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The Thing (1982)

12 | | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi | 3 November 1982 (France)
The Thing Poster
Clip
3:47 | Clip
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

Bill Lancaster (screenplay), John W. Campbell Jr. (story)

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David | See full cast & crew »
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Popularity
555 ( 363)
Top Rated Movies #165 | 3 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell ... MacReady
Wilford Brimley ... Dr. Blair (as A. Wilford Brimley)
T.K. Carter ... Nauls
David Clennon ... Palmer
Keith David ... Childs
Richard Dysart ... Dr. Copper
Charles Hallahan ... Vance Norris
Peter Maloney ... George Bennings
Richard Masur ... Clark
Donald Moffat ... Garry
Joel Polis ... Fuchs
Thomas G. Waites ... Windows (as Thomas Waites)
Norbert Weisser ... Norwegian
Larry Franco ... Norwegian Passenger with Rifle
Nate Irwin Nate Irwin ... Helicopter Pilot
See full cast »
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Storyline

A US research station, Antarctica, early-winter 1982. The base is suddenly buzzed by a helicopter from the nearby Norwegian research station. They are trying to kill a dog that has escaped from their base. After the destruction of the Norwegian chopper the members of the US team fly to the Norwegian base, only to discover them all dead or missing. They do find the remains of a strange creature the Norwegians burned. The Americans take it to their base and deduce that it is an alien life form. After a while it is apparent that the alien can take over and assimilate into other life forms, including humans, and can spread like a virus. This means that anyone at the base could be inhabited by The Thing, and tensions escalate. Written by grantss

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

antarctica | isolation | body horror | paranoia | alien creature | See All (437) »

Taglines:

The ultimate in alien terror. See more »

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

12 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The producers contribute the film's disappointing box-office performance to audiences' desire for a more benign interpretation of an alien presence on earth, as a result of Steven Spielberg's E.T. l'extra-terrestre (1982), which was released several weeks prior. See more »

Goofs

During the many interior scenes where the flamethrowers was used, resulting in large fires being started and then extinguished by the characters, the rooms the fires were in would be left with thick choking & blinding smoke, yet you see the rooms are always smoke free after the fires are put out. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
MacReady: Poor baby, you're starting to lose it.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The Universal logo doesn't appear until right after the movie's over See more »

Alternate Versions

In the original Australian video version of the scene between Bennings and Childs where Bennings comes running into the room and says to Childs, "Childs! Mac wants the flamethrower!" Childs turns to look at him, and the next scene starts. But in the DVD version of the film, the scene is extended when Bennings comes in and says "Childs! Mac wants the flamethrower!" then Childs asks, "Mac wants the what?" Bennings replies "You heard what he said now MOVE!" then Childs says lastly, "Dammit!" while getting his flamethrower gear on. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987) See more »

Soundtracks

Don't Explain
Music by Billie Holiday (uncredited)
Lyrics by Arthur Herzog Jr. (uncredited)
Performed by Billie Holiday
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »

User Reviews

One of the best scary films I've seen
11 August 1998 | by RBrooks – See all my reviews

Hitting the video store late on a Saturday when all of the current films were unavailable, we ran across The Thing in the "classic" racks. I've seen this film at least twice before and truly enjoyed seeing it again. If it lacks plot or character development, the premise is frightening enough to make it an engrossing film. The gross-out special effects don't hurt either. For me, The Thing ranks with Alien as one of the best scary films I 've seen.
134 of 198 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Norris have a heart attack if he is the Thing?
Q: What was the Thing doing on the spaceship?
Q: What happened to "Splitface"?
See more »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Norwegian

Release Date:

3 November 1982 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

La chose See more »

Filming Locations:

Juneau, Alaska, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,107,897, 27 June 1982

Gross USA:

$19,629,760

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,629,760
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Turman-Foster Company See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (VHS)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)| 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1
See full technical specs »
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