Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dark Sci-Fi Comedy Bugonia Feels More Relevant Than Ever

Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film Bugonia has finally hit theaters, and it’s already sparking intense discussions for all the right reasons. The darkly funny sci-fi thriller stars Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller, a powerful CEO who becomes the target of two conspiracy-obsessed men convinced she’s an alien plotting to destroy Earth. The film, written by Will Tracy and directed by Lanthimos, is a remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan.

Bugonia premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025, before getting a limited U.S. release on October 24 and expanding nationwide on October 31, 2025. The movie runs for 118 minutes and was co-produced by Ireland, South Korea, and the United States under Focus Features. It features cinematography by Robbie Ryan and music by Jerskin Fendrix.

The cast includes Jesse Plemons as Teddy, one of the kidnappers, alongside supporting performances from Aidan Delbis and others. The film’s title comes from an ancient Greek myth about bees emerging from the carcass of a bull — a symbolic reflection of the story’s exploration of human decay and rebirth.

In an interview with Awards Radar, screenwriter Will Tracy revealed that he wasn’t trying to write something overtly topical. “If you try to chase what’s next to be incredibly relevant, you end up behind the wave,” he said. Instead, his goal was to create something timeless, yet ironically, Bugonia feels more relevant than ever. Its portrayal of paranoia, distrust, and humanity’s obsession with conspiracies resonates powerfully with today’s world.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos, known for films like Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness, told AP News that he sees Bugonia as “not dystopian — it’s real.” He added, “Humanity is facing a reckoning very soon … with technology, AI, wars, and climate change.” This blend of realism and absurdity is what makes the film hit so close to home.

Emma Stone, who also co-produced the movie, plays Michelle Fuller, a biotech CEO whose motivations remain ambiguous throughout. Interestingly, according to Business Insider, the role was originally written for a man in his 50s before being rewritten for Stone. The actress described the script as “moving, funny, and a little messed up,” during a Guardian interview, even admitting her belief in aliens while promoting the film.

The movie’s production itself had dramatic moments. As revealed by People, Stone nearly backed out of shaving her head for a critical scene. She eventually went through with it, inspired by her mother’s experience with chemotherapy.

Shot primarily on 8-perf 35mm film using VistaVision cameras, Bugonia is one of Lanthimos’ most technically ambitious projects yet, with a budget reportedly between $45–55 million. The story’s themes — paranoia, alienation, and the fragility of belief — are enhanced by the film’s immersive cinematography and unsettling sound design.

Early reactions from critics have been strong. The Daily Beast called it “a darkly funny film that perfectly sums up 2025,” praising the chemistry between Stone and Plemons and the film’s biting humor. With its thought-provoking narrative, stunning visuals, and eerie reflection of modern anxieties, Bugonia might just be one of the most talked-about films of the year — and not by design, but by eerie coincidence.