The harsh glare of the Hollywood spotlight beats down on Elisabeth, a celebrated but fading star, as the whispers begin. Her reign is ending, her name less luminous on the marquees. Desperate to reclaim her youth and stardom, Elisabeth is lured into the dark underbelly of the industry by Harvey, a charming yet sinister agent, promising a revolutionary substance that replicates cells, creating a younger, ‘better’ version. But there’s a catch: Elisabeth must share her life, alternating days with her younger self, Sue. The allure of renewed fame and vitality quickly turns into a horrifying battle for control, as Sue revels in the spotlight, refusing to relinquish her days. As Elisabeth fights to reclaim her identity, the line between creator and creation blurs, unleashing a monstrous struggle where youth, fame, and identity become weapons, and the pursuit of perfection spirals into a grotesque nightmare. Oliver, Harvey’s assistant, watches the chaos unfold, questioning his complicity in this deadly game.
The Substance Movie Overview
Title | The Substance |
---|---|
Release Status | Released |
Release Date | 2024-09-07 |
Runtime | 2 hours and 21 minutes |
Genre | Horror, Science Fiction |
Original Language | En |
Spoken Language | English |
Country | France, United Kingdom, United States of America |
Production Co. | Working Title Films, Blacksmith, Working Title Films |
The Substance Movie Cast
Name | Character |
---|---|
Demi Moore | Elisabeth |
Margaret Qualley | Sue |
Dennis Quaid | Harvey |
Edward Hamilton-Clark | Fred |
Gore Abrams | Oliver |
Oscar Lesage | Troy |
Christian Erickson | Man at Diner |
Robin Greer | Male Nurse |
Tom Morton | Doctor |
Hugo Diego Garcia | Diego – Boyfriend |
Daniel Knight | Casting Director |
Jonathon Carley | Assistant Casting Director |
Jiselle Henderkott | Girl Auditioning / New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Akil Wingate | TV Host |
Vincent Colombe | Man in Suit #1 – Harvey’s Office |
Billy Bentley | Man in Suit #2 |
Lennard Ridsdale | Man in Suit #3 |
Jordan Ford Silver | Assistant Director – Pump It Up Show |
Oscar Salem | 2nd Assistant Director – Pump It Up Show |
Viviane Bossina | Sue’s Assistant |
Matthew Luret | Floor Runner |
Jana Bittnerová | Maria |
Olivier Raynal | Alan – 2nd Agent |
Tiffany Hofstetter | Stylist |
Nicolas Royer | Guy in the Elevator |
Nathan Rippy | Assistant Director – New Year’s Eve Show |
Manon Arizmendi | Little Girl – New Year’s Eve Show |
Virginie Kotlinski | Mother – New Year’s Eve Show |
Brett Gillen | Director of Photography – New Year’s Eve Show |
Charlotte Marquardt | Screaming Woman |
Léa Hengl | Screaming Woman |
Gaëlle Raymond | Screaming Woman |
Claire Lemaire | Screaming Woman |
Lila Boughoufala | Screaming Woman |
Aurélien Lorgnier | Screaming Man |
Ivan Sellier | Screaming Man |
Philip Schurer | Screaming Man |
Christian Bourmier | Shareholder |
Martin Graham | Shareholder |
Christian Bordeleau | Shareholder |
Patrick Hamel | Shareholder |
Didier Dhondt | Shareholder |
Jacques-Yves Dorges | Shareholder |
Jean-Claude Matthey | Shareholder |
Olivier Jarcin | Shareholder |
Jean-Luc Magneron | Shareholder |
Charlotte Murray | Allison – Diner Waitress |
Aaron Kahn | Greeting Person |
Gabriela Arnon | Greeting Person |
Nancy Josephson Lahoussine | Greeting Person |
Andrew Eldridge | Greeting Person |
Denise Powers | Greeting Person |
Bryan Jones | Greeting Person |
Adam Carage | Happy Birthday Person |
Maria McClurg | Happy Birthday Person |
Andrew Desmond | Happy Birthday Person |
Rebecca Lafont | Happy Birthday Person |
Laura Puech | Isabella |
Ryan Chidester | Stagehand |
Céline Vogt | Elisabeth (Young) – Walk of Fame |
Yannick Guérin | Clumsy Burger Guy – Walk of Fame |
Jean Miel | Worker Walk of Fame |
Paul Descoings | Worker Walk of Fame |
Benoit Lévêque | Worker Walk of Fame |
Arthur Molinet | Cocktail Bartender |
Manon Sachot | Cocktail Lounge Couple |
Bastien Jorelle | Cocktail Lounge Couple |
Kelly Hoarau | Female Assistant – Towel |
Michel Juskiewicz | George – Harvey’s Friend |
Louise Greggory | Restaurant Waitress |
Christophe Sartirano | Guy Looking at Sue |
Florent Torres | Guy Looking at Sue |
Romain Caldeira | Billboard Technician |
Barthelemy Thomas | Billboard Technician |
Axel Baille | Photographer |
Ashley Lambert | Additional Voices (voice) |
Ranjani Brow | Additional Voices (voice) |
Chase Fein | Additional Voices (voice) |
Shane Sweet | Additional Voices (voice) |
William Calvert | Additional Voices (voice) |
Michael Corbett | Additional Voices (voice) |
Stephen Apostolina | Additional Voices (voice) |
Yann Bean | The Substance (voice) |
Audjyan Alcide | Pump It Up Show Dancer |
Jonathan Jenvrin | Pump It Up Show Dancer |
Mimi Maury | Pump It Up Show Dancer |
Amelye Solange | Pump It Up Show Dancer |
Kévin Table | Pump It Up Show Dancer |
Laura Boera | Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer |
Cissy Duc | Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer |
Sophie Mercier | Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer |
Marie Valton | Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer |
