It’s rare for a movie like “The Substance” to break into the Oscars race. Written and directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, the film is an intense, satirical and violent body horror thriller about insecurity and the pressures of the unrealistic beauty standards that society forces onto women both when they are young and when they are older. It is the kind of bizarre, wholly original piece of genre entertainment that you don’t often see competing for Best Picture.
But such is the power of “The Substance.” Once you see it, you understand immediately why it is being treated by many like one of the best films of 2024. Here’s how and where you can watch it right now.
Is “The Substance” streaming or in theaters?
“The Substance” is available to stream now. It is streaming for free on Mubi for all of the platform’s active subscribers. It is also available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon’s Prime Video, Fandango At Home and Apple TV.
Who is in the film’s cast?
“The Substance” is led by Demi Moore (“Ghost”), who stars as an aging former Hollywood starlet, and Margaret Qualley (“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”), who plays a second, younger version of Moore created through truly unnatural means. The film is very much a showcase for its two leads, but its limited supporting cast also includes Dennis Quaid (“The Parent Trap”), Gore Abrams (“Marinette”), Oscar Lesage (“Bardot”), Christian Erickson (“The Last Duel”) and Robin Greer (“The Count of Monte Cristo”).
What is “The Substance” about?
“The Substance” follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), a fading Hollywood celebrity who, after losing her longtime fitness show and overhearing misogynistic comments from her male producer (Quaid) about her age, decides to take a black market drug. When she does, a younger, separate version of herself (Qualley) is born. What is meant to be a positive, symbiotic relationship between Elisabeth and her younger self quickly becomes embittered and unequal, though, paving the way for consequences so grotesque they need to be seen to be believed.
What are critics saying about “The Substance”?
“The Substance” was widely praised when it hit theaters in 2024. Several months later, the film still holds an 89% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it even garnered five Oscar nominations at the 2025 Academy Awards. The movie received nods in the Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Makeup & Hairstyling and Best Picture categories.
You should be warned, though. All the film’s fans also agree you should prepare yourself for what is, at times, a shockingly gross experience before you turn “The Substance” on. It is a full-fledged body horror nightmare that doesn’t ever hold back, which is what makes it so memorable… and stomach-churning.
