Film fans have been granted the opportunity to watch Emma Stone’s latest film for free – but only if they’re prepared to shave their head for the pleasure.
Emma, 36, stars in the new film from auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, based on the 2003 South Korean comedy-thriller Save The Green Planet!
In Bugonia, Emma plays high-powered CEO Michelle Fuller – who is kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) when they become convinced that she is an alien invader.
One of the many indignities visited upon Michelle (which also include being strapped to a table, gagged and forced to undergo electroshock therapy) involves the forced shaving of her head.
The film is scheduled for a limited release on October 24 in the USA, before a wider release on October 31, and dropping in the UK on November 7.
However, moviegoers in Los Angeles can see it even earlier than that – if they’re either bald or willing to shave their heads first.
As reported by local Instagram account DoLa, the Culver Theater in LA is offering brave film fans a chance to attend a sneak preview of Bugonia.
‘Are you bald, or willing to shave your head?’ reads the post, accompanied by an image of Emma in all her recently-shaved glory.
‘On Monday, 10/20, head to @theculvertheater for a FREE advanced screening of @bugoniafilm – the new @focusfeatures fever dream from Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.’
‘Have hair? A barber will be on-site starting at 6PM to shave it all off 🪒💇♀️ Screening starts at 8PM. This is real. And yes, part of it will be filmed.’
In the comments below the post, filmgoers were tickled by this eccentric approach to film publicity.
‘Finally an event to celebrate the bald community!’ wrote robertjreed.
‘I’ve been preparing my whole hairless life,’ said sinister-purpose, invoking the hashtag #BaldEmmaStoneSupremacy.
Meanwhile, anthonyboyerddo joked: ‘Representation matters.’
‘This is f****d up bro some of us dont get to cosplay being bald,’ said danidimarchi.
Bugonia marks Emma’s latest collaboration with the Greek filmmaker, after previously starring in his films The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness.
Emma scored a Best Actress Academy Award for her performance as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, fending off Lily Gladstone and Carey Mulligan at that year’s ceremony.
‘The vulnerability of it, the sensitivity and the humor of it — it’s just so difficult to do. I just don’t know how she did it,’ said Yorgos of Emma’s performance while at the New York Film Festival last year.
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Bugonia has already emerged with strong word of mouth following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival and critics’ screening in London.
Metro’s own Tori Brazier described the film as Emma and Yorgos’s ‘boldest, oddest collaboration yet,’ adding: ‘It might be one of Lanthimos’s most normal-looking movies on the surface — and a remake, to boot – but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s lost any of his unique edge.’
Bugonia currently boasts a score of 90% ‘fresh’ on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, only compounding the sense of anticipation for UK audiences.
Of portraying Michelle, Emma described it as ‘weirdly very challenging,’ having expected to have spent the whole film strapped down to a cot.
‘Apparently, she’s a very physical gal!’ she added.
And yet, despite all the tortures her character suffers, it was the performance itself which proved toughest for Emma.
‘I think [the biggest challenge was] just trying to weave her story so that it makes sense the second time as well!’ Emma said.
Bugonia is released in UK cinemas on November 7, 2025.
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