If you thought movie theaters had strict rules about cell phones and talking, wait until you hear what Emma Stone‘s new film is asking from audiences. The upcoming screening of Bugonia in Los Angeles has one absolutely wild requirement for entry—you need to be completely bald.
Yes, you read that right. The special screening happening Monday (October 20, 2025) night at the Culver Theater isn’t just asking people to turn off their phones or silence their ringtones. Instead, attendees must either already be bald or be willing to let a barber shave their heads right there at the venue. Talk about commitment to the movie-going experience.
According to DoLA, the Los Angeles events website promoting this unconventional screening, there’s no way around it. Their Instagram post made it crystal clear: “Have hair? A barber will be on-site starting at 6 p.m. to shave it all off. Screening starts at 8 p.m. This is real. And yes, part of it will be filmed.”
The whole concept actually ties directly into the film itself. In Bugonia, Emma Stone sports a shaved head while playing a powerful CEO who gets kidnapped by conspiracy theorists convinced she’s an alien planning to destroy Earth. So moviegoers willing to go under the clippers will essentially be matching Stone’s character’s look.
This marks the fourth time Stone has teamed up with director Yorgos Lanthimos, following their collaborations on The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness. The Greek director has built a reputation for quirky, unconventional films, and this screening event certainly fits that vibe.
What makes Stone’s transformation even more meaningful is the personal connection behind it. During an interview with Vogue, she described shaving her head as “like no better feeling in the world,” though it was emotional for her as it reminded her of her mother, who had shaved her head during breast cancer treatment.
The screening is limited to people 18 and older, and tickets are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through RSVP. Anyone brave enough to attend should probably arrive early—the barber starts work at 6 p.m., giving people two hours to get their heads shaved before the 8 p.m. showtime.
The movie itself is based on the Korean thriller Save the Green Planet! and features a stellar cast including Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias, and Aidan Delbis. Bugonia hits theaters with a limited release on October 24 before expanding nationwide on October 31.
Whether this head-shaving requirement is pure marketing genius or an immersive art experience depends on your perspective. Either way, it’s definitely getting people talking—and that’s probably exactly what the filmmakers wanted.
