The Substance keeps winning awards, so here’s why it’s classed under the comedy category

The Substance is already winning big in this year’s awards season for film, and this alone is something to be shouting about. Coralie Fargeat pushed boundaries with her balls to the wall, chaotic and repugnant body horror film – and whilst this genre is frequently acclaimed it is never quite breaking into the mainstream like she managed to with her second picture. The Substance is Mubi’s most successful box office hit, and it feels like the Demi Moore vehicle has remained viral since it released in cinemas in the autumn of 2024. As we watch Demi Moore rake in the big trophies and with the Oscars getting over closer, people are finding themselves split about the fact that The Substance is winning awards in the comedy / musical category.

Here’s a quick explainer of why The Substance got entered into the comedy / musical category this awards season, and why it might be way more obviously at home there than you perhaps think.

The Substance IS darkly funny

People not seeing the Substance as a horror-comedy are confusing to me… Like it’s obviously intentionally funny in MANY parts https://t.co/8KXzlaOQYD

— Pander Shirts 🇵🇸 (@PanderShirts) January 26, 2025

In terms of big awards so far, Demi Moore has taken home the Golden Globe for Best Actress – in a musical or comedy – as well as last night bagging the same prize at the Satellite awards.

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But the fact that the film has been winning awards in this particular category is raising eyebrows from those who couldn’t see that whilst The Substance is repulsive, it is also frequently very funny. The Substance is a satire – and Fargeat uses its heightened stylistic elements to full effect to tear down the beauty industry and how Hollywood mistreats women as they get older. It is frequently hilarious – one particular moment being the harsh and blunt way the creators of the substance speak to Elisabeth Sparkles on the phone when Sue has not been respecting the balance.

Something is going badly wrong in the replies every time The Substance is labelled comedy. The movie where a title card introduces MONSTRO ELISASUE. https://t.co/WCBKfbyjJJ

— based gizmo 🏳️‍⚧️ 🇵🇸 (@basedgizmo) January 26, 2025

But another major reason why horror films are frequently entered for the comedy or musical category at the Golden Globes is because the drama category is often stacked. Horror is famously mistreated at awards ceremonies – and when a production team behind a horror film enter it into a category it might not fully be aligned with it’s usually to maximise its chance of winning big.

The Substance and Heretic are examples of films that got this treatment in 2025. Both of these films are definitely horror movies, but also contain a dry wit and satirical tone about various subject matters that qualify them for the comedy category.

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