The Thing

Play trailer

The Thing

R

1982

1h 49m

Horror

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

92 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp, and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot and the camp doctor lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Grimmer and more terrifying than the 1950s take, John Carpenter's The Thing is a tense sci-fi thriller rife with compelling tension and some remarkable make-up effects.

Read Critics Reviews

Ernest Leogrande

New York Daily News

Oct 6

2.5/4

There are truly astonishing, stomach-turning creations that have the look of reality -- or unreality -- to them.

Go to Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oct 2

Carpenter is still a master of dread and I don't think anyone will walk out of "The Thing" without having been genuinely frightened at least once.

Go to Full Review

Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

02/16/2024

The solemnity of the frozen wastes contrasts brilliantly with the sweaty paranoia of the men, who are unsure which of their colleagues is next going to erupt with hidden jaws and shooting tendrils.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 30

3.5/4

Far and away the best film of John Carpenter's career.

Go to Full Review

Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Oct 6

The characters are so characterless they can only be distinguished by whether they wear beards or not.

Go to Full Review

Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 18

10/10

The Thing is The Thing. It stands as one of the best practical effects horror films of the 80s, which is saying a lot. The story has tension baked in, and John Carpenter sucks every drop of tension out of it.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Simon

Feb 25

An absolute classic. Lovely to see it on 35mm.

See more

Taylor

Oct 12

john Carpenter's The Thing is great fun. The practical effects and sound are perfection.

See more

Chris C

Sep 12

Haven't watched this before. Held up quite well for being from early 80's.

See more

Kemp C

Sep 12

I've seen this move so many times and i never get tired of it. This movie pulls you in and won't let go, much like the thing

See more

William H

Sep 12

Not sure why this was showing in a theater. But Im happy it was. Ive seen The Thing so many times, but never once got to watch it on the big screen. Its always a great experience to watch classic horror movies on the big screen.

See more

Stephan

Sep 11

It was a true pleasure to witness the phenomenal special fx on the big screen. The modern screening was crisp and clear. A true classic

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Carpenter

Director

Kurt Russell

R.J. MacReady

Wilford Brimley

Dr. Blair

T.K. Carter

Nauls

Richard Dysart

Dr. Copper

Richard Masur

Clark

The Thing: Official Clip - Why Don't We Wait Here, See What Happens

2:10

The Thing: Official Clip - Chest Defibrillation

2:31

The Thing: Official Clip - MacReady's Tape Recorder

1:23

The Thing: Official Clip - Warm Things Up a Little

2:23

The Thing: Official Clip - Tainted Blood Sample

2:58

The Thing: Official Clip - It's Weird and Pissed Off

2:13

The Thing: Official Clip - Tied to This Couch

1:20

The Thing: Official Clip - The Norwegian Dog Hunt

2:13

The Thing: Official Clip - Human Mutant

2:08

The Thing: Official Clip - Blowing the Base

2:13

View more videos

Leviathan

23%

28%

Leviathan

Watchlist

Night Shadows

17%

35%

Night Shadows

Watchlist

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

49%

31%

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Watchlist

Scanners

69%

64%

Scanners

Watchlist

Psycho II

67%

63%

Psycho II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién, Critic at Vulture/New York Magazine

The 25 Scariest Movie Scenes of All Time

Maika Monroe’s Five Favorite Horror Films

View more photos

Synopsis

In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp, and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot and the camp doctor lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: David Foster, Lawrence Turman
Screenwriter: Bill Lancaster
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Turman-Foster Company
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings