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Bugonia, directed by Oscar-nominated Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. It’s an American remake of the 2003 Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan. With Lanthimos’ signature dark humor and clinical detachment, the film dives into paranoia, ideology, and societal collapse, making it uncomfortably relevant for modern audiences.
Cast & Crew
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Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
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Writer: Will Tracy (known for Succession, The Menu)
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Stars: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias
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Release: Limited theatres October 24, 2025; wide release October 31, 2025
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Runtime: 2 hours
Plot Summary
Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, a beekeeper and conspiracy theorist convinced Earth is under alien attack. He believes Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), CEO of biotech giant Auxolith, is an extraterrestrial and kidnaps her to force communication with her “alien overlords” before a looming lunar eclipse. Teddy is driven by vengeance: his mother was a victim of Auxolith’s failed drug trials. His insecure cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) assists him.
The film treads the line between satire, psychological horror, and social critique: is Teddy insane—or terrifyingly right?
Performances
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Emma Stone shines as the calculating CEO, blending shades of Elizabeth Holmes and Miranda Priestly. Her transformation, including a shocking bald look, makes her a chilling figure who straddles victim and villain.
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Jesse Plemons steals the show. As Teddy, he is wild-eyed, obsessive, and simultaneously tragic and terrifying. Critics have called this his best performance to date.
Direction and Themes
Lanthimos trades some of his surreal detachment for a more intense, emotional style. With Will Tracy’s sharp, satirical writing, Bugonia interrogates:
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Corporate greed and malfeasance
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Narcissism in modern resistance movements
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The fragile line between obsession and heroism
The result is a tense, darkly funny, and emotionally resonant film, marking one of Lanthimos’ most relevant and ambitious works yet.