‘Bugonia’ Threw the Wildest Screening of the Year — Only for the Bald (or the Brave Enough to Shave)

Hollywood marketing went full method few weekends ago. Focus Features pulled off one of the boldest stunts of the year with an exclusive early screening of Bugonia in Los Angeles — and yes, only bald attendees (or those brave enough to shave their heads at the door) got in.

The October 20 Culver City event was inspired by the film’s most viral scene — Emma Stone shaving her head on camera in one continuous take. The daring transformation has dominated film Twitter for weeks, and Focus turned that buzz into a live spectacle.

Barbers were stationed outside the ArcLight theater from 6 p.m., razors buzzing as dozens of fans lined up for the “bald rebellion.” By 8 p.m., the crowd was a sea of gleaming scalps, with Emma Stone herself making a surprise appearance to greet attendees before the screening.

Online reactions poured in through the night — clips of cheering fans went viral on X and TikTok, while critics at the event praised both the film’s emotional core and Focus’s fearless marketing. One fan post read: “I came for the stunt, stayed for the story — worth every strand.”

In a landscape where movies compete with memes for attention, Bugonia didn’t just break through the noise — it buzzed right past it.

For African cinephiles watching from afar, it was another reminder that cinema today isn’t just consumed — it’s experienced. And Bugonia? Unforgettably bald and brilliantly bold.

I came for the stunt, stayed for the story — worth every strand.