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The Substance poster

Film · 2024

The Substance

Directed by Coralie Fargeat · starring Margaret Qualley, Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid

  • 2 h 21 min
  • 18
  • Drama · Horror
  • UKFrance
  • Released in the UK 19 September 2024
  • 7.5 AverageMovieNCo
  • 7.1 Users12 votes
  • 7.8 Critics5 reviews

Synopsis

Elisabeth is a television star from an aerobic show. The day she is fired due to her aging body, she sees her advertising posters being taken down from the streets of the city when suddenly, she suffers an accident that will take her straight to the hospital. There, she is given a USB with information about a strange product called 'The Substance' and its supplier, with whom Elisabeth contacts. He explains to her that it is a serum that, when injected, creates a younger and more beautiful version of oneself that is born from the spine, and that both versions remain connected as one.

After giving it some thought, Elisabeth contacts the producer to sell her the serum so that a young version of her can be born, allowing her to succeed again on television. This new girl adopts the name Sue, who receives the order from the supplier that she must inject a serum to stabilize Elisabeth while she is unconscious, as they cannot both roam the world at the same time.

This film is directed and written by Coralie Fargeat and stars Demi Moore ('Ghost') and Margaret Qualley ('Kinds of Kindness') in the roles of Elisabeth and Sue, respectively. The cast also includes Dennis Quaid.

Where to watch The Substance

All the options

Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
141 min2 hours and 21 minutes
Budget
$17.5mWorking Title Films
Box office
€3.4min Spain
Rating
18Suitable only for adults
How long is The Substance?
2 hours and 21 minutes (141 minutes).
When was The Substance released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 19 September 2024.
Who directed The Substance?
Coralie Fargeat.
Who is in The Substance?
It stars Margaret Qualley, Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Hugo Diego Garcia.
Where can I watch The Substance?
In the UK it is available free on BBC iPlayer, with a subscription on Paramount+ and with a channel on Apple TV and a channel on Prime Video.
How much did The Substance make?
It took €3.4 million in Spain. It cost $17.5 million.
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Director
Coralie Fargeat
Writers
Coralie Fargeat

Photos and posters

All 4 photos

Reviews

All 5 reviews
7.1 12 votes
  • 100 %
  • 98 %
  • 842 %
  • 717 %
  • 68 %
  • ≤525 %

What the critics say average 7.8 from 5 outlets

  • 10 The TelegraphTim Robey It's the casting of Moore, though, and her willingness to denude herself at 61 ? emotionally, as well as physically ? that gives The Substance a startling connection with its themes. Not for 30… Read
  • 9.0 SlashfilmChris Evangelista The Substance has an impossible-to-miss message about the struggles of women, especially women on constant display in an industry that thrives on rigid beauty standards. But it's also a delightfully… Read
  • 5.0 Chicago Sun-TimesRichard Roeper The satire becomes almost numbingly obvious over the far too long running time of 140 minutes, and with all due appreciation for the strong work by the leads, the horrifically impressive VFX and… Read

Box office

Weekend by weekend
  • Budget $17.5m
  • Spain €3.4m

Soundtrack

All 12 songs
  1. Pump It UpEarl Gregory
  2. AerotronicRomanger
  3. Fade AwayThomas Kuratli (as Pyrit)
  4. Lost CoolHoly Fuck & Lucia Tacchetti
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