---
title: "Bugonia"
year: 2025
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/bugonia-2025"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 701387
imdb_id: "tt12300742"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 119
community_rating: 7.3
vote_count: 2131
content_rating: "R"
---

# Bugonia (2025) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/bugonia-2025

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Bugonia is a 2025 science fiction, thriller, and comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The film follows the story of two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, believing she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. This film premiered in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States by Focus Features. The title "Bugonia" refers to a ritual described in ancient Mediterranean texts, including Virgil's poem Georgics, where it literally means "ox birth". The film stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, and has been described as a strange, unsettling thriller about paranoia, power, and the danger of believing the wrong story.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "Two conspiracy theorists kidnap a powerful CEO, believing she is an alien plotting to destroy Earth."

### Why Watch
- engaging premise
- high-stakes conflict

### Caveats & Content Note
- intense kidnapping scenario
- unreliable protagonists
- Tone & Suitability: The film contains themes of abduction and intense interpersonal conflict.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: thriller, suspenseful, absurdist, dark

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Sky Go, Now TV | None | YouTube, Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV |
| **Canada (CA)** | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, CosmoGo, FlixFling |
| **Australia (AU)** | Netflix, BINGE, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Fetch TV |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Yorgos Lanthimos
- **Networks / Studios**: Element Pictures, Square Peg, Fremantle

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Emma Stone** as *Michelle*
- **Jesse Plemons** as *Teddy*
- **Aidan Delbis** as *Don*
- **Stavros Halkias** as *Casey*
- **Alicia Silverstone** as *Sandy*
- **J. Carmen Galindez Barrera** as *Ricky / Security Guard*
- **Marc T. Lewis** as *Tony*
- **Vanessa Eng** as *Corey*
- **Cedric Dumornay** as *Chris*
- **Momma Cherri** as *Tina*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is the premise of the film?
Two young men kidnap a CEO because they believe she is an alien planning to destroy the planet.

### Q: Who are the main characters?
The film focuses on two conspiracy-obsessed men and a high-powered CEO.

### Q: What is the genre?
The film is a thriller involving conspiracy theories and a kidnapping plot.

### Q: Is the CEO actually an alien?
The kidnappers are convinced she is an alien, though the film explores their perspective.

### Q: What year was the film released?
The film was released in 2025.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Bugonia — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/701387)
- [Bugonia (film) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugonia_(film))
- [Bugonia (2025) - IMDb](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt12300742/)
- [Bugonia (2025) Ending Explained - The twist hiding in plain sight](https://www.thereviewgeek.com/bugonia-endingexplained/)
- [Bugonia’s Title Explained: What It Means & How It Changes The Ending](https://screenrant.com/bugonia-movie-title-definition-meaning-ending-change/)
- ['Bugonia' review: Director Yorgos Lanthimos is messing with us again](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/30/nx-s1-5591161/bugonia-review)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*