Katrina Budzynski | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Alicia Maury | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Megane Adamik | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Annalisa Pagnotta | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Maelle Dantigny | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Aleksandra Fontaine Kedzierska | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Pauline Sagetat | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Agustina Fitzsimons | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Elena Shcheglova | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Eve Marchant | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Lola Donati | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Kate Matthews | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Ophélie Jonard | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Pauline Richard | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Laureen Cappelliez | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Daria Panchenko | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Delphine Beaulieu | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Victoria Brun | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Cara Chapman | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Katharine Matthews | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Alexandra Faget | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Clémence Juville | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Margot L’Entete | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Hillary Sukhonos | New Year’s Eve Show Dancer |
Matthew Géczy | Bob Haswell (uncredited) |
Namory Bakayoko | Silhouette (uncredited) |
Gregory Defleur | Happy Birthday Person (uncredited) |
Coralie Fargeat | (uncredited) |
The Substance Movie Storyline
Elisabeth, a celebrated actress past her prime, clings desperately to fame, haunted by the relentless passage of time. When her latest project is abruptly canceled by the ruthless producer Harvey, she’s offered a chance at reclaiming her youth and career through ‘The Substance,’ a revolutionary but highly experimental black market drug. The substance promises to split her into two versions: Elisabeth and Sue, a younger, supposedly improved iteration. Initially, the arrangement is idyllic, with Elisabeth experiencing a blissful respite while Sue captivates audiences and enjoys newfound success. However, the fine print dictates that Elisabeth and Sue must alternate weeks and never meet; rules that soon shatter under the weight of Elisabeth’s jealousy and Sue’s growing resentment of her predecessor. As Elisabeth spirals into obsession, she sabotages Sue’s opportunities, leading to a catastrophic collision between the two. The ensuing struggle for dominance unleashes gruesome transformations and body horror as the effects of ‘The Substance’ spiral out of control. Oliver, a mysterious figure involved in the drug’s distribution, attempts to regain control, but the warring Elisbeth and Sue leave a trail of chaos and destruction, culminating in a final, terrifying confrontation where the very definition of self is questioned and challenged, with a lasting, ambiguous ending.
The Substance Movie Details
In the unsettling world of “The Substance,” a chilling blend of horror and science fiction unfolds, exploring the extreme lengths one will go to recapture lost youth and fame. Elisabeth, a fading television personality portrayed by Demi Moore, finds herself unceremoniously replaced by a younger model, prompting her to seek a radical solution. She turns to a black market drug known only as “The Substance,” a revolutionary cell-replicating formula promising to create a younger, “better” version of herself. This process births Sue, played by Margaret Qualley, a vibrant and seemingly perfect iteration of Elisabeth. However, the catch is severe: Elisabeth and Sue must alternate weeks in the same body, a delicate balance that quickly spirals out of control. Fueled by ambition and ego, Elisabeth becomes increasingly envious of Sue’s vitality and success, leading her to break the cardinal rule of the substance – the two versions must never coexist. As the line between Elisabeth and Sue blurs, their shared reality descends into a nightmarish struggle for control, marked by grotesque physical transformations and psychological torment. Meanwhile, Harvey, portrayed by Dennis Quaid, a man deeply involved in the clandestine world of “The Substance,” lurks in the shadows, observing the unraveling situation with calculating eyes. The narrative, set against a backdrop of glittering television studios and sterile laboratories, delves into themes of aging, identity, and the Faustian bargains made in the pursuit of beauty. The film escalates into a gory and suspenseful crescendo, questioning the very definition of self and the horrifying consequences of tampering with nature. Oliver, one of the many individuals affected by the substance, appears as a constant reminder of the cost and risks of tampering with human biology.
The Substance Movie Poster Images




The Substance Movie Trailers
'The Substance' Best Makeup and Hairstyling Press Room Speech | 97th Oscars (2025)
Director Coralie Fargeat Dives Deep with Sean Evans on David Lynch & More
The Substance Movie FAQs
What is the movie The Substance about?
The Substance is about a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug that replicates her cells, creating a younger, better version of herself.
What genres does The Substance fall into?
The Substance is classified as a Horror and Science Fiction film.
Who are the main actors in The Substance?
The main actors are Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.
When was The Substance released?
The Substance was released on September 7, 2024.
What is the runtime of The Substance?
The runtime of The Substance is 141 minutes.
What is the tagline for The Substance?
The tagline is Become a better you.
What is the budget for The Substance movie?
The budget for the movie is 17500000.
What is the revenue from The Substance movie?
The revenue from The Substance movie is 76506196.
Which countries produced The Substance?
The Substance was produced in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Who directed The Substance?
Coralie Fargeat directed The Substance.