Emma Stone’s new movie Bugonia has officially landed on Peacock, and it’s exactly the offbeat, brain-twisting sci‑fi dark comedy you’d expect from her ongoing team‑up with Yorgos Lanthimos. If you’ve been waiting to stream it at home instead of catching it in theaters, this is your full guide to what Bugonia is, when and where to watch it, and why everyone keeps calling it the weirdest cult movie of the year.
What is Bugonia and why is everyone talking about it?
Bugonia is a 2025 black comedy / psychological thriller directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Will Tracy, adapted from the 2003 South Korean cult classic Save the Green Planet!. The movie blends sci‑fi, conspiracy horror, and pitch‑black humor as it pushes questions about corporate power, environmental collapse, and whether paranoia ever really comes from nowhere.
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The story follows two conspiracy‑obsessed young men who kidnap a powerful CEO they’re convinced is an alien planning to wipe out humanity.
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The tone swings between absurd, terrifying, and strangely emotional, making Bugonia feel like a true “you have to see this to believe it” experience.
Critics have praised the movie’s audacity, intense performances, and distinctive visual style, even as some viewers find its twists and pacing deliberately disorienting. That tension is exactly why Bugonia has become a word‑of‑mouth favorite and a new cult sensation.
Bugonia movie on Peacock: release date, streaming details, and how to watch
If you’re searching specifically for “Bugonia movie Peacock” details, the basics are straightforward but important.
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Bugonia streaming date on Peacock: The film begins streaming December 26, exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. for its subscription window.
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Platform: It is a Universal/Focus Features title, which means Peacock is its primary streaming home, not Netflix or Amazon Prime at launch.
Before its streaming debut, Bugonia premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, then had a theatrical release on October 24, 2025, followed by a digital purchase/rental window in November. That staggered rollout is typical for Universal’s prestige titles heading into awards season.
For anyone wondering “Is Bugonia on Netflix or Prime Video?”:
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It is not initially available on Netflix or standard Amazon Prime streaming; expect those to come, if at all, only after Peacock’s exclusive window.
What the film is actually about
If you’re searching “Bugonia movie explained” or “what is the Bugonia plot,” here’s the spoiler‑light version.
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Emma Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the ruthless but enigmatic CEO of Auxolith, a massive pharmaceutical conglomerate.
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Teddy, a paranoid beekeeper, and his cousin Don become convinced Michelle is an alien “Andromedan” behind a plot to destroy Earth by killing bees, hollowing out communities, and turning humans into passive drones.
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They kidnap her and drag her to a remote hideout, where a psychological war begins: Is Michelle an alien invader or just a terrifyingly powerful human caught in the crosshairs of damaged men and broken systems?
The movie riffs heavily on:
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Conspiracy theories and internet paranoia – how far people will go once they’re sure they’ve “seen the truth.”
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Corporate greed and biomedicine – Auxolith’s shady drug trials and Michelle’s role in global health disasters.
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Environmental collapse and bees – the title “Bugonia” nods to sacrifice, rebirth, and a world where even insects become part of the existential horror.
Cast, characters, and creative team behind Bugonia
For readers trying to link out to cast profiles or behind‑the‑scenes breakdowns, Bugonia has a stacked ensemble and a buzzy creative crew.
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Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller – a pharma CEO whose power and ambiguity drive the entire story; Stone also serves as a producer.
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Jesse Plemons as Teddy – a blue‑collar factory worker and beekeeper whose conspiracy obsession pushes him into kidnapping.
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Aidan Delbis as Don – Teddy’s autistic cousin and nervous but loyal partner in the abduction, marking Delbis’s major film debut.
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Stavros Halkias as Casey – part of the orbit around Teddy and Don, adding chaotic energy and dark comic beats.
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Alicia Silverstone as Sandy – Teddy’s mother, whose participation in an Auxolith drug trial and subsequent coma fuels Teddy’s rage.
Behind the camera:
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Director: Yorgos Lanthimos, reuniting with Stone after The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness.
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Writer: Will Tracy, known for The Menu, brings a sharp, satirical edge to the script.
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Producers: Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen, Miky Lee, Jerry Kyoungboum Ko, plus Lanthimos and Stone.
The film is a co‑production between the UK, Ireland, South Korea, and the U.S., underscoring its cross‑cultural remake roots.
Awards, reviews, and why it’s a must‑stream
If you’re wondering whether the Bugonia movie on Peacock is worth your time, the awards buzz and critical response say yes.
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Bugonia is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 87% rating based on hundreds of reviews.
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It has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress, and Best Actor, alongside multiple Critics Choice nods.
Reviewers highlight:
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Emma Stone’s fearless, physically transformative performance (she even shaved her head for the role).
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Jesse Plemons’s intense, unsettling turn as Teddy, whose paranoia feels both outrageous and disturbingly plausible.
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Lanthimos’s ability to make Bugonia his most “accessible” film while still delivering surreal, morally uncomfortable set‑pieces.
Some critics and viewers do find the film’s structure and ending divisive, citing complex plotting and a deliberately disorienting finale, but that tension is part of what has given Bugonia its cult‑favorite status.
Key Bugonia movie Peacock FAQs
To wrap up everything people usually search about Bugonia and Peacock in one place:
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Is Bugonia based on another movie?
Yes, it is an English‑language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon‑hwan. -
Is Bugonia really sci‑fi or just a dark comedy?
It is both: a sci‑fi satire / psychological thriller with strong black‑comedy elements, alien lore, and conspiracy‑driven horror. -
Where can I stream Bugonia right now?
Bugonia is streaming exclusively on Peacock starting December 26, after its theatrical and digital run. -
Is Bugonia family‑friendly?
No. It is rated R for bloody violence (including a suicide), grisly imagery, and strong language. -
How long is Bugonia?
The film runs around 1 hour 58 minutes, making it a tight but substantial watch for a holiday‑break movie night.
If you’re planning a watch‑party article lineup, Bugonia movie on Peacock, Emma Stone’s most intense sci‑fi performance yet, sits perfectly alongside Poor Things, The Favourite, and other Yorgos Lanthimos titles that mix dark comedy with deeply unsettling ideas.
