The upcoming 2025 Academy Awards features a thrilling contender: The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. This film stands out for its potential to end a longstanding dry spell for horror films at the Oscars—a trend that has persisted for over thirty years. Moore recently made headlines by winning her first Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, further solidifying the film’s position as a serious contender for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 2, 2025.
Demi Moore, recognized for her prominent role in Landman, a new series from Taylor Sheridan on Paramount+, has achieved a career milestone by securing her first Best Actress nomination for The Substance. Though Qualley, celebrated for her roles in acclaimed movies such as Poor Things and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, did not receive an Oscar nod, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes. In total, The Substance has garnered five Oscar nominations, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.
Could The Substance Break the Horror Genre’s Oscar Streak?
A Historic Victory: The Silence of the Lambs
Since 1992, when The Silence of the Lambs captured the Oscar for Best Picture, horror films have been conspicuously absent from the top accolade’s winners list. With The Substance now in contention, it stands at the forefront of potentially ending this streak, reflecting the evolution and appreciation of horror within the cinematic landscape. In the nearly century-long history of the Academy Awards, just six horror films have ever received Best Picture nominations: The Exorcist, Jaws, The Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense, Black Swan, and Get Out.
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The recent shift in the horror genre, especially through renowned production companies like A24 and Neon, has contributed to the genre’s rising profile in the film industry. However, notable films like Hereditary (2018) and The Witch (2015) have shockingly received no Oscar nominations, despite critical acclaim. The mere nomination of The Substance marks a significant landmark achievement for horror, highlighting its worthiness for lofty accolades.
Assessing The Substance’s Chances for Best Picture
Oscar Predictions: The Substance and Demi Moore
Current predictions for the 2025 Oscars indicate that The Substance is not widely favored to win Best Picture, with some rankings placing it lower on the list of contenders. However, its thematic elements—addressing Hollywood’s self-reflection and industry critique—may enhance its prospects, akin to previous nominees like La La Land and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. According to Variety, it currently ranks as the ninth contender, while The Hollywood Reporter places it at eighth, with A Complete Unknown leading the pack.
Despite less favorable projections for Best Picture, Moore is a frontrunner in the Best Actress category across both prediction platforms. If she wins, it would mark a historic moment as the first Best Actress award for a horror film since Natalie Portman in Black Swan. While The Substance may not replicate the success of The Silence of the Lambs at the Oscars, its recognition itself is poised to have a lasting influence on the horror genre’s reputation as a legitimate contender for prestigious awards.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
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