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The Thing

  • 19821982
  • RR
  • 1h 49min
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
394K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
192
9
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Thing (1982)
Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
Play trailer1:54
4 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorMysterySci-Fi

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
394K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
192
9
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
    • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Wilford Brimley
    • Keith David
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
    • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Wilford Brimley
    • Keith David
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 373Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #160
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos4

    The Thing
    Trailer 1:54
    The Thing
    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
    Clip 3:47
    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 36
    Video 29:47
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 36

    Photos160

    Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Donald Moffat, and Joel Polis in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell and Charles Hallahan in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    T.K. Carter, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, and Donald Moffat in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell, T.K. Carter, and Donald Moffat in The Thing (1982)
    The Thing (1982)
    Charles Hallahan in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Russell
    Kurt Russell
    • MacReadyas MacReady
    Wilford Brimley
    Wilford Brimley
    • Dr. Blairas Dr. Blair
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Childsas Childs
    Richard Masur
    Richard Masur
    • Clarkas Clark
    T.K. Carter
    T.K. Carter
    • Naulsas Nauls
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Palmeras Palmer
    Richard Dysart
    Richard Dysart
    • Dr. Copperas Dr. Copper
    Charles Hallahan
    Charles Hallahan
    • Vance Norrisas Vance Norris
    Peter Maloney
    Peter Maloney
    • George Benningsas George Bennings
    Donald Moffat
    Donald Moffat
    • Garryas Garry
    Joel Polis
    Joel Polis
    • Fuchsas Fuchs
    Thomas G. Waites
    Thomas G. Waites
    • Windowsas Windows
    • (as Thomas Waites)
    Norbert Weisser
    Norbert Weisser
    • Norwegianas Norwegian
    Larry Franco
    Larry Franco
    • Norwegian Passenger with Rifleas Norwegian Passenger with Rifle
    Nate Irwin
    • Helicopter Pilotas Helicopter Pilot
    William Zeman
    • Pilotas Pilot
    Adrienne Barbeau
    Adrienne Barbeau
    • Computeras Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Norwegian (video footage)as Norwegian (video footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
      • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —grantss
    antarcticaisolationparanoiaalien creaturebody horror425 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A tradition in British Antarctic research stations to watch The Thing (1982) as part of their Midwinter feast and celebration held every June 21.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 20 mins) Although Fuchs has told them that the alien organism is highly infective, they don't care about sharing the same knife to get their blood samples.
    • Quotes

      [Norris' head grows legs and tries to walk away]

      Palmer: [1:17:22] You gotta be fuckin' kidding.

    • Crazy credits
      The title of the movie is revealed in the same style as in The Thing from Another World (1951). The effect was achieved with a plastic bag placed on a stencil that was melted by a heat source placed below it.
    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 12 minutes from this film for its 1986 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Edited into Deep Freeze (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Explain
      Music by Billie Holiday (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Arthur Herzog Jr. (uncredited)

      Performed by Billie Holiday

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Flips the scenario round from the original to great effect.
    John Carpenter shows how much he loves the 1951 original by giving it the utmost respect that he possibly could, the only difference here is that Carpenter chooses to stick to the paranoiac core of John W Campbell Jr's short story.

    The secret to this version's success is the unbearable tension that builds up as the group of men become suspicious of each other, the strain of literally waiting to be taken over takes a fearful hold. Carpenter then manages to deliver the shocks as well as the mystery that's needed to keep the film heading in the right direction.

    Be it an horrific scene or a "what is in the shadow" sequence, the film is the perfect fusion of horror and sci-fi. The dialogue is laced with potency and viability for a group of men trying to keep it together under such duress, while Ennio Morricone's score is a wonderful eerie pulse beat that further racks up the sense of doom and paranoia seaming throughout the film.

    The cast are superb, a solid assembly line of actors led by Carpenter favourite Kurt Russell, whilst the effects used around the characters get the right amount of impact needed. But most of all it's the ending that is the crowning glory, an ending that doesn't pander to the norm and is incredibly fitting for what has gone on before it. Lets wait and see what happens indeed. 10/10
    helpful•159
    28
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Mar 4, 2008

    FAQ55

    • At the beginning, the helicopter is trying to shoot the dog as it runs through the snow. Why doesn't the helicopter just hover over the dog instead of flying way past the dog after each pass? Does it have anything to do with the cold air or altitude?
    • Did the dog being hunted by helicopter in the opening sequence belong to the Norwegians or to the Americans?
    • What is 'The Thing' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 25, 1982 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Norwegian
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's The Thing
    • Filming locations
      • Juneau, Alaska, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Turman-Foster Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,629,760
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,107,897
      • Jun 27, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,632,053
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 49min
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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