Oscar 2026: Bugonia and the Conspiracies of Modernity

Nominated for the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globe, among other major honors, Bugonia is one of the films most frequently cited in the Oscar 2026 race. Directed by the acclaimed Yorgos Lanthimos, best known for Poor Things, written by Will Trace, the screenwriter behind Succession, The Menu, and The Regime, and starring Emma Stone, a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress for La La Land and Poor Things, the film premiered in theaters in November 2025 and has remained a topic of discussion ever since.

Since its release, the film has been highly controversial, generating intense debate among both audiences and critics. There is little consensus, but one thing is certain: when a film inspires this level of conversation, it clearly has something to say.

Without further ado:

Premise

Bugonia is built around a premise that is as absurd as it is unsettling. Two young men deeply immersed in conspiracy theories kidnap the CEO of a major corporation, convinced that she is an alien infiltrated on Earth. What initially sounds like pure delusion or satire quickly evolves into a suffocating psychological game, where every gesture made by the captive is interpreted as proof of a much larger threat.

Rather than focusing on whether anything supernatural is actually happening, the film is far more interested in examining how paranoia functions. It follows the gradual shift of power within this improvised captivity. The kidnappers’ logic is closed in on itself, and the more they believe they are saving the world, the more they expose the moral fragility of their convictions.

Conspiracy and Madness

In Bugonia, conspiracy is not portrayed as an exception, but as a language in itself. The kidnappers do not feel disconnected from the real world. They are a direct product of it. Madness is not shown as something isolated or exaggerated, but as a logical outcome of an environment saturated with disinformation, online radicalization, and self-reinforcing narratives that have no commitment to reality.

The film constructs this state of delirium in a claustrophobic manner, illustrating how paranoia creates its own rules, its own moral codes, and above all its own version of truth. Questioning stops being an option. Everything operates through constant confirmation. At this point, Bugonia stops being merely strange or provocative and becomes deeply unsettling.

Themes and Politics

At a time when conspiracy theories and fake news operate side by side and have become powerful forces on the internet, it is essential to reflect on the kind of discourse built around them. In a digital landscape where easy access can lead people toward the most bizarre theories, combined with the destructive potential of fake news and the way it has drawn in otherwise ordinary individuals, it becomes impossible not to stay alert to the film’s underlying message.

Cinema has always been a space for questioning and tension, but it is also important to acknowledge the risk involved in constructing a narrative that centers on, defends, or provides justification for people immersed in this type of delusion. In Bugonia, this approach is framed through acidic and sarcastic humor, yet it still carries a certain level of risk when it comes to how the message may be interpreted by the audience.

Audience and Critical Reception

Since its premiere, Bugonia has received an extremely polarized reception. Part of the critical community views the film as a sharp satire of contemporary society, praising Lanthimos’s confident direction, Emma Stone’s performance, and the film’s willingness to tackle difficult themes without offering easy answers. For these viewers, discomfort is a fundamental part of the experience.

On the other hand, a significant portion of both critics and audiences point to issues in the way the film engages with conspiratorial narratives, even when filtered through irony. Some argue that Bugonia walks a dangerous line, where criticism can be interpreted as validation, particularly within a social context already weakened by widespread disinformation. There may be no consensus, but the film’s impact is undeniable.

Bugonia is a film that refuses to offer comfort. It provokes, divides, irritates, and sparks debates that extend far beyond the screen. Its greatest strength may lie precisely in its ability to expose how surrounded we are by delirious narratives disguised as absolute truth, and how easily fear can be transformed into power.

At the same time, the risks of this approach cannot be ignored. In a world where conspiracy theories already cause tangible harm, engaging with this kind of imagery demands a great deal of responsibility.

Bugonia may not provide answers, but it leaves behind a lingering sense of unease. When madness stops being the exception and becomes the method, who is really in control?

And you? What did you think of the film? Let us know in the comments!

See you next time!