Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley star in the 2025 Best Picture nomineeThe Substance, which has the chance to break an unfortunate Oscars streak that has lasted for over three decades. FollowingDemi Moore’s surprise 2025 Golden Globe winfor Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy,The Substanceemerged as a Best Picture contenderat the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, set to be held on March 2.
Moore, who also recently appeared in Taylor Sheridan’s latest Paramount+ seriesLandman, earned a career-first Best Actress Oscar nomination forThe Substance. Her co-star Qualley, known for her appearances in celebrated films such asPoor ThingsandOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywood, was not acknowledged by the Academy but earned a Supporting Actress nomination at the 2025 Golden Globes.The Substanceis nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.
The Substance Could Finally Become The First Horror Movie To Win Best Picture Since The Silence Of The Lambs
The Silence Of The Lambs Is The Only Horror Film To Ever Win Best Picture
A horror movie hasn’t won Best Picture at the Academy Awards since 1992 withThe Silence of the Lambs. SinceThe Substanceis now a Best Picture nominee for the 2025 Oscars, that streak could potentially end with a long-overdue victory for the horror genre. BeforeThe Substance’snomination,only six horror movies had ever been nominated for Best Pictureat the Oscars in the near-100-year history of the ceremony. These includeThe Exorcist,Jaws,The Silence of the Lambs,The Sixth Sense,Black Swan, andGet Out.
Given the evolution of the horror genre in recent years through outlets such as A24 and Neon, horror films should become a more popular Oscars genre. Celebrated modern horrors likeHereditary(2018) andThe Witch(2015) notably received zero Oscar nominations despite being among the best films of their respective years.
The fact thatThe Substancewas even nominated for Best Picture makes it a monument in the horror genre.
Some may argue thatNosferatu, one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2024, is one of the Best Picture snubs at the 2025 Oscars, receiving four nominations in technical categories. The fact thatThe Substancewas even nominated for Best Picture makes it a monument in the horror genre.
The Substance’s Odds For Winning Best Picture At The 2025 Oscars Explained
The Substance Is Not Projected Highly For Best Picture But Moore Is A Best Actress Frontrunner
MostOscars 2025 Best Picture predictionslists don’t placeThe Substanceamong the top contenders.The Substance’sthemes of Hollywood self-reflexivity and industry commentary should boost its chances to a degree, as seen with past Best Picture nominees likeLa La LandandOnce Upon a Time… In Hollywood.
“Beauty Horror, As I Like To Call It”: 2025 Horror Director Addresses Early Comparisons To Demi Moore’s The Substance After 97% RT Debut
EXCLUSIVE: The director of an upcoming 2025 horror film addresses her movie’s early comparisons to 2024’s breakout film, The Substance.
Varietycurrently ranks The Substance as the ninth most likely movie to take home the award, whileThe Hollywood Reporterplaces it in the eighth position. Both lists haveA Complete Unknownas the current Best Picture favorite. Moore, however, is the frontrunner on both Best Actress lists, which would make her the first winner for a horror film since Natalie Portman inBlack Swan.The Substancemay not have itsSilence of the Lambsmoment at the 2025 Oscars but its consideration should have a lasting impact on horror as a prestige genre.
