Aliens, government secrets, and a world teetering between skepticism and belief—this fall, two high-profile films are challenging audiences to reconsider what they know (or think they know) about extraterrestrial life and the forces that shape our reality. Whether you’re a die-hard UFO enthusiast, a fan of dark comedy, or simply curious about the cultural moment, Dan Farah’s documentary The Age of Disclosure and Yorgos Lanthimos’s remake Bugonia are poised to spark conversation and controversy in equal measure.
The Age of Disclosure isn’t just another documentary for the conspiracy-minded. According to IndieWire, the film attempts to give bipartisan legitimacy to ideas that, until recently, were mostly confined to obscure corners of the internet. Featuring testimony from 34 government officials spanning both major political parties, the film makes a case that the U.S. government knows far more about extraterrestrial life than it’s ever let on. The documentary, which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival, was quickly picked up for global distribution by Prime Video—a move that speaks to both its timeliness and its potential to reach a wide, diverse audience.
At the center of the film is Luis Elizondo, an alleged government whistleblower whose resignation from the Pentagon’s classified Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program made headlines and turned him into a folk hero among alien researchers. Elizondo details a series of unexplainable phenomena witnessed by military and intelligence officials over the past century—think flying objects that defy the laws of physics and travel at speeds exponentially faster than anything humanity has ever built. These mysterious sightings are now officially categorized as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs.
But it’s not just Elizondo’s word against the world. The film features heavyweights like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Each offers their own reasons for believing that a “massive reveal” of information about alien research could be on the horizon. Rubio, for instance, is candid about the need for transparency, saying, “The American people deserve to know what their government knows.” Gillibrand and Clapper echo similar sentiments, highlighting a bipartisan push for greater openness in a realm long shrouded in secrecy.
As IndieWire notes, the documentary walks a fine line between sci-fi thrill ride and serious investigative journalism. If you’re open to the possibility of extraterrestrial life—and at peace with the lack of visual evidence so far—the film offers an optimistic vision of a future where humanity might finally learn the truth. For skeptics, there’s still plenty to chew on, from the sheer spectacle of watching so many officials go on the record to the broader implications for government transparency and public trust. The film opens in select theaters and streams worldwide on Prime Video starting Friday, November 21, 2025, and is already being touted as one of the most talked-about documentaries of the fall.
Meanwhile, in a very different but thematically adjacent corner of cinema, Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia delivers a biting, blood-soaked satire that skewers not just alien paranoia but the broader contours of modern American life. As reported by The Guardian and other outlets, Bugonia is an American-set remake of Jang Joon-hwan’s cult classic Save the Green Planet!, but with a distinctly contemporary twist. The film stars Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, and Emma Stone, whose performances are described as “bold and dedicated,” lending both intensity and absurdity to a plot that’s equal parts nail-biting thriller and pitch-black comedy.
The story centers on Teddy (Plemons), a man convinced that his Amazon-style employer is secretly run by an alien. With the help of his cousin Don (Delbis), Teddy kidnaps the company’s CEO, Michelle (Stone), and brings her to his basement, demanding that she communicate with the so-called Emperor alien to save humanity from a dystopian, capitalist nightmare. The film’s claustrophobic setting and escalating tension evoke Lanthimos’s earlier work, particularly Dogtooth, blending violence, mystery, and uproarious slapstick in equal measure.
Emma Stone’s performance as Michelle is a particular standout. At one point, her character is covered in white gooey cream, making her look almost otherworldly—a visual gag that underscores the film’s playful approach to its subject matter. Stone’s comedic timing and delivery are, according to critics, “a complete hoot to watch,” while Plemons and Delbis form a hilarious double act, careening toward disaster with reckless abandon.
But beneath the laughs and the gore, Bugonia offers a scathing critique of contemporary society. The film’s satire is aimed squarely at America’s healthcare system and the broader excesses of capitalism, painting a picture of a world where conspiracy theories flourish and trust is in short supply. As The Guardian notes, the film “cleverly comments on a power-hungry society gone awry with scathing wit and huge empathy for those who get caught up in its manipulative cogs.” Themes of betrayal and abuse are woven throughout, lending the film a depth that belies its more outrageous moments.
Bugonia premiered at the London Film Festival 2025 and is set to hit cinemas on October 31, 2025, just in time for Halloween. Its blend of tension, humor, and social commentary has already won it a devoted following, with many critics urging viewers to seek out the original Save the Green Planet! after experiencing Lanthimos’s take.
Taken together, The Age of Disclosure and Bugonia reflect a cultural moment where questions about aliens, authority, and reality itself are more relevant—and more entertaining—than ever. Both films invite audiences to question what they’re told, to look beyond the surface, and, perhaps most importantly, to laugh (or gasp) at the absurdity of it all. Whether or not the truth is out there, these films make one thing clear: the search for answers is as much about the journey as the destination.
With their timely releases and provocative subject matter, both films are sure to keep viewers talking—and maybe even looking up at the night sky with a bit more curiosity.
