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.

🏆 Nominated for 5 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Lead Actress) and 5 BAFTA Film Awards (including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay).

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

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Substance between October 12, 2024 and March 10, 2025.

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What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 8th September)

17:45

& Sons 15
£6 for Members
2h
A reclusive novelist, convinced he's dying, summons his estranged sons and reveals a secret that draws his ex-wife back into the fold. Academy Award nominees Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton lead this darkly comedic drama, alongside George MacKay and Dominic West.

Book here

20:30

Nine to Five 15
£6 for Members
1h 49m
Fed up with their sexist boss, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton hatch a plan to take over their office, turning workplace revenge into one of the sharpest comedies of its era. Screening in memory of the late, great Dolly Parton.

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 9th September)

15:00

Holy Days 12A
1h 41m
Three unconventional nuns set out across New Zealand to retrieve their convent's deeds. When a snowstorm derails their journey, they confront loss and forgiveness. Nathalie Boltt's road-trip comedy stars BAFTA winners Judy Davis and Miriam Margolyes.

Book here

19:30

& Sons 15
2h
A reclusive novelist, convinced he's dying, summons his estranged sons and reveals a secret that draws his ex-wife back into the fold. Academy Award nominees Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton lead this darkly comedic drama, alongside George MacKay and Dominic West.

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 only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!