7/10
2024-09-07 R The Substance

The Substance

Become a better you.

Release Date: 2024-09-07

Rating: 7.134 / 10

Runtime: 141 mins

A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.


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Details


Runtime

141 minutes

Release Date

2024-09-07

Budget

$17,500,000

Box Office Earnings

$76,506,196

Behind the Scenes

Cast and Crew Members

Cast

Gore Abrams
Gore Abrams
Oscar Lesage
Oscar Lesage
Robin Greer
Robin Greer
Tom Morton
Tom Morton
Hugo Diego Garcia
Hugo Diego Garcia

Crew Members

Coralie Fargeat
Coralie Fargeat Director
Coralie Fargeat
Coralie Fargeat Director

Awards and Nominations

Golden Globe - Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Year: 2025
Status: 🎭 Nominated

Golden Globe - Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Year: 2025
Status: 🏆 Won

Golden Globe - Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Year: 2025
Status: 🎭 Nominated

Golden Globe - Best Director - Motion Picture

Year: 2025
Status: 🎭 Nominated

Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Year: 2025
Status: 🎭 Nominated

Audience Reviews

Read authentic reviews from real viewers about this movie.

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  • John Doe's avatar

    Manuel São Bento

    Rating: 8/10

    "The Substance delivers an intense, visually mesmerizing commentary on the entertainment industry's obsession with youth and outward beauty. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley offer remarkable, maybe even career-best performances, with Dennis Quaid excelling in his role as well. Coralie Fargeat explores how aging stars, particularly women, are discarded when they no longer meet the industry's strict beauty standards. Moore's character, haunted by the memory of her former fame and beauty, goes down a dark path in pursuit of a "better" version of herself. The story is also a sharp critique of power dynamics, with white men controlling who's in front of the spotlight, while women are pitted against one another for validation. The film's production is equally impressive, especially the makeup and prosthetic work that elevates its body horror elements. While the first half of the movie is more subdued, the gore ramps up significantly as the plot unfolds, culminating in a chaotic "fourth act" that will leave audiences bewildered. The fast-paced editing, paired with an impactful score, heightens the tension and surrealism of the narrative. Though there's a part of me who prefers a version of the film that ends before the wild final act, the overall experience is an unforgettable, audacious exploration of vanity, control, and desperation in the entertainment world. Rating: B+"

  • John Doe's avatar

    Brent Marchant

    Rating: 4/10

    "There’s a big difference between being funny and being laughable, yet the latest from writer-director Coralie Fargeat has somehow found a way to be both. After amassing a considerable amount of largely well-earned cinematic goodwill in the film’s opening segments, the picture mercilessly squanders that support in the final act with an overlong, meandering, disgustingly gratuitous and grotesque exhibition of utterly bad taste. This story of an aging actress (Demi Moore) who seeks to revive her career by retrieving some of her lost youth with the aid of an enigmatic injectable follows her grand misadventures when the mysterious substance prompts the emergence of a younger doppelganger (Margaret Qualley), who becomes a Hollywood sex kitten sensation virtually overnight. To make this experimental venture work, however, the two individuals must follow a complex set of rules, dictates that become increasingly difficult to follow as they each vie for their respective shares of attention. And, as this scenario unfolds, tension grows between them, leading to complications and unexpected developments that become progressively harder to manage. But that’s where what works in the film ends. As the story plays out from there, it becomes stupendously absurd, and, even though there are some hearty laughs in this, there are even more ridiculously implausible and unexplained occurrences that try audience members’ patience and tolerance, so much so that I couldn’t wait for this trainwreck to end. In addition to the foregoing shortcomings, the film includes myriad changes in tone, making it difficult to determine whether this is supposed to be a serious thriller or a campy road, very much in the same way as in the incomprehensible French offering “Titane” (2021). It also shamelessly “borrows” elements from other movies in various ways, most notably imagery and narrative references from “The Shining” (1980) and “Young Frankenstein” (1974), costume designs from the “Hunger Games” franchise, and bafflingly inexplicable soundtrack excerpts from films like “Vertigo” (1958). Then there’s the picture’s obvious, heavy-handed message about the perils of misogyny, observations that, as important as they are, could easily stood to have been turned down more than a few notches (yes, we get it already). At the same time, though, there are also some fundamentally innate questions about the narrative that go wholly unanswered, leaving us with numerous head-scratching moments. Sadly, these failings detract significantly from the elements that do work (at least early on in the film), such as the fine performances of Moore and Qualley, the picture’s inventive cinematography, and a central premise that could have made for an engaging story if handled with greater finesse. But these strengths are effectively cancelled by what ultimately results when this release goes off the rails. Indeed, how “The Substance” captured the 2024 Cannes Film Festival award for best screenplay is truly mind boggling. I’m certainly a fan of the weird, wild and wacky, but this release undermines the virtues of those cherished qualities. Regrettably, I was seriously looking forward to seeing this offering, and I was decidedly impressed by what I saw in its opening acts, but that was all wiped out by how this one ultimately played out, a picture that, in the end, ironically relied more on style than “substance.”"

  • John Doe's avatar

    RalphRahal

    Rating: 2/10

    "A disaster. It's an insult to the illustrious careers of Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid, who both deserve far better. The film focuses too heavily on the body of Margaret Qualley's character, Sue, at the expense of delivering a meaningful story or message. The gratuitous gore towards the end seems to be an attempt to align with current trends, but it falls flat. Ultimately, Coralie Fargeat failed to deliver a coherent message, making the movie a missed opportunity for everyone involved."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the runtime of the The Substance ?

The movie is approximately 141 minutes long.

What is the The Substance's release date?

2024-09-07 marks the official release date of the movie.

What genre is the The Substance?

The movie belongs to the Horror Science Fiction genres, offering a variety of experiences from adventure to fantasy.

Who are the main actors in the The Substance?

The lead actors include Demi Moore , Margaret Qualley , and Dennis Quaid , among others.

Who directed The Substance?

The movie was directed by Coralie Fargeat Coralie Fargeat

What is the The Substance's budget?

The movie had an estimated budget of $17,500,000 .

How much did The Substance movie earn at the box office?

A Cinderella Story grossed an estimated $76,506,196 at the box office.

What are some production companies behind the The Substance movie?

Major production companies include Working Title Films Blacksmith Working Title Films .

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