Missed ‘Bugonia’ in theaters? It’s a must-watch on Peacock
Missed ‘Bugonia’ in theaters? It’s a must-watch on Peacock
What sounded weird on paper turns into one of Peacock’s most gripping movies.
There’s a lot of great stuff on Peacock right now, but there’s one drama movie sitting there that I genuinely can’t believe more people aren’t talking about, and that’s “Bugonia.” Tara and I actually missed this one in theaters, and not because of bad buzz or reviews. We honestly just didn’t really know what it was about. The marketing was strange, the premise felt vague, and it landed in that category of movies where you think, we’ll catch it later. We finally watched it once it dropped on Peacock, and almost immediately had that reaction of, wait, how did this slip past us? Here’s why it’s one of the best under-the-radar drama movies on the platform.
Best under-the-radar drama movie on Peacock
Why ‘Bugonia’ is the most underrated drama movie on Peacock
On paper, “Bugonia” sounds like a movie that would scare people off. Two conspiracy-obsessed guys kidnap a powerful tech CEO because they think she’s an alien. It’s directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and is a mash of drama, thriller, dark comedy, and sci-fi elements. That’s a lot. And I think that’s exactly why it struggled in theaters. The marketing didn’t really explain what kind of movie it was, and it didn’t feel like an easy sell. Is it a thriller? A satire? A sci-fi movie? The answer is kind of all of the above, which can be a tough pitch if you’re just scrolling trailers.
But watching it at home, without any of that baggage, it becomes clear pretty quickly that the genre-bending all works. The movie locks you into this tense psychological standoff and never really lets go. Jesse Plemons plays Teddy with this unsettling mix of conviction and desperation, and Emma Stone is incredible as the CEO who may or may not be what he thinks she is. The movie keeps daring you to make up your mind, then pulling the rug out from under you. It’s the kind of story where you’re constantly leaning forward, trying to figure out who actually has the power in the room.
Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it’s cynical. But it’s also paced well, sharply written, and weirdly funny throughout. The tension keeps escalating, the performances keep you engaged, and the movie never feels like it’s just being bleak for the sake of it. It’s saying something about paranoia, corporate power, and how easily conviction can turn into something dangerous, but it does it through a story that’s genuinely compelling to sit with for two hours.
The reason “Bugonia” flew under the radar has way more to do with muddy marketing than quality. It had a festival premiere, strong reviews, and big names attached, but it didn’t come with a clear hook for mainstream audiences. Now that it’s on Peacock, that problem disappears. You hit play, settle in, and let the movie do its thing. And once you do, it becomes obvious this is one of those movies that was always going to be better discovered at home.
Bugonia
Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
What is ‘Bugonia’ about?
“Bugonia” centers on Teddy and Don, two men living on the fringes of society who become convinced that Michelle Fuller, a powerful tech CEO, is actually an alien planning to destroy humanity. They kidnap her and hold her in a remote farmhouse, putting her through tests and interrogations as they search for proof of their belief.
As the story unfolds, the movie keeps complicating what you think you know. Teddy’s paranoia is extreme, but his anger doesn’t come from nowhere. Michelle appears like a victim, but the deeper the movie goes, the more uncomfortable questions it asks about corporate harm, accountability, and who actually gets to decide what’s justified. The movie builds toward a bold, wild finale that you have to watch to believe.
Other underappreciated drama movies on Peacock
If “Bugonia” works for you and you’re looking for more smart, adult dramas on Peacock, there are a few others worth queuing up. “The Black Phone 2” leans into tension and performance-driven horror in a way that’s way more effective than people expected. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is still one of the most electric, uncomfortable character studies you can stream, and it holds up incredibly well. It’s about Jordan Belfort building a fraudulent brokerage empire and spiraling into excess, crime, and eventual FBI heat.
And “Honey Don’t” is another newer drama that flew under the radar but rewards viewers who want something a little darker and more thoughtful. It follows private investigator Honey O’Donahue as she digs into a string of strange deaths that appear to be linked to a religious cult.
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