The Substance rises to No. 12 on HBO Max after Oscar win

Collider reports that a year after its release and awards-season run, Coralie Fargeat’s body‑horror thriller The Substance has surged back into the conversation, climbing to #12 on HBO Max. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup & Hairstyling during its awards push.

Starring Demi Moore as fading celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle and Margaret Qualley as the younger version Sue, the near‑future story focuses on vanity, ageism and exploitation as the two women become locked in a grotesque, symbiotic struggle over identity, fame and bodily control. The Substance was released on September 20, 2024, and has a runtime of 140 minutes.

The review included in the piece calls the film a bold, maximalist entry that builds on Fargeat’s Revenge and echoes Titane, praising Moore’s performance and Qualley’s unsettling presence while criticizing the overlong runtime and hyper‑stylized excess; it says the outrageous, blood‑soaked finale ultimately redeems much of the film. The Substance is streaming now on HBO Max and Vudu.

Key Topics

Culture, The Substance, Coralie Fargeat, Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Hbo Max