Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos have launched their highly anticipated film Bugonia into the awards spotlight as a promising contender for the 2026 Oscars. Premiering at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 28, the English-language remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet! centers around Stone playing a powerful CEO who is kidnapped by someone convinced she is an extraterrestrial.
Following their previous successes with movies like The Favourite and Poor Things, which garnered multiple Oscar nominations and wins, the creative duo have set high expectations for Bugonia. Early reception suggests the film is positioned to become a leading presence during the upcoming awards season.
Venice Film Festival Ignites Early Awards Buzz for Bugonia
Venice and other premier film festivals often serve as critical gatekeepers in setting the tone for awards conversations, distinguishing frontrunners from potential underdogs. Bugonia opened to universal acclaim, securing a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 critic reviews just one day after its world premiere.
Jack Walters of ScreenRant praised the film highly, rating it 8 out of 10, and highlighted Lanthimos as
“at the top of his game,”
while noting that Stone and co-star Jesse Plemons delivered
“some of their most compelling and engaging to date.”
This positive critical reception aligns with Lanthimos’ typical success at Venice, where his previous films Poor Things and The Favourite also launched with near-perfect scores and widespread praise.
The response from audiences was equally enthusiastic. Bugonia earned a nearly seven-minute standing ovation following its premiere, underscoring the strong emotional impact it made. Walters, attending a separate press screening, described the atmosphere:
“Bugonia has been a clear highlight of this year’s Venice Film Festival so far among critics and general audiences alike. It got a huge reaction out of my press screening, including lots of laughter and gasps. There was a notably loud and long round of applause by the press when it ended. Stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons even stopped to sign autographs and pose for selfies with fans in the rain at what looked like one of the busiest red carpets of the festival so far. The buzz from the premiere and its nearly seven minute standing ovation continues to linger through the festival.”
The fervor surrounding the film, including the buzz about Emma Stone’s bold physical transformation for the role, adds layers to Bugonia’s growing acclaim. Such attention boosts the likelihood of the film—and its key contributors—earning recognition in critics’ circles and other awards events leading up to the 98th Academy Awards.
Understanding the Significance of Bugonia’s Standing Ovation
Standing ovations at prestigious festivals like Venice are often celebrated and can generate excitement about a film’s potential trajectory during awards season. However, they do not guarantee Oscar nominations or wins, as the examples from the 2024 festival demonstrate. Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door received a 17-minute ovation, Joker: Folie à Deux an 11-minute one, and Queer was applauded for 10 minutes—yet none of these films secured a single Academy Award nomination.
Even projects with strong acting receptions, such as Angelina Jolie’s Maria and Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl, expected to be Best Actress contenders, failed to receive nominations. Still, some notable exceptions occurred; Adrien Brody’s Best Actor win for The Brutalist followed a 12-minute standing ovation, highlighting that while long applause can indicate quality, the awards season path depends on many factors.
Interestingly, Bugonia’s standing ovation, just under seven minutes, is shorter than the 10-minute reception enjoyed by Lanthimos and Stone’s previous collaboration Poor Things in 2023. The earlier film sparked chants of the director’s name despite the absence of the cast due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, whereas Stone’s presence at Bugonia’s premiere offered a chance to capitalize on her recent Oscar win and further propel her accolades.
While Bugonia’s reception is slightly more subdued in comparison, it remains a compelling contender. The film’s ability to leave a strong impression on audiences and critics alike at Venice bodes well for its continued momentum as it approaches a wider release on October 24.
Strong Performances and Creative Team Fuel Awards Momentum
The compelling performances by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons serve as central pillars for Bugonia’s critical success. Stone’s portrayal of Michelle, a high-powered CEO caught in extraordinary circumstances, has captivated viewers with its intensity and nuance. Plemons’ role as Teddy complements Stone’s performance, contributing depth to a story that blends audacity with emotional resonance.
Behind the scenes, Yorgos Lanthimos’ direction and Will Tracy’s screenplay are anticipated to garner significant awards attention as well. The collaboration between Lanthimos and Stone, now entering its fourth film, continues to push creative boundaries and attract acclaim from critics and audiences, strengthening Bugonia’s position heading into awards season.
Looking Ahead: Bugonia’s Place in the 2026 Oscars Race
As Bugonia moves beyond its festival debut and closer to general release, it is expected to intensify its presence in Oscar-related discussions. Critics’ groups and precursor awards ceremonies may amplify the film’s profile through wins and nominations, highlighting its direction, performances, and screenplay.
Whether Bugonia will reach the same heights as Poor Things or settle into a strong mid-tier contender role will depend on how the rest of the awards landscape evolves over the coming months. Given the enthusiastic response from both Venice’s critics and audiences, alongside Emma Stone’s continued prominence in Hollywood, the film is poised to maintain momentum as a serious contender for multiple Academy Award categories in 2026.
Principal Cast
Emma Stone as Michelle
Jesse Plemons as Teddy
