Fans roast Oscars’ Best Make-Up & Hairstyling win for ‘The Substance’: "Literally beat me to the joke"

We all knew The Substance has make-up and hairstyling that's on-point and detailed. So, it was a no-brainer for many that the film would take home the Oscar for Best Make-Up & Hairstyling at the 97th Academy Awards.

Shortly after the film won in the category, the X user, @DiscussingFilm, validated the news stating:

"THE SUBSTANCE’ has won Best Make-Up & Hairstyling at the #Oscars"

While most on social media were impressed, there were jibes, too, because this was a rare case of a horror film winning an Oscar in the category. Read on to know how netizens reacted.

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Fans' funny comments to The Substance Oscar win

After The Substance was declared winner at the 2025 Oscars for Best Make-Up & Hairstyling, many fans poked fun at the win, saying that the Oscars beat them to the joke.

"The Oscar literally beat me to the joke," a fan commented (X/@RealBadAideas)

The Substance fans also trolled @DiscussingFilm, saying that the image the user had chosen to post would confuse people who haven't watched the film... yet!

"Those shots must be confusing for people who haven't seen the movie," another fan said (via X/@gwnsofie_)

Other fans loved the Academy's decision, saying that the Oscars are now giving recognition to horror films — something that normally doesn't happen! X user @Mutant_Menace wrote:

"Love seeing the Oscars recognize horror movies, well deserved."

After X users viewed @DiscussingFilm's post, they hilariously commented that they won't get some sleep because the MonstroElisaSue photo gagged them so bad!

User @iStannatSi posted:

"Thank you I won’t be sleeping tonight."

Other X users believed that Oscar victory of The Substance for best make-up and hairstyling is well deserved because of how well the horror details have been brought alive by the winning stylists, Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli.

"Deserved, it was so good to look at!" - another X user remarked (via X/@LFAFSTYLE)

An X user joked that about The Substance winning at the Oscars, saying that make-up and hairstyling was actually missing from the film, considering what appeared on screen was so grotesque!

"It's missing makeup and hair," an X user noted (via X/@zudasworld)

Now that The Substance has won at the Oscars, horror fans across social media are requesting that the genre should not be excluded at various awards shows. They feel horror as a genre is among the best and the creativity involved in telling a terrifying story is also a craft, just as any other genre.

"Horror deserved more recognition at these award shows!" a horror fan suggested (via X/@TankBlades)

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The Substance's Oscars race

The Substance has a story that aims to captivate all categories of people, making it one of the most interesting films in the 2024-2025 awards season. Aside from the make-up and hairstyling, the movie's lead, Demi Moore, has won numerous awards and accolades because of her character, Elisabeth Sparkle. She was a frontrunner in the Oscar race for the Best Actress, too.

The Substance was also nominated in the Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay categories.

Not a bad run for a body horror film, right?

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The recognition that The Substance has garnered at the awards ceremonies this season, should give confidence to horror writers that they can create stories that terrify and at the same time have a meaningful impact.