The Substance18

Directed by Coralie Fargeat | UK/France | 2024 | 2h 21m | Starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Hugo Diego Garcia, Oscar Lesage

Television star and fitness icon Elisabeth Sparkle was once a beloved Hollywood pin-up. But when network executives try to replace her with a younger star, she turns to a black-market drug that temporarily transforms her into a younger version of herself. Demi Moore delivers a career-defining performance in Coralie Fargeat’s award-winning satirical body horror, which confronts harsh realities about ageism and misogyny, while exposing the dark side of toxic beauty culture.

Reviews

‘Some will run screaming, but if it’s your jam, this could just be your new favourite horror movie.’
★★★★★
Philip De Semlyen, Time Out

‘It’s the casting of Moore, though, and her willingness to denude herself at 61 –emotionally, as well as physically– that gives The Substance a startling connection with its themes. Not for 30 years has she owned a film with anything like this certitude.’
★★★★★
Tim Robey, The Telegraph

Book tickets

Saturday 12 October

9.00pmBook tickets
Monday 14 October

6.00pmBook tickets
Tuesday 15 October

£6 for Members

8.30pmBook tickets
Thursday 17 October

8.45pmBook tickets
Monday 21 October

9.00pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Saturday 12th October)

21:00

The Substance 18
2h 21m
In a bid to revive her career, a former TV star takes a black-market drug that transforms her into a younger version of herself. Demi Moore gives a career-best performance in this award-winning body horror critiquing toxic industry beauty standards.

Book here


Tomorrow (Sunday 13th October)

14:00

Lee 15
1h 57m
Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a former model turned renowned photographer, captured some of the most iconic and haunting images of the Second World War. In this captivating biopic, Oscar-winner Kate Winslet brings Miller’s extraordinary story to life.

Book here

16:45

The Goldman Case 12A
1h 56m | French w/ English subtitles
An electrifying dramatisation of the trial of left-wing activist Pierre Goldman, who was accused of armed robbery and murder in 1970s France. Winner of Best Actor (Arieh Worthalter) at the 2024 César Awards.

Book here

19:30

Megalopolis 15
2h 18m
A visionary artist seeking to guide humanity toward a utopian future faces opposition from regressive, greedy politicians. 40 years in the making, Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited philosophical sci-fi epic finally arrives on the big screen.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!