The Substance

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2:25

The Substance

R

Released Sep 20, 2024

2h 21m

Horror

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

351 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Verified Ratings

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You, only better in every way. You should try this new product, it's called The Substance. IT CHANGED MY LIFE. With The Substance, you can generate another you: younger, more beautiful, more perfect. You just have to share time -- one week for one, one week for the other. A perfect balance of seven days each... Easy right? If you respect the balance... What could possibly go wrong?

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Critics Consensus

Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore's finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat.

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Rachel Syme

The New Yorker

For my money, one of the best things you can do this season is to run to see the French director Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance while it is still playing on the big screen.

Oct 21, 2024

Full Review

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Falls into the category of films that men like to claim as feminist.

Oct 8, 2024

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Extraordinary... This is daring and stylish.

Oct 8, 2024

Full Review

Erik Kain

Forbes

Ultimately, while The Substance got off to an intriguing start, the majority of the film and especially its goofy ending was mostly cheap shock value and amateurish satire built on the flimsiest premise imaginable.

Jan 18, 2025

Full Review

Michael Nordine

Movie Brief

Unlike its dual protagonists, The Substance is utterly unafraid of being wholly, unapologetically itself. We should all be so lucky.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 17, 2025

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a workable premise that’s employed to hopelessly (and relentlessly) unwatchable effect by Fargeat...

Rated: .5/4

Jan 11, 2025

Full Review

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Pierre

Great idea but bloody delivery, and way too long.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Juan Carlos G

Great body horror! Not for everyone but still conveys its message would recommend to any horror fan

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Voxxy

Absolutely incredible. Perfect acting, casting, script, costumes, soundscape, special effects -- an immaculate effort by a crew at the top of their game. An instant favorite.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Thomas H

Weird, adventurous, gory with a stellar performance by Demi Moore.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Leslie Aleman

This movie captures how it feels turning 24.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Dana W

Great horror movie with social commentary on how youth and beauty is valued in our country. Suspenseful, disturbing and at times, funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

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Coralie Fargeat

Director

Demi Moore

Elisabeth Sparkle

Margaret Qualley

Sue

Dennis Quaid

Harvey

Hugo Diego Garcia

Actor

Gore Abrams

Actor

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The Substance: Trailer 2

0:24

The Substance: Trailer 1

2:25

The Substance: Teaser Trailer

1:00

The Substance: Teaser

0:39

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Synopsis

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You, only better in every way. You should try this new product, it's called The Substance. IT CHANGED MY LIFE. With The Substance, you can generate another you: younger, more beautiful, more perfect. You just have to share time -- one week for one, one week for the other. A perfect balance of seven days each... Easy right? If you respect the balance... What could possibly go wrong?

Director: Coralie Fargeat
Producer: Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Screenwriter: Coralie Fargeat
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Working Title Films
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Gore|Language|Strong Violent Content)
Genre: Horror, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.5M
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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