Where is ‘The Substance’ streaming? How to watch at home.

“Have you ever dreamed of a better version of yourself?” So ask The bottomthe second feature film from Coralie Fargeat, winner of the Best Screenplay award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for the 2025 Oscar for Best Film. While it has been streaming on Mubi for a year, the body horror game is expanding its streaming horizons this fall.

The Hollywood satire on ageism stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, and positive word of mouth has made the horror film a surprise hit. If you still haven’t seen it – or want to watch it again this spooky season – here’s everything you need to know about how to watch it The bottom at home and online, including when and where it’s on and the best deals to save money.

What is The Substance about?

The bottom stars Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former star who was fired from her TV fitness program for the unforgivable crime of aging. Struggling with Hollywood’s crippling ageism, she discovers a new drug known as “the substance.” A single injection is enough for Elisabeth to be reborn as the beautiful, young Sue (Margaret Qualley), who then begins her own rise through Hollywood.

Of course, there is always a catch. The Substance forces you to share time between your two bodies; Elisabeth must spend exactly seven days as herself, then seven days as Sue. When she disrupts the balance, things get… bloody.

Check out the official trailer:

Is The Substance worth watching?

The bottom became the most successful box office release for arthouse distributor and streamer Mubi. The bold and bloody film created a lot of buzz, with audiences giving it a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The review rating is even more impressive, with a glowing score of 89 percent.

“Boldly crude, wickedly clever, and perhaps Demi Moore’s finest hour, The bottom is a stunning feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat,” reads the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although Mashable’s own reviewer wasn’t a big fan, writing that “the horror sci-fi plot of The bottom seems incomplete”, most reviews are very positive. The film even earned a nomination for Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Just be warned, many people will be squirming in their seats from the amount of blood and gore. This is a body horror film, after all.

How can I watch The bottom at home?

Credit: Mubi

Buy or rent digitally

The bottom made its digital retail debut on October 31, 2024, meaning it’s available for purchase from video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+ for $19.99. The film is also available to rent for just $5.99. With rental, you’ll have 30 days to start watching, but only 48 hours once you start.

Here are some quick links to purchase the film digitally:

Stream it on Mubi or HBO Max

As a Mubi Original Movie, Mubi is the exclusive streaming home for The bottom since it debuted on October 31, 2024. While Mubi is definitely a worthwhile subscription for movie buffs, it’s not usually in most people’s streaming queues. So we were thrilled to learn that the film has now made its way to a new streamer. to October 10, 2025: HBO Max. This Halloween season, the campy body horror gem is finally available to a wider audience.

Mubi subscriptions start at $14.99 per month, while HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month. We’ve rounded up some ways to save money on both streamers below.

The best HBO Max streaming deals

Best for Most People: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic Annual Subscription

You can save around 16% (compared to a monthly plan) if you choose an annual plan and pay up front for a year of HBO Max. The basic plan with ads typically costs $9.99 per month, but if you opt for an annual plan, that cost drops to around $8.33 per month, making an annual total of just $99.99. We think this is the best HBO Max streaming deal for most people – although, if you can’t stand ads, the Max Standard annual subscription is the next best deal at $169.99.

Get HBO Max for Free: Upgrade to Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited Plan

Want to get HBO Max for free? Upgrade your phone plan to Cricket’s $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic (with commercials) at no additional cost. When you open the HBO Max app, you’ll simply select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to sign in.

Get HBO Max for Free: Sign up for the DashPass Annual Plan

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is to use DoorDash’s annual DashPass plan, which costs $96 per year ($8 per month). A DashPass subscription gets you $0 delivery and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders year-round, plus free streaming (with ads) through HBO Max. Simply activate your HBO Max Basic subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. If you prefer to watch ad-free, you can upgrade to a discounted rate.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads

Students can enjoy a full year of HBO Max Basic (with ads) for half price. Verify your student status with UNiDAYS and use the discount code you receive to lower the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month. Once the year is over, your subscription will return to full price unless you cancel it.

Best Mubi streaming deals

Best Overall: Save 33% on an annual Mubi subscription

If you are a movie buff and want to stick around to enjoy more than just The bottomyou can save 33% by paying for a year of Mubi upfront. An annual subscription to Mubi costs $119.88 per year, or just $9.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99. You’ll also get a seven-day free trial to kick off your subscription.

Best for Students: Save $5/month on Mubi Student Membership

The students really win here. If you can prove your student status, you can sign up for Mubi free for 30 days, then get a discounted subscription for just $9.99 per month. It’s $5/month cheaper than a traditional subscription. Plus, with 30 days free, you’ll have plenty of time to watch The bottom and plenty of other movies before you even pay a cent.

UPDATED: October 16, 2025, 2:40 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming information regarding “The Substance,” as well as the latest deals.