Let's be crystal clear: Bugonia is rated R for strong violence, sexual content, graphic nudity, and disturbing material. This isn't a "maybe your mature 16-year-old" situation. This is a hard no for anyone under 17, and honestly, many adults are going to find it too much.

Here's what parents need to know about the content:

Violence and Disturbing Imagery: Lanthimos doesn't shy away from graphic violence. His films often include scenes that are deliberately shocking and uncomfortable. Expect blood, body horror, and the kind of violence that lingers in your brain long after the credits roll.

Sexual Content: The R rating includes explicit sexual content and full nudity. Lanthimos's previous films have featured very frank, sometimes clinical depictions of sex that are meant to unsettle rather than titillate. This isn't gratuitous in the traditional sense, but it's definitely not appropriate for young viewers.

Psychological Intensity: Beyond the explicit content, Lanthimos's films are psychologically heavy. They explore themes of power, control, dehumanization, and societal breakdown in ways that are intentionally disturbing. The tone is bleak, the humor is pitch-black, and the overall experience is designed to make you uncomfortable.

Absurdist Style: If your teen is used to conventional storytelling, Lanthimos's surreal, deadpan style can be genuinely confusing and alienating. Characters speak in monotone, situations defy logic, and nothing feels quite real. It's art-house filmmaking that requires a specific mindset.

Emma Stone is having a moment, especially after winning an Oscar for Poor Things (another Lanthimos film). The sci-fi/alien conspiracy angle might sound cool to teens who are into shows like Stranger Things or movies like Arrival. The marketing might make it look like an edgy thriller rather than the deeply weird art film it actually is.

Your teen might also be getting into "elevated" genre films — the kind of horror and sci-fi that gets critical acclaim and feels more sophisticated than typical blockbusters. If they've heard about Lanthimos or seen clips on TikTok, they might think this is their entry point into "serious" cinema.

If your older teen (17+) is genuinely interested in Lanthimos's work and you're considering allowing them to watch it, here's the conversation to have:

Set expectations about the style: "This isn't a normal movie. It's intentionally weird and uncomfortable. The director makes films that challenge you and sometimes make you feel bad. That's the point."

Be honest about the content: "There's graphic violence, explicit sex, and full nudity. It's not trying to be shocking for shock's sake, but it's very adult content that's meant to make you think about difficult themes."

Discuss the themes: Lanthimos's films often explore power dynamics, dehumanization, and social control. These are heavy topics that require emotional maturity to process. Ask your teen why they want to see it and what they're hoping to get from the experience.

Consider watching together (if you're both comfortable): For some families with older teens who are serious about film, watching challenging content together and discussing it afterward can be valuable. But this only works if everyone is truly okay with the explicit content.

If your kid is interested in sci-fi, conspiracy theories, or Emma Stone, here are age-appropriate alternatives:

For teens interested in conspiracy theories and investigations, consider Knives Out or Glass Onion — clever mysteries that are fun rather than traumatizing.

Look, teens find ways to watch things. If your older teen sees Bugonia (whether with or without permission), the most important thing is creating space for them to process it.

Ask open-ended questions: "What did you think? How did it make you feel? What do you think the director was trying to say?" Lanthimos's films are deliberately provocative and often leave viewers feeling unsettled or confused. That's a feature, not a bug.

If your teen seems disturbed or upset by what they saw, talk about how media affects us and validate that it's okay to be affected by intense content. Not every movie needs to be "enjoyed" in the traditional sense, but we should be thoughtful about what we expose ourselves to and why.

Bugonia is not for kids. It's not for most teens. It's barely for most adults. Yorgos Lanthimos makes films for a very specific audience that appreciates challenging, uncomfortable, artistically ambitious cinema. That's great! We need filmmakers pushing boundaries and making weird stuff.

But this is not the hill to die on with your 15-year-old who thinks they're mature enough to handle anything. There are dozens of better entry points into sophisticated, thought-provoking sci-fi that won't involve explaining graphic sex scenes or processing deeply disturbing imagery together.

If you have a film-obsessed 17-year-old who genuinely understands what they're getting into, you can make that call as a family. But for everyone else? Hard pass. There's too much good content out there that doesn't require therapy afterward.

Want help finding age-appropriate sci-fi, thrillers, or Emma Stone movies? Ask our chatbot for personalized recommendations based on your kid's age and interests.