# The Substance (2024) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-substance/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-13

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 77% |
| Critic Score | 89% |
| Audience Score | 72% |
| Metascore | 78/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.8/5 |
| IMDb | 7.2/10 |
| Director | Coralie Fargeat |
| Genres | Horror, Sci-Fi, Drama |
| Runtime | 141 min |
| Festival premiere | Cannes 2024 (Best Screenplay) |
| Major awards | 6 wins, 6 nominations |

## Quick answer

The Substance (2024) earns a 77% Celluloid Score — Recommended. A gleefully gory feminist provocation that weaponises body horror against Hollywood's cult of youth, powered by a fearle Critics and audiences diverge (89% critic vs 72% audience). Metascore 78/100. Directed by Coralie Fargeat.

## Critics consensus

A gleefully gory feminist provocation that weaponises body horror against Hollywood's cult of youth, powered by a fearless Demi Moore and a climax of pure prosthetic delirium.

## Synopsis

A fading television fitness star, discarded the moment she turns fifty, injects a black-market serum that spawns a younger, better self — and the two halves of one woman go to war in a grotesque, escalating body-horror satire about the violence of the beauty industry.

## Cast

Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

## Accolades

Premiered at Cannes 2024, where it won the Best Screenplay.
- Won Best Makeup and Hairstyling — Academy Awards 2025
- Nominated for Best Picture — Academy Awards 2025
- Nominated for Best Director — Academy Awards 2025
- Nominated for Best Actress — Academy Awards 2025
- Nominated for Best Original Screenplay — Academy Awards 2025
- Won Best Actress – Musical or Comedy — Golden Globes 2025
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy — Golden Globes 2025
- Won Best Actress — Critics' Choice 2025
- Won Best Original Screenplay — Critics' Choice 2025
- Won Best Hair and Makeup — Critics' Choice 2025
- Won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role — SAG Awards 2025
- Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role — BAFTA 2025

## Common questions

**Is The Substance worth watching?**
The Substance holds a 77% Celluloid Score. A gleefully gory feminist provocation that weaponises body horror against Hollywood's cult of youth, powered by a fearless Demi Moore and a climax of pure prosthetic delirium.

**What is The Substance about?**
A fading television fitness star, discarded the moment she turns fifty, injects a black-market serum that spawns a younger, better self — and the two halves of one woman go to war in a grotesque, escalating body-horror satire about the violence of the beauty industry.

**Who directed The Substance?**
The Substance (2024) was directed by Coralie Fargeat.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Substance?**
77% — the average of five public sources: critics 89%, audience 72%, Metascore 78/100, Letterboxd 3.8/5, and IMDb 7.2/10.

**What awards did The Substance win?**
The Substance won Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Academy Awards 2025), Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Golden Globes 2025), Best Actress (Critics' Choice 2025), Best Original Screenplay (Critics' Choice 2025), Best Hair and Makeup (Critics' Choice 2025), Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (SAG Awards 2025), with 6 further nominations.

**Where can I watch The Substance?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The Substance page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://mrkaiserkhan.com)

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