In a cinematic landscape brimming with sequels and safe bets, few films have generated as much buzz—or inspired as much head-turning fanfare—as Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest thriller, Bugonia. Released in select theaters on October 24, 2025, and set for nationwide rollout on October 31, the film has already sparked conversations, bold fashion statements, and even a little bit of Hollywood mischief, all thanks to its star-studded cast and wildly original premise.
At the heart of Bugonia is two-time Oscar-winner Emma Stone, who delivers what critics are calling a commanding performance as Michelle, a steely pharmaceutical CEO suspected of being an alien plotting humanity’s downfall. According to FilmBook, Stone’s portrayal “commands the audience’s attention right from the get-go,” and the film’s unique blend of dark humor, violence, and surreal twists has left viewers riveted and, at times, scratching their heads in disbelief.
But the movie’s offbeat energy isn’t limited to the screen. In a recent appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Stone was asked which celebrity she thought could secretly be an alien. Without missing a beat, she replied, “Willem Dafoe. Hundred percent.” The host, clearly amused by her certainty, pressed further, to which Stone elaborated, “It’s so simple. I mean, don’t you — of course. If it was like, Willem Dafoe’s actually an alien everyone would be like, ‘Yeah! Obviously. And a great one!’ Like, if they’re all like Willem, bring ‘em on! Land upon Earth, please!” Colbert quipped that Dafoe was “an alien in a very well-fitted man suit,” and Stone agreed, calling him her “favourite alien.” (TownSquare Media)
Stone’s commitment to the role went far beyond witty banter. For Bugonia, she shaved her head—a move that’s become a talking point among fans and fellow actors alike. “It felt so good. Taking a shower with a shaved head is unbelievable. And every time you’re thinking, you really run your hand over your head. I miss it!” she confessed on the Late Show. Yet, she admitted to some regret about not flaunting her bald look publicly during filming, telling Vogue, “I was bummed I wasn’t going out with it. Just straight-up bald. I think that would have been fun.”
Her bold transformation didn’t go unnoticed by her close friend Jennifer Lawrence, who initially had reservations about Stone’s new look. “I really didn’t want her to shave her head. I had already lived through the Billie Jean King haircut,” Lawrence said, referencing her own dramatic hair change for the 2017 film Battle of the Sexes. But Lawrence was quickly won over, admitting, “Honestly, (Emma) looked beautiful. She pulled it off.”
Stone’s shaved head became more than just a character choice—it sparked a mini-movement among fans. On October 23, Gold Derby reported that fans lined up in Los Angeles to have their heads shaved for a free screening of Bugonia. Torsten Witte, the film’s hair and makeup designer, couldn’t have been happier. “It’s so freeing!” he enthused, delighted by the enthusiasm and solidarity the look inspired.
The film itself is as unconventional as its promotional antics. Written by Will Tracy and Jang Joon-hwan, and based on the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, Bugonia follows Michelle’s harrowing ordeal after being kidnapped by two bumbling men, Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis), who are convinced she’s an extraterrestrial threat. According to FilmBook, the duo’s logic is as outlandish as their methods: they shave Michelle’s head in the belief that it will prevent her from contacting her alien colleagues. The film weaves together dark comedy, suspense, and a series of wild plot twists, culminating in an ending that critics say “pulls the rug out from everything we’ve witnessed beforehand.”
One of the film’s most surreal—and talked-about—scenes involves the kidnappers wearing masks imprinted with the face of none other than Jennifer Aniston. As Stone explained to PEOPLE, this was the brainchild of director Yorgos Lanthimos, a self-professed Friends superfan. “He really is!” Stone said. Jesse Plemons, who had never worked with Aniston, admitted it took him “a little while to come around” to the idea of donning her likeness, but in the end, he couldn’t imagine it any other way. “Watching the Jennifer Aniston mask, watching her face burn in the fire in that sequence over and over and over again....” he recalled, hinting at the bizarre yet memorable nature of the scene.
Getting Aniston’s blessing for the stunt was surprisingly straightforward. “Yorgos and I emailed her to ask permission to make sure she knew what was going to be happening, and she’s amazing,” Stone recounted. “She was like, ‘Go for it. Yes,’ so supportive. But I don’t think she’s seen it yet, so hopefully she still feels that way.” Stone also noted Aniston’s Greek heritage, joking, “I mean, she gets it.”
Bugonia marks Stone’s fourth collaboration with Lanthimos, following acclaimed performances in The Favourite (2018), Poor Things (2023), and Kinds of Kindness (2024). Her work with the Greek director has proven fruitful—Stone earned her second Best Actress Oscar for Poor Things, and critics are already speculating about awards season buzz for her latest turn. “Emma Stone is sensational, but we’ve come to expect great work from her time and time again,” wrote FilmBook, which awarded the film a solid 8 out of 10.
As for the rest of the cast, Jesse Plemons is singled out for his performance as Teddy, a kidnapper whose mix of menace and cluelessness adds a layer of unpredictability to the film. “Plemons is the quintessential weirdo here and the actor chews scenery left and right with some of the most powerful scenes he’s ever done,” FilmBook observed. Aidan Delbis, as Don, brings a more sympathetic touch, though the film makes it clear these are not characters the audience is meant to root for.
The supporting cast includes Alicia Silverstone in a small but pivotal role, further rounding out a movie that delights in upending expectations at every turn. The film’s narrative explores themes of control, paranoia, and the absurdity of human behavior, all wrapped in Lanthimos’s signature style—equal parts unsettling and darkly funny.
With its blend of star power, unconventional storytelling, and an off-screen buzz that’s as wild as anything onscreen, Bugonia has firmly staked its claim as one of 2025’s most talked-about films. Whether it’s fans shaving their heads in tribute, actors embracing their inner aliens, or Jennifer Aniston’s face making a cameo in the unlikeliest of places, this is a movie that invites audiences to expect the unexpected—and then delivers something even stranger.
For those looking for a cinematic experience that’s a little out of this world, Bugonia is ready and waiting. Just don’t be surprised if you leave the theater tempted to run your hand over your own head—or wondering if your favorite celebrity might just be an alien in disguise.
