Since the inaugural Academy Awards took place in 1929, only a handful of horror films—just eight to be precise—have managed to secure a highly coveted Best Picture nomination. This year, the list includes the body horror film The Substance. However, its chances of winning the top prize seem slim. According to the Yahoo Best Picture Leaderboard, it appears unlikely that The Substance will emerge victorious. In fact, only one horror film has ever claimed the Oscar for Best Picture: The Silence of the Lambs, which earned this accolade over thirty years ago. Nonetheless, The Substance, featuring Demi Moore, could still leave a significant mark on the Academy.
In the film, Demi Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress whose career takes a downturn when she is let go from her fitness TV show on her 50th birthday. In a desperate attempt to reclaim her former glory, she injects herself with a mysterious substance that transforms her into a more desirable version of herself, showcasing her dedication to winning back the love and admiration of Hollywood’s elite.
Zoran Samardzija, a film and television professor at Columbia College Chicago, suggests that the satirical elements of The Substance may have resonated with Academy voters, reminiscent of other Oscar-nominated films that critique the entertainment industry, such as Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive. Samardzija notes, “It addresses the mistreatment of women. The Substance is grotesque, yet its satirical tone elevates it.”
The horror genre is often overlooked at the Oscars, a surprising reality given the skillful acting, intricate plots, and distinctive visuals required to create truly terrifying films. However, this absence does not indicate any inherent flaw within the genre itself.
Samardzija points out that the Oscars currently lean towards dramas, which has sidelined other genres, including comedies that previously enjoyed success early in the award ceremony’s history. Since the number of Best Picture nominees expanded from five to ten in 2009, a few horror films have found their way into the nominations: Black Swan, Get Out, and now The Substance.
The Oscars have a notable history of performance snubs in horror, with only four women receiving the Best Actress award for roles in horror films: Ruth Gordon for Rosemary’s Baby (1969), Kathy Bates for Misery (1990), Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), and Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010). For this reason, Moore’s strong positioning in this year’s awards season is particularly remarkable, as she has already garnered accolades at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards.
What distinguishes Moore’s performance in The Substance from previous winners is the film’s extreme and surreal nature, especially as it escalates into graphic body horror toward its conclusion. Samardzija asserts, “I think The Substance represents one of the most viscerally graphic horror films ever nominated,” attributing some of its appeal to the strength of Moore’s performance.
Moore, a well-respected figure in Hollywood for decades, is currently experiencing what many view as overdue recognition. Highlighting the Oscars’ tendency to reflect on a nominee’s entire body of work, Samardzija notes that some of the awards carry a “lifetime achievement” perspective.
During her Golden Globe acceptance speech, Moore recounted how a producer once dismissed her talent, deeming her a “popcorn actress.” This revelation contributed to her feelings of unworthiness regarding awards recognition. In her poignant address, she declared, “I celebrate this as a marker of my wholeness and of the love that drives me, reminding me that I do belong.”
Even if Moore does not win the Oscar and The Substance goes home without accolades, the film has already made a significant impact at the box office, grossing an impressive $77 million. The horror genre has been rapidly gaining popularity, doubling its market share over the past decade, highlighting its influential position within the film industry.
With horror-centric streaming platforms like Shudder paving the way for independent films to reach wider audiences, the body horror subgenre may experience a surge in popularity, especially as filmmakers seek to replicate the successful elements of The Substance. The body horror film Together even emerged as a top acquisition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Samardzija believes that horror’s profitability ensures its survival in Hollywood, akin to the resilience often attributed to its most nefarious characters. Thanks to the contributions of Demi Moore and The Substance, the genre is experiencing a revitalization.
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The Oscars have historically snubbed horror. Demi Moore’s performance in ‘The Substance’ could change that.
