If you've seen a Yorgos Lanthimos movie, you know he can get weird, but he may be going to a whole other level with Poor Things, his new movie coming out in 2023. He's bringing an impressive cast along with him, as Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and more star in the film.
Lanthimos is best known for his movies The Lobster, an off-kilter sci-fi movie, and The Favourite, a hilarious period piece, the latter of which starred Stone. With Poor Things, Lanthimos seems to be combining those two styles into a Frankenstein-like tale that we can bet is going to be weird, but hopefully in the best ways.
Here is everything that we know about Poor Things.
How to watch Poor Things
Find out how you can watch Poor Things right here, including where it is streaming.
Poor Things plot
Here is the official plot for Poor Things:
"From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. Under Baxter's protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn, a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation."
Tony McNamara wrote the script based on Alasdir Gray's novel of the same name. McNamara has previously worked with Lanthimos, penning the script for The Favourite, but he is also the creator of The Great and wrote the screenplay for Emma Stone's Cruella.
Poor Things cast
Emma Stone leads the cast of Poor Things as Bella Baxter. Stone is an Oscar-winning actress, earning a Best Actress trophy for her performance in La La Land. Among her other well-known roles are the aforementioned Cruella and The Favourite, as well as Battle of the Sexes, Birdman, The Help, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Easy A and Zombieland.
A pair of Oscar-nominated actors are also joining Stone as part of the cast: Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. Ruffalo is playing Duncan Wedderburn and Dafoe is playing the scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. Fans will best know Ruffalo from playing Bruce Banner/the Hulk in the MCU, as well as from movies like The Adam Project, Spotlight and Begin Again. Dafoe is also an MCU alum, playing the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home (as well as in the original Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies), but he is also known for The Northman, The Lighthouse, The Florida Project, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Boondock Saints.
Other members of the Poor Things cast include a pair of popular comedian/actors in Ramy Youssef (Ramy) and Jerrod Carmichael (Rothaniel), as well as indie movie regular Christopher Abbott (The Forgiven).
Poor Things trailer
The official trailer for Poor Things is here, giving us our best look yet at Stone's Bella and her desire to grow and be free. Watch it directly below, in addition to other teaser trailers for the movie:
Searchlight Pictures has also released a clip for Poor Things that you can watch right here:
Poor Things reviews
Critics got their first look at Poor Things at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, where the movie earned raves. That has continued, as Poor Things has been labeled "Certified Fresh" by Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 93% as of December 20.
Here are some snippets from reviews:
Maureen Lee Lanker, Entertainment Weekly: "Bella is a cinematic heroine for the ages and Poor Things is a unique piece of artistry. With Yorgos Lanthimos behind the camera, it's not hard to find it fascinating to be alive."
Mark Johnson, Awards Daily: "One of the most wildly bizarre cinematic experiences you’re likely to witness... equal parts brilliance and madness. Peculiar, perverse, and preposterous in all the best ways."
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magainze: "It's Lanthimos' finest movie so far, a strange, gorgeous-looking picture that extends generosity both to its characters and the audience."
Poor Things awards
Here is the roundup of the major end-of-year awards and nominations that Poor Things has earned to date:
Oscars
- Best Picture (nominee)
- Best Director — Yorgos Lanthimos (nominee)
- Best Actress — Emma Stone (winner)
- Best Supporting Actor — Mark Ruffalo (nominee)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)
- Best Cinematography (nominee)
- Best Costume Design (winner)
- Best Editing (nominee)
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling (winner)
- Best Production Design (winner)
- Best Score (nominee)
BAFTA Film Awards
- Best Film (nominee)
- Outstanding British Film (nominee)
- Best Leading Actress — Emma Stone (winner)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)
- Best Cinematography (nominee)
- Best Editing (nominee)
- Best Costume Design (winner)
- Best Makeup & Hair (winner)
- Best Original Score (nominee)
- Best Production Design (winner)
- Best Special Effects (nominee)
Golden Globes
- Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (winner)
- Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy — Emma Stone (winner)
- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture — Willem Dafoe (nominee)
- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture — Mark Ruffalo (nominee)
- Best Director — Yorgos Lanthimos (nominee)
- Best Screenplay (nominee)
- Best Original Score (nominee)
American Film Institute
- Top 10 Motion Picture of the Year
Critics Choice Awards
- Best Picture (nominee)
- Best Actress — Emma Stone (winner)
- Best Supporting Actor — Mark Ruffalo (nominee)
- Best Director — Yorgos Lanthimos (nominee)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (nominee)
- Best Cinematography (nominee)
- Best Production Design (nominee)
- Best Editing (nominee)
- Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Best Hair and Makeup (nominee)
- Best Visual Effects (nominee)
- Best Comedy (nominee)
- Best Score (nominee)
Gotham Awards
- Best International Feature (nominee)
London Critics' Circle Awards
- Film of the Year (nominee)
- Director of the Year — Yorgos Lanthimos (nominee)
- Actress of the Year — Emma Stone (nominee)
- Supporting Actor of the Year — Mark Ruffalo (nominee)
- The Attenborough Award: British/Irish Film of the Year (nominee)
- Technical Achievement Award — Costumes (nominee)
Los Angeles Film Critics Awards
- Best Director — Yorgos Lanthimos (runner-up)
- Beat Leading Performance — Emma Stone (co-winner)
- Best Cinematography (winner)
- Best Production Design (runner-up)
National Board of Review
- Best Supporting Actor — Mark Ruffalo (winner)
- Best Adapted Screenplay — Tony McNamara (winner)
- Top Films of the year
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role — Emma Stone (nominee)
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role — Willem Dafoe (nominee)
Venice Film Festival
- Golden Lion (winner)
- UNIMED Award — Yorgos Lanthimos (winner)
Yorgos Lanthimos movies
Lanthimos has made a name for himself with US audiences in the last few years, but the Greek filmmaker was being heralded before he made the move to Hollywood, particularly with movies like Dogtooth. Here is a full look at his feature directing credits to date:
- O kalyteros mou filos (2001)
- Kinetta (2005)
- Dogtooth (2009)
- Alps (2011)
- The Lobster (2015)
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
- The Favourite (2018)
