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The Substance

2024·Movie
2h 21min·R
IMDb7.2Metacritic787.3Rotten Tomatoes89%68%

Where to watch

HBO MaxMUBI

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Substance fingerprint

High energy, funny, light on feelings.

Energy

Brutally violent and tense

  • Violence9
  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline7

Heart

Moving

  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis6
  • Melancholy4

Humor

Plenty of satire and dark humor

  • Satire & Parody8
  • Dark Humor6
  • Absurdist Humor4

World

Show business, society, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Novelty8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout visual style, cinematography, and editing

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization9
  • Cinematography8
  • Editing8

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers you

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?

A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Body Horror SatireShowbiz CritiqueAgeism & Beauty StandardsVisceral GorePsychological DescentDark Comedy ThrillerFeminist TragedyGrotesque SpectacleUnflinching Cinema

Crew

Directed by:
Coralie Fargeat, Matthieu de la Mortière, Clément Audebrand
Written by:
Coralie Fargeat
Produced by:
Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner
Composed by:
Judah Getz, Stéphane Thiébaut, Guillaume Baurez

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Substance

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Substance legally?

HBO MaxMUBI

The Substance is included with a subscription to MUBI and HBO Max in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Substance worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 89%, and Metacritic 78). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Substance rated?

RViolenceNuditySexual contentStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Substance?

2 h 21 min

The Substance runs 2 h 21 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Substance?

Critics84
Audiences71

Not quite. Critics rate The Substance higher (84) than audiences (71). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Substance a box office hit?

Budget$18 million
Box office$77 million

Yes. It cost about $18 million to make and earned $77 million worldwide, 4.4 times its budget.

What language is The Substance in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in France, United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Substance?

79ADAEAGARATAUBBBEBHBMBOBRBSBZ+65

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Substance in 79 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Substance use?

Expository Hairstyle ChangeTroubled Fetal PositionMouthscreenBookendsDidn't Think This ThroughOverdrawn at the Blood BankNice, Mean, and In-BetweenTime-Compression MontageStargazing SceneNo AntagonistLipstick-and-Load MontageAudible Gleamand 179 more

TV Tropes lists 191 storytelling tropes for The Substance, including Expository Hairstyle Change, Troubled Fetal Position, Mouthscreen.