzzing with excitement—@DiscussingFilm hyped the October 31 release.
The film’s South Korean roots add extra intrigue. Save the Green Planet! blended sci-fi, comedy, and shocking twists, earning cult status despite not hitting globally in 2003. Producer Jerry Ko told RUSSH that its quirky mix of commercial and arthouse vibes feels ripe for today’s Parasite-loving audience. I binged the original after hearing about BUGONIA, and its tonal whiplash—funny one minute, brutal the next—screams Lanthimos. Filmed in High Wycombe, England, and New York, BUGONIA might lean into NYC’s gritty edge, reminding me of the time I got lost in a sketchy alley and half-expected an alien encounter.
A Personal Obsession in the Making
Look, I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I’ve had my moments—like when I was convinced my high school principal was a robot because he never blinked. BUGONIA feels like it’s speaking to that part of me, the part that loves diving into the absurd and questioning reality. Will Stone’s Michelle be a cold-blooded alien or just a stressed-out exec? Are Plemons’ kidnappers onto something, or are they just unhinged? The film’s mix of laughs, scares, and “what the hell” moments is exactly what I crave from Lanthimos, who never lets me leave a movie unchanged.
Get Ready for a Halloween Freakout
BUGONIA is poised to be the Halloween event of 2025, a twisted cocktail of conspiracy thrills and Lanthimos’ signature weirdness. Whether you’re a longtime fan like me, still reeling from Poor Things’ brain-bending visuals, or just love a good alien mystery, this one’s got your name on it. I’m already planning my October 31 theater trip, probably with a friend who’ll humor my post-movie rants about whether CEOs are secretly extraterrestrials. Keep an eye on X for more buzz—@FilmUpdates recently noted Alicia Silverstone’s casting—and brace for a film that’ll make you laugh, scream, and question everything. Yorgos, Emma, Jesse: take me to your leader.
Source: Deadline
