Critics praise Stone and Plemons in Lanthimos’ ‘Bugonia’

Yorgos Lanthimos’ darkly comic thriller “Bugonia” opens in theaters today with an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score, following its Venice Film Festival premiere where it received a nearly seven-minute standing ovationwikipedia.
Emma Stone plays a pharmaceutical CEO who is kidnapped by Jesse Plemons’ conspiracy theorist character who believes she’s an alien plotting to destroy Earth in this English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film “Save the Green Planet!”apnews.
Critics are hailing Plemons’ performance as masterful, with reviewers praising his ability to portray his character’s multiple facets as “menacing, deranged, bruised, tormented and unforgiving,” while Stone delivers a “mesmerizing” performance that commands the screenrottentomatoes.
The film is being lauded for its timely satire of contemporary issues including corporate malfeasance, internet conspiracy theories, and the healthcare crisis, with one critic calling it “thrillingly, if tragically, tied to our reality”sentinelcolorado.
The movie also stars newcomer Aidan Delbis as Plemons’ accomplice, alongside Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone, and marks the fourth collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos following “The Favourite,” “Poor Things,” and “Kinds of Kindness”wikipedia.

Critics Hail Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Darkly Comic ‘Bugonia’

Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film “Bugonia” is earning widespread critical acclaim as it opens in theaters today, with reviewers praising Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for their commanding performances in the Greek director’s timely dark comedy about conspiracy theories and corporate power.apnews

The sci-fi thriller, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a nearly seven-minute standing ovation, currently holds an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with critics calling it a “bonkers entertainment” that showcases Lanthimos’ “whip-smart method” applied to “modern society’s madness”.wikipedia

Stone and Plemons Deliver Career-Best Work

Critics are particularly impressed with the lead performances. Jesse Plemons stars as Teddy, a conspiracy-obsessed warehouse worker who kidnaps pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller, played by Emma Stone, believing she’s an alien from the Andromeda galaxy plotting Earth’s destruction. The film is an English-language remake of the 2003 Korean cult classic “Save the Green Planet!”.sentinelcolorado

“Stone is a mesmerizing riot in this bleak satire of our current state of disorder—as is her co-star Jesse Plemons, who matches her intensity and manages to outdo her craziness,” writes critic Nick Schager. Multiple reviews highlight Plemons’ “masterful performance” that shows his character’s “multiple facets: menacing, deranged, bruised, tormented and unforgiving”.rottentomatoes

Stone, appearing with a shaved head and covered in white antihistamine cream for much of the film, delivers what many are calling some of her finest work with Lanthimos. “Stone commands the screen with pitch-perfect delivery and excellent use of her unique skills as an actress,” notes one critic.awardswatch

A Timely Satire for 2025

Critics consistently praise “Bugonia” for its relevance to contemporary issues. The film tackles corporate malfeasance, internet-fueled conspiracy theories, and the growing divide between different segments of society. “It’s not only a sharp and timely dark comedy that sets its satirical sites on corporate America, internet conspiracies, and the healthcare crisis in the nation, but it is so bold and brazen, it’s breathtaking,” writes one reviewer.rottentomatoes

Director Lanthimos told press at Venice that “much of the dystopia depicted is not entirely fictional. It resonates with the real world”. The film explores themes of colony collapse disorder affecting bee populations, pharmaceutical industry ethics, and the dangerous allure of online conspiracy theories.deadline

Several critics note how the 2003 source material feels particularly relevant in 2025’s media landscape. “The snowballing history and breakthrough developments in internet-assisted psychotic paranoia amp up the premise to an 11 and then some,” according to one review.goldengatexpress

“Bugonia” represents the fourth collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos, following their Oscar-winning streak with “The Favourite,” “Poor Things,” and “Kinds of Kindness.” The film also features Aidan Delbis as Teddy’s neurodivergent cousin, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone.wikipedia