The Substance (2024)
Coralie Fargeat's visceral body-horror satire starring Demi Moore as a celebrity who manufactures a younger self — with catastrophic results.
The Substance - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Substance
- Release Year: 2024
- Directed by: Coralie Fargeat
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 21m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 18, 2024 (Sweden - 15), September 20, 2024 (United States - R), September 20, 2024 (Canada - 18A), September 20, 2024 (United Kingdom - 18), September 19, 2024 (Germany - 16), November 6, 2024 (France - 12), September 19, 2024 (New Zealand - R16), September 19, 2024 (Australia - R 18+), September 19, 2024 (Brazil - 18), September 19, 2024 (Mexico - C), October 30, 2024 (Italy - 14+), October 11, 2024 (Spain - 18), December 11, 2024 (South Korea - 19)
- Alternative Titles: სუბსტანცია (GE), La Substance (CA), サブスタンス (JP), Սուբստանցիա (AM), Cevher (TR), substancja (PL)
- Production Companies: Working Title Films, Blacksmith
- Production Countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America
The Substance - Plot
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
The Substance - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the unsettling world of The Substance unfold:
Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?
Where to Watch The Substance
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The Substance - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Coralie Fargeat
Main Cast
- Demi Moore
- Margaret Qualley
- Dennis Quaid
- Edward Hamilton-Clark
- Gore Abrams
- Oscar Lesage
- Christian Erickson
- Robin Greer
- Tom Morton
- Hugo Diego Garcia
Writers
- Coralie Fargeat
Producers
- Coralie Fargeat
- Eric Fellner
- Tim Bevan
The Substance - FAQs
What is the ending of The Substance explained?
The film ends in an apocalyptic body-horror climax where Elisabeth and Sue's shared existence collapses into a grotesque merged creature called Monstro Elisasue. After terrorizing a live New Year's Eve broadcast, the creature is destroyed by the audience, leaving only a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — a savage metaphor for celebrity self-destruction.
Where can I stream The Substance?
The Substance is available to stream on Max and MUBI, including their respective Amazon Channel add-ons. It can also be rented or purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary by region.
Who are the main actors in The Substance?
The Substance stars Demi Moore as Elisabeth, a fading celebrity, and Margaret Qualley as Sue, the younger version created by the substance. Dennis Quaid plays Harvey, Elisabeth's dismissive television producer. The film is a career-defining performance for Moore, earning her widespread critical acclaim.
Is The Substance based on a true story?
No, The Substance is an original work of fiction written by director Coralie Fargeat. While not based on real events, the film draws heavily on real cultural anxieties surrounding Hollywood ageism, the beauty industry, and society's treatment of women as they age in the public eye.
What is The Substance about?
The Substance follows Elisabeth, a fading TV fitness celebrity who injects a black market cell-replicating drug that spawns Sue, a younger, more perfect version of herself. The two must share one body — seven days each — but as Sue's ambitions grow, the rules shatter with viscerally horrifying consequences.
Did The Substance win any awards?
Yes. The Substance won the Best Screenplay award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Demi Moore received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, and the film earned numerous additional nominations including BAFTA and Critics' Choice Awards.
What is the age rating for The Substance?
The Substance is rated R in the United States for strong and graphic bloody horror violence, disturbing images, nudity, and language. It carries an 18 certificate in the United Kingdom and similarly restrictive ratings in most other territories due to its extreme body-horror content.
How long is The Substance?
The Substance has a runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes (141 minutes). Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film uses its extended length to build sustained dread, dark satire, and an escalating body-horror spectacle that culminates in a memorably extreme final act.
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