Four months after its triumphant premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival—where it garnered a 13-minute standing ovation and the Best Screenplay award—Coralie Fargeat's darkly comedic body horror satire, The Substance, arrived in US theaters. The film has since garnered significant critical acclaim, earning five Oscar nominations, including nods for its stars, Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. IGN awarded it an 8/10, praising its "sick, twisted, and squirm-inducing parable" that indicts celebrity culture's obsession with youth and beauty.
Wondering how to watch The Substance online? Look no further.
Currently, The Substance streams exclusively on Mubi, rather than Netflix or Hulu. Mubi is a subscription service, but they offer a seven-day free trial. If a subscription isn't for you, you can also rent or buy the film from various digital marketplaces, including Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Demi Moore delivers a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister fired from her fitness TV show by studio head Harvey. She becomes entangled with a mysterious new drug, "THE SUBSTANCE." One injection, and she's reborn as the stunning young Sue. $42.98 (save 42%) $24.96 at Amazon. Looking to expand your horror collection? The Substance is now available in 4K. For more details on physical releases, check out our comprehensive guide to upcoming Blu-rays.
The Substance is a satirical body horror-thriller written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. Mubi's official synopsis: "Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a former A-lister past her prime, is drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue (Margaret Qualley). The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. Easy, right?"
Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance stars:
The Substance is Rated R for strong bloody violent content, gore, graphic nudity, and language. The film runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes, including credits. There is no post-credits scene.
For more from IGN, explore our lists of the biggest movies of 2024.