Oscars 2025: The Substance Makes History As The 7th Horror Movie Ever Nominated For Best Picture, Alongside 4 Other Noms

The Substance has made history as only the seventh horror movie to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the 2024 horror-drama has earned a total of five nominations, including Best Director (Coralie Fargeat), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Demi Moore), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film stars Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity who takes an experimental drug that creates a younger, idealized version of herself named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley, unleashing grotesque and horrifying consequences.

The Academy has nominated Fargeat’s critically acclaimed body horror as the seventh horror movie in history for Best Picture, following The Exorcist in 1973, Jaws in 1975, The Silence of the Lambs in 1991, The Sixth Sense in 1999, Black Swan in 2010, and Jordan Peele’s Get Out in 2017. The Substance reviews praised the film’s practical effects and biting commentary, though its intense and shocking gore made it an unlikely Oscar contender.

What The Substance’s Nominations Mean

The Year Of Horror Became Unstoppable

As the medium has steadily evolved into a vehicle for complex social commentary on humanity’s darkest impulses, horror still remains largely overlooked by prestigious institutions. With the awards buzz behind The Substance, it appears the tides against horror have begun to change. Earlier this month, Moore—best known for her work in the 1980s and 90s—won her first Golden Globe for her role as Elisabeth. Following her breakout success with the rape-revenge film Revenge (2017), Fargeat has also become one of the first female horror directors to achieve an Oscar nomination—a much-needed force in modern cinema.

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This year, The Substance is not alone in representing the genre. Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu received nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design, while Alien: Romulus scored nods for Best Visual Effects. Altogether, these films illustrate the growing respect for horror within the industry, with a range of subgenres and styles moving beyond the clichés of blood-gushing slashers and one-dimensional characters. The success of The Substance, Nosferatu, and Alien: Romulus at the Oscars (and the box office) signals a golden era for genre filmmaking, cementing horror’s place as a vital part of modern cinema.

Our Take On The Substance’s Oscar Nominations

A Historic Leap Onto Hollywood’s Biggest Stage

Demi Moore screaming as part of Monstro Elisasue in The Substance

Horror is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and The Substance is leading the charge. Its nominations not only highlight the genre’s potential for an intellectual and emotional depth to rival any drama, but also reflect a broader shift in the industry’s values. This year’s Oscars feel like a celebration of horror’s artistry, with The Substance, Nosferatu, and Alien: Romulus demonstrating the genre’s incredible range—from psychological terror to gothic reimaginings to sci-fi monsters. The Substance stands out as a daring, visceral experience that will leave a lasting impression, both on the Academy and on the genre’s unapologetic legacy.

Source: The Academy/X