# Bugonia (open spoilers after first post) - anyone else see it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [November 29, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231 "2025-11-29T15:46:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/1 "2025-11-29T15:46:42Z")
I liked the movie, but have thoughts now that I am done with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/2 "2025-11-29T15:49:35Z")
Loved it…but the ending. Ugh. I haven’t seen Save the Green Planet, the movie that this is a remake of. Looks like it shares the ending more or less. Oh…she was an alien and Teddy had it all correct? I think that actually might detract from the movie. It’s not like he was partially right, he had everything right including models of their ship. He, uh, was truly a genius of sorts that accurately analyzed the situation and came to the correct conclusions. I don’t think the ending sinks the movie, but I was disappointed. This was no “Sixth Sense” type twist for me. More like a, “Oh…yeesh…oh…meh, ok.” Anyone else seen it? ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/3 "2025-11-29T16:17:31Z")
I loved it as well. The ending pleased me greatly. The actors were terrific in their roles. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/4 "2025-11-30T15:58:07Z")
I enjoyed it a lot, but I agree the ending was a bit too on the nose. It’s in the top half of Lanthimos films for me, but not quite as good as _Poor Things_. Many Lanthimos films (Poor Things, The Favourite, and this movie in particular) are comedies at heart, which many people don’t appreciate when first introduced to one of his works. It opened in theaters in late October and is still playing in a theater I consider a “bellwether” for the Oscars (its in a high end mall on the Westside, a lot of industry folks attend it, and, as an example, _Anora_ played there continuously from October to March in 2024-25 which in retrospect was a definite signal). If it is still playing there in January, it’s going to be a serious contender come awards season. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/5 "2025-11-30T16:09:30Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > It opened in theaters in late October and is still playing in a theater I consider a “bellwether” for the Oscars (its in a high end mall on the Westside, a lot of industry folks attend it, and, as an example, _Anora_ played there continuously from October to March in 2024-25 which in retrospect was a definite signal). If it is still playing there in January, it’s going to be a serious contender come awards season. Jesse Plemons gave one of the best performances of the year. Hope he gets an Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/6 "2025-12-01T22:10:08Z")
Wonderful acting. Plemons in particular was amazing, captivating when he was onscreen, loved the premise. I feel like it all fell apart with the ending. It’s supposed to be a black comedy, but I didn’t know that going in and it felt like a standard hostage drama right up until Plemons blew up. The ending felt like an entirely different movie to me, so it was a pretty uneven, what-the-fuck experience for me. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/7 "2025-12-01T22:41:16Z")
[reads wikipedia plot summary] So, that’s it? I suspected (except for the complete extermination of all humanity. I didn’t see that coming!) Glad I didn’t waste any time watching it. eta To be fair to those that like it - I think in general endings like that are a cop out. “I don’t know how to end a film, so…let’s just [do extreme thing]. That’ll make them talk.” It makes the movie’s plot…pointless. Teddy discovered the secret - everyone dies. Killing his mom, Casey, Don suiciding - nothing made a difference. Nothing mattered. The end. I felt the same way after watching Terminator 3. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/8 "2025-12-01T22:46:50Z")
I didn’t _love_ the movie, but the people I watched it with did. It was enjoyable enough to sit through, and the acting was quite phenomenal. You kinda know how the ending will be halfway through, but it was still a decent enough journey to see it all play out… I wouldn’t watch it in theaters, necessarily, but for a couple hours streamed, it’s not the worst way to spend time. The Wikipedia plot summaries don’t really capture all that much nuance. A lot of movies sound stupid if you just read a plot summary without any of the acting or pacing. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/9 "2025-12-01T22:47:18Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I think in general endings like that are a cop out. “I don’t know how to end a film, so…let’s just [do extreme thing]. That’ll make them talk.” It makes the movie’s plot…pointless. Teddy discovered the secret - everyone dies. Nothing made a difference. The end. I’ve developed a policy of not watching any more end-of-the-world movies. I’ve never watched one whose content made the bummer of an ending worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/10 "2025-12-01T22:52:00Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I’ve never watched one whose content made the bummer of an ending worthwhile. I have, but they are very few. _Dr Strangelove_, and _The Rapture_. That might be it. If there were more i liked, I can’t remember them. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/11 "2025-12-01T22:57:11Z")
Whoops. The exception is comedies. Dr Strangelove and This is The End are fun, and I’ve seen both multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/12 "2025-12-01T23:05:09Z")
There’s a wikipedia page of “Apocalyptic Films”. I would say their definition of “Apocalyptic” doesn’t match reality. I mean, _Blade Runner_? It has a functioning society. hardly end of the world stuff. I wouldn’t even call _Deep impact_ apocalyptic. Humans are going to recover, rebuild. It’s just a disaster film. Given that, _Bugonia_ is not (currently) in the list, but _Save The Green Planet!_ is. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/13 "2025-12-01T23:10:40Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I’ve developed a policy of not watching any more end-of-the-world movies. I’ve never watched one whose content made the bummer of an ending worthwhile. Or most Post-Apocalyptic films. Or Dystopian films. Has anyone seen a utopian film where the ending etc doesnt show that it really isnt? > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > There’s a wikipedia page of “Apocalyptic Films”. I would say their definition of “Apocalyptic” doesn’t match reality. I mean, _Blade Runner_? Blade Runner is not an Apocalyptic Films, but it could be called Dystopian. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/14 "2025-12-01T23:14:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It has a functioning society. If Blade Runner’s is a “functional” society… I think Bugonia’s would be an outright paradise by comparison! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/15 "2025-12-01T23:20:17Z")
