If you’ve been following the chaotic career trajectory of Aubrey Plaza, you know she doesn't really do "boring." She thrives in the weird, the uncomfortable, and the deeply sarcastic. So, when it was announced she was joining an Ethan Coen project described as a "lesbian B-movie," it felt like the stars had finally aligned. Aubrey Plaza Honey Don’t—the stylized, neon-soaked follow-up to Drive-Away Dolls—is officially out in the world, and honestly, it’s a lot to process.
It isn't a "Coen Brothers" movie in the traditional sense. Ethan Coen, working alongside his wife and longtime collaborator Tricia Cooke, has leaned into a specific, campy, and often violent aesthetic that feels a world away from the cold precision of No Country for Old Men. Instead, we get a sun-bleached Bakersfield noir where the stakes are life-and-death, but the tone is pure screwball.
The Plot: Cults, Cops, and "Honey" O'Donahue
The movie centers on Honey O’Donahue, played by Margaret Qualley. She’s a private investigator in Bakersfield who gets sucked into a vortex of weirdness after a young woman named Mia Novotny is found dead in a car wreck. But this wasn't an accident. Mia had called Honey, terrified, just before her death.
This leads Honey to the doorstep of a mysterious, borderline cult-like church led by Reverend Drew Devlin. If you ever wanted to see Chris Evans play a charismatic, slightly terrifying preacher, this is your moment. But the real spark happens when Honey meets MG Falcone, played by Aubrey Plaza.
Plaza plays a police officer who is, in classic Plaza fashion, deeply enigmatic and arguably dangerous. The chemistry between Qualley and Plaza is the engine that drives the middle of the film. It’s raunchy, it’s fast-paced, and it includes a bar scene and subsequent hookup that apparently caused a few walkouts during early screenings. People were shouting "woke" in the theaters, which, if we’re being real, is usually a sign that a B-movie is doing exactly what it intended to do.
📖 Related: Chris Robinson and The Bold and the Beautiful: What Really Happened to Jack Hamilton
Why the Reviews Are All Over the Place
Let’s be blunt: Aubrey Plaza Honey Don’t did not set the box office on fire. It grossed about $7.4 million against a $20 million budget. Critics were just as split as the audiences.
Some people loved the freewheeling, "trashy-on-purpose" vibe. They praised Ari Wegner’s cinematography, which makes the California desert look like an oppressive, beautiful oven. Others felt the movie was "empty" or "disjointed." There is a very real sense that Ethan Coen is enjoying his freedom away from the more disciplined structure of his brother Joel. Without Joel to tighten the screws, Ethan’s solo work (or rather, his work with Cooke) is looser, weirder, and much less interested in making "sense" in a traditional narrative way.
The Cast Breakdown
- Margaret Qualley: As Honey, she carries the movie with a "note-perfect nonchalance." She’s the anchor.
- Aubrey Plaza: As MG Falcone, she provides the edge. Is she a friend? An enemy? A serial killer? The reveal involving a teacup and green lipstick is one of the film's more chilling turns.
- Chris Evans: Reverend Drew is a far cry from Captain America. He’s unhinged in a way that recalls his Knives Out energy but turned up to eleven.
- Charlie Day & Billy Eichner: They pop up to provide the kind of frantic comedic energy you’d expect, keeping the "B-movie" spirit alive.
The Controversy and the "Lesbian B-Movie" Label
Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke have been very vocal about calling this a "lesbian B-movie trilogy." Drive-Away Dolls was the first; Honey Don’t! is the second. A third, titled Go, Beavers!, is reportedly in development.
The label itself has ruffled some feathers. Some critics find it "degrading" or a weird way to market a franchise. But for Coen and Cooke, it’s an homage to the low-budget exploitation films of the 70s—just with a queer lens and a much higher production value. They wanted to make movies that have the "inventive violence" and dark humor of early Coen works like Raising Arizona, but with the kind of sexual content the brothers usually avoided.
👉 See also: Chase From Paw Patrol: Why This German Shepherd Is Actually a Big Deal
Basically, if you go into this expecting Fargo, you’re going to be disappointed. If you go in expecting a wild, queer noir that doesn't care if you like its characters, you might actually have a blast.
What Really Happened with MG Falcone? (Spoilers)
For those who have seen the film (or don't mind the spoilers), the trajectory of Aubrey Plaza’s character is where the movie takes its darkest turn. While the film starts as a mystery about a church, it ends as a personal confrontation.
Honey eventually realizes that MG Falcone—the cop she’s been sleeping with—is not just a cynical law enforcement officer. She’s a predator. The climax involves Honey discovering her own niece, Corinne, held captive in MG’s basement. It turns out MG has been linked to several murders, including sex workers and even her own father. The final showdown is brutal: a boiling kettle, a gunshot, and a lot of blood.
It’s a gritty ending for a movie that spends a lot of its runtime being a comedy. That tonal whiplash is exactly why people are so divided on it. It’s hard to know if you’re supposed to be laughing or gripping your seat.
✨ Don't miss: Charlize Theron Sweet November: Why This Panned Rom-Com Became a Cult Favorite
How to Watch It Now
If you missed the theatrical run—and based on the $7 million box office, most people did—you can now find it on streaming. It landed on Peacock in October 2025 and is available on most VOD platforms like Amazon and Apple.
Watching it at home might actually be the better experience. It feels like the kind of cult classic that people will "discover" at 1:00 AM on a Tuesday, which is probably the exact environment Ethan Coen had in mind.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check out the "Spiritual Prequel": If you liked the vibe of Honey Don't!, go back and watch Drive-Away Dolls (2024). It has a similar "lesbian caper" energy but is arguably a bit more accessible.
- Watch for the Cinematography: Pay attention to Ari Wegner's work. She also shot The Power of the Dog, and her ability to make the landscape feel like a character is one of the few things everyone agrees is great about this movie.
- Keep an eye on "Go, Beavers!": Despite the lukewarm box office, the third film in the trilogy is still in the works. It’s reportedly about a college crew team reunion—expect more chaos.
- Deep Dive into Tricia Cooke: To understand why these movies feel so different from the "classic" Coen films, look into Tricia Cooke’s influence. She’s been the editor on some of their biggest hits, but these scripts are her and Ethan’s specific, shared vision.
If you’re a fan of Aubrey Plaza’s brand of "unhinged," this is a must-watch regardless of the reviews. Just don't expect a neat, tidy ending with a bow on top. That's just not how these people make movies.