Did “The Beauty” Rip Off “The Substance”? Coralie Fargeat Reveals All! [EXCLUSIVE]

Since the release of “The Beauty” on Disney+ on January 22, a recurring question has emerged: Does Ryan Murphy’s new series not look a lot like Coralie Fargeat’s film “The Substance”? The premise itself is telling: a sexually transmitted virus turns people into perfect versions of themselves, but with deadly side effects. Body horror, a fierce critique of beauty standards, transforming bodies… The similarities to the film, which won a screenplay award at Cannes in 2024, are remarkable. We mentioned this in our review.

AlloCiné took the opportunity at the César Revelations dinner 2026, held on Monday, January 19 in Paris, to directly ask the French director. Her response, full of grace and perspective, is worth noting.

“I’m very happy that ideas circulate”

Far from any controversy, Coralie Fargeat aimed to widen the discussion: “It’s also because it’s a theme that is universal and timeless. That’s why it has occupied me for so long because it speaks about our humanity, our relationship with the image.“

The filmmaker goes even further in celebrating this convergence: “I’m very happy that ideas circulate, in fact. And I think we all feed off each other’s work, consciously or unconsciously… And for me, that’s the most beautiful form of art, that everything circulates, everything transforms, and everyone reinvents myths in their own way. And for me, that’s actually a cool resonance.“

Two works, one common struggle

This intellectual openness speaks volumes about Coralie Fargeat’s maturity. Instead of crying plagiarism, she acknowledges that “The Substance” and “The Beauty” are drawn from the same cultural soil: our collective obsession with physical perfection, magnified by social media, reckless use of Ozempic, or cosmetic surgery.

Ryan Murphy and his co-creator Matt Hodgson explore these themes through the lens of a spy thriller featuring Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, and Ashton Kutcher. Fargeat, on the other hand, approached them through body horror with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Two formats, two approaches, but a surprisingly synchronous message that highlights the relevance of the topic in 2026.

Comments by Coralie Fargeat collected by Brigitte Baronnet.

AlloCiné delivers over 40 articles daily on cinema and series news, interviews, streaming recommendations, quirky and cinephile anecdotes about your favorite movies and series. Subscribing to AlloCiné on Google Discover, ensures daily exploration of the riches from a site created by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.