_Blade Runner_ has people doing things, going out, partying, owning (artificial) pets, without being armed and dressed Mad Max-style. They have off-world colonies which you can choose to move to. Most importantly, they have the rule of law. I think it looks as bad as it does only because we see the grubby underside. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Blade Runner is not an Apocalyptic Films, but it could be called Dystopian. I’d love to edit their list, but using my exacting standards, it might have twenty films! 🙂 > **[List of apocalyptic films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apocalyptic_films)** > > This is a list of apocalyptic feature-length films. All films within this list feature either the end of the world, a prelude to such an end (such as a world taken over by a viral infection), and/or a post-apocalyptic setting. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/16 "2025-12-02T10:34:07Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Oh…she was an alien and Teddy had it all correct? > > I think that actually might detract from the movie. It’s not like he was partially right, he had everything right including models of their ship. He, uh, was truly a genius of sorts that accurately analyzed the situation and came to the correct conclusions. No, he did not get everything correct. He got every factually verifiable thing correct but Emma Stone’s character explicitly refuted him on the motivations behind the Andromedans coming to Earth. That he was looking for an external source of blame because he could not accept it was the human’s own agency that caused the world he was living in now. It’s up to you at the end of the movie to figure out to what extent you trust either of those characters as to what the reality was. The prolonged end sequence was there to give you time to digest and use this to reflect on your own opinions of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/17 "2025-12-30T04:58:59Z")
It’s a film. I loved it. Not sure I would call it a “comedy”. But I like to be challenged, it was DARK, but that’s ok. For me, everything doesn’t have to be sunshine and roses. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/18 "2025-12-30T14:15:20Z")
Maybe it’s because I’ve just seen it and the impact is fresh in my mind, but I’d consider this one of Lanthimos’s best films. Not quite on a par with _Poor Things_, but along with _The Favorite_, perhaps one of the top three. Critics generally rate it lower among Lanthimos’s films but I don’t agree. Those who base their opinion on the Wikipedia plot summary are totally missing out. It’s almost inherent in plot summaries that they usually sound stupid even when the movie itself is terrific. Someone made a similar comment about _Greenland_ which I just saw the other day. Stupid-sounding plot when you just read the summary, fine movie when you watch it. This has all the expected Lanthimos weirdnesses (not as weird as _Poor Things_, but still …) and once again showcases his smart expertise in filmmaking. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. I was fine with the ending. (One of these days Yorgos Lanthimos is going to shock us all by making a _totally normal_ film! 😁) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/19 "2026-01-22T12:25:41Z")
I just saw this and really enjoyed it. Emma Stone is amazing as an actress (not just in this movie) and Jessie Plemons always reliably plays a person you don’t want be alone in a room with. I had been spoiled on the end but that didn’t detract from my enjoying it at all. How the onion of Teddy’s life keeps getting unpeeled. His connections to Emma’s character, his past, what exactly happened to his mother. It expertly gets revealed. As far as the ending. I think there was only two ways this could have ended. Either he was crazy or he wasn’t and either ending would alienate some of the Audience. I think this was the braver choice and having him be exactly right in every detail was almost darkly humorous. A really well done movie that I could see with slight modifications be done as a play. As an aside, the title is pretty awful. That’s really the only negative I have. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugonia-open-spoilers-after-first-post-anyone-else-see-it/1025231/20 "2026-01-22T13:49:48Z")
We watched this awhile back and enjoyed it. I like weird-ass stuff like this. I didn’t even know at the time, but in retrospect makes perfect sense, that it’s from the maker of ‘Poor Things’. > [@Quimby](#): > > Either he was crazy or he wasn’t and either ending would alienate some of the Audience. I think this was the braver choice and having him be exactly right in every detail was almost darkly humorous. > [@peccavi](#): > > I enjoyed it a lot, but I agree the ending was a bit too on the nose. I thought the acting was great, but I have to agree with peccavi and others that I wasn’t crazy about the ending. When you break the plot down to its basic essence, it was really a pretty common trope: ‘protagonist believes something that everybody thinks is crazy (secret alien invasion probably being the #1 scenario), but turns out to be 100% correct’. I was really kind of hoping as I watched, that the Plemons character did turn out to be just delusional. It could’ve been a commentary on how conspiracy theories have spread like viruses in the Information Age. Unfortunately I accidently spoiled the ending for myself before the end reveal-- I have a habit of checking IMDb to see who certain actors are who I vaguely recognize, to figure out what else I’ve seen them in. And saw that there were character names like ‘Andromedan Leader’, ‘Andromedan #2’. Oops.