The sun shines down on a dusty road in Bakersfield. A church that isn’t what it seems plays gospel music in the distance. A woman gets out of an old Mustang, and her heels click on the pavement. She smirks, smokes a cigarette, and squints against the heat. This is Honey O’Donahue, a private eye, a magnet for trouble, and the queer femme fatale we didn’t know we needed.
Welcome to Honey Don’t!, a movie that sneaks into the screen like a film noir dream with a lot of sarcasm and a lot of sapphic tension. This strange neo-noir comedic thriller, directed by Ethan Coen, has already caused a sensation since its exciting debut at Cannes. The countdown to the strangest whodunit of the year has begun now that the release date for Honey Don’t! has been set.
Honey Don’t Release Date
Focus Features will release Honey Don’t! in theaters across the United States on August 22, 2025.
Focus isn’t acting like this is a low-key indie release. They are counting on the film’s release in late August to give it some breathing room between the summer blockbusters and the Oscar season. This is the perfect time for a quirky, character-driven caper that could become a cult hit.
There are already international dates set, such August 28 in Italy and an October run in Germany. There isn’t a release date for streaming yet, and that’s probably on purpose. Honey Don’t! urges you to go to the movies and see Margaret Qualley light up the screen with cigarette smoke and a silent threat.
Watch the Trailer
The trailer is full with twisted charm from the first frame. A death that is not clear. A preacher with a lot of charm. And Honey, with a smile that might kill.
- The pastor replies, “You see a need and you take advantage of it.”
- Honey fires back, “And you haven’t even seen the riddle tattoo on my ass.”
It has a sharp, unusual, and sexy look. Exactly what fans wanted, and more.
The Cast: Chaos, Chemistry, Cults
- Margaret Qualley plays the mysterious Honey O’Donahue. She talks quickly, is very smart, and might be a touch crazy, but that’s part of what makes her interesting.
- Aubrey Plaza plays MG Falcone, an officer from Bakersfield who is meant to be watching a suspect but might be falling for her.
- Chris Evans plays Reverend Drew Devlin, a slick, too-smooth pastor with a shady congregation and a secret plan.
Ethan Coen directs alone behind the scenes, but he works alongside co-writer and long-time colleague Tricia Cooke. Honey Don’t! is the second movie in what they call their “lesbian B-movie trilogy.” The first was Drive-Away Dolls in 2024, and the third is Go Beavers.
This time, there are cults, LGBTQ chemistry, and campy crime-solving, and fans can’t get enough.
Internet Reacts: “This Is Lesbian Cinema Now”
Since the trailer’s release, Honey Don’t! has sparked a frenzy across social media, especially among queer film lovers and Aubrey Plaza stans.
can’t wait to see my queen plaza
— carla (@queertargaryen) July 18, 2025
Aubrey Plaza playing queer roles is my definition of peak cinema
— Manon all along (@SwiftieJcap) July 19, 2025
Behind the Curtain: Drama & Rumors
The route to Honey Don’t! wasn’t easy off-screen.
People talked about Aubrey Plaza at Cannes, not just because of her acting but also because of how strong she was after losing someone close to her. Plaza’s husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, died just weeks before the movie came out. Her quiet yet powerful presence at the festival added another depth of passion to her already excellent performance.
At the same time, fans and critics talked about Coen’s solo work. Some people argue that Ethan’s storytelling is looser and more experimental without Joel, especially in this trilogy. Some people, on the other hand, say that’s the purpose.
“It’s raw, it’s strange, and it doesn’t try to be neat,” said one critic. “That’s what makes it sing.”
What Is Honey Don’t! Actually About?
What happens in the story? It’s easy—until it isn’t.
Honey O’Donahue is a private investigator in Bakersfield who is looking into the death of a young woman who was connected to a peculiar church. But this isn’t just about solving a case; it’s about finding out things that go beyond the church.
The universe gets stranger the more Honey digs. Fanaticism in religion. Corruption in small towns. An fixation with oneself. And maybe, just maybe… a love that isn’t allowed.
The narrative straddles a fine line between a crime caper and a queer camp, giving fans a mix of tension, temptation, and warped morality.
FAQ
What day does Honey Don’t come out?
In U.S. theaters on August 22, 2025, through Focus Features.
Will it be available to stream online?
There hasn’t been any news on streaming plans yet. Right now, it’s only coming out in theaters.
Is this a follow-up?
Not directly. This is the second movie in a loosely related trilogy of LGBT B-movies by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke.
Is the movie amusing or serious?
Both. It’s like Fargo meets But I’m a Cheerleader, with equal parts suspense and silliness.
Final Thoughts
Honey Don’t! isn’t just another criminal comedy; it’s a slick, subversive, and emotionally charged bullet shot straight for the heart of genre fans. With its dark and chaotic queer spirit, as well as its incisive performances, it promises to be a movie that is both amusing and disturbing.
As the release date for Honey Don’t! gets closer, one question hangs in the air like smoke in a Bakersfield dive bar:
Was this just another case? or something that was always meant for Honey to find?
Do you think the kids were forced to go, or did they want to go? Put your theories in the box below.
