Despite some misfires, 2024 was a relatively strong year for horror. Alien: Romulus is the most successful horror film at the box office this year, and The first omen is a highlight praised by critics. Low-budget Blumhouse horror titles like Don’t speak badly, Imaginaryand Night Swimming They were also hits, even if not all of them pleased the critics. However, it was the independent space that showcased some of this year’s most memorable and unique horror films.
No discussion of the horror of 2024 is complete without mentioning Oz Perkins Long legswhich utilized a stellar marketing campaign to become a huge box office success, as well as receiving generally positive reviews. Terrifying 3an unrated horror festival, it was also an unprecedented success. Other notable titles that also made a critical or commercial impression (or both) include Cuckoo, Dear stranger, The substanceand Strangenessjust to name a few. One in particular, though, is now finding audiences once again on home viewing platforms.
Substance Captivates Viewers on VOD
2024 horror movie beats Joker 2 on iTunes
The substance became a huge hit on VOD following its theatrical release earlier this year. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, this bizarre body horror film stars Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, telling the story of an elderly celebrity who takes a black market drug that creates a temporary clone of herself, younger and better. The substancethe reviews were praise from critics, and the film currently enjoys a strong 90% score on Rotten Tomatoeswith a respectable audience score of 74%.
After hitting theaters in September and being released on Mubi on October 31, The substance is now performing very well on the VOD chartsaccording to a new report from IndieWire. A snapshot of iTunes VOD ratings from November 4 placed the horror film in third place, behind Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) and Beetle juice Beetle juice (2024). On Fandango at Home the week of October 28th to November 3rd, The substance comes in sixth place, but that may be because there were two days in that period when the film was not available. Check out the two VOD charts below:
|
VOD movie classification |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Classification |
iTunes |
Fandango at home |
|
1 |
Beetle juice Beetle juice |
Beetle juice Beetle juice |
|
2 |
Deadpool and Wolverine |
Deadpool and Wolverine |
|
3 |
The substance |
The Wild Robot |
|
4 |
Joker: Folie à Deux |
Joker: Folie à Deux |
|
5 |
Long legs |
Transformers One |
|
6 |
The Wild Robot |
The substance |
|
7 |
Halloween (1978) |
Alien: Romulus |
|
8 |
Transformers One |
Twisted |
|
9 |
Blink twice |
Long legs |
|
10 |
Alien: Romulus |
Don’t speak badly |
What Substance’s VOD Success Means for the Film
Explanation of how the film performed in theaters
The substance became available on home viewing platforms just in time for Halloween, and the spooky holiday is undoubtedly part of the reason the film found success on VOD. Made on a reported budget of $17.5 million, the film ended up grossing just over $43 million at the box officemeaning it almost certainly broke even during its theatrical run. The fact that it is now performing well on VOD will certainly further cement it as a horror success story.
The film’s VOD success also bodes well for Fargeat’s film career. The director has already directed Revenge in 2017, which was equally well received by critics with its shocking moments of blood and brutality, which also appear in The substanceis ending. It’s unclear what project Fargeat will work on next, but The substance it certainly suggests she has a brilliant career ahead of her.
Source: IndieWire