Clayface Passes The Substance as Top Body Horror
The DC Universe film has reached $83 million worldwide after its second weekend in release.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Horror
Clayface has earned $83 million worldwide, surpassing The Substance's $77 million to become the highest-grossing pure body horror movie. Its estimated $10.4 million second-weekend domestic gross placed it just behind the documentary You Can See Everything.
Why it matters
The milestone places a DC Universe horror title ahead of a widely discussed recent genre release in the body horror category. Both films center on celebrities struggling with physical decay and appearance, a theme that has drawn audiences to the subgenre.
Clayface opened to $24 million domestically and has earned $83 million worldwide, while winning the Halloween box office with $4.3 million compared with $3.58 million for You Can See Everything. The figures are reported estimates, and the source does not indicate final revisions.
The players
Clayface
A DC Universe (DCU) film in the horror genre that has become the highest-grossing pure body horror movie.
The Substance
A body horror film starring Demi Moore that previously held the record for the highest-grossing pure body horror movie.
You Can See Everything
A documentary that finished second on the domestic box office during the same weekend as Clayface.
The details
Clayface and The Substance both follow celebrities who turn to experimental medical procedures to restore their appearance, only to face grotesque transformations. In Clayface, a young actor is disfigured by mobsters, while The Substance's protagonist, played by Demi Moore, loses control as a perfect version of herself takes over.
Timeline
Second weekend of release: Clayface earns an estimated $10.4 million domestically and reaches $83 million worldwide.
Halloween weekend: Clayface wins the Halloween box office competition with $4.3 million.
Industry Dynamics
The result follows The Substance's 2024 breakout as the reference point for commercial success in the pure body horror subgenre. Clayface's rise shows the commercial appeal of the body horror genre has continued beyond that earlier release.
Viewers can see Clayface in theaters, as its box office performance reflects continued theatrical availability across markets. Its international run is reflected in the $83 million worldwide total reported so far.
The takeaway
Commercial results for body horror films can shift quickly across weekends, so early totals may change as markets report. Readers tracking the genre can compare opening and second-weekend figures for a clearer sense of audience staying power.
Further reading
Explore more Horror coverage for context on the genre's recent box office performance.
