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The Thing
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by John Carpenter. With Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter.
8.1/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
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8.1/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTA research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Thing.
MoviHero lists June 25, 1982 as the release date for The Thing. John Carpenter is the listed director. The listed cast includes Kurt Russell as MacReady, Wilford Brimley as Blair, T.K. Carter as Nauls, David Clennon as Palmer. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJune 25, 1982
GenresScience Fiction · Mystery · Horror
Runtime1h 49m
DirectorJohn Carpenter
CastKurt Russell as MacReady, Wilford Brimley as Blair, T.K. Carter as Nauls, David Clennon as Palmer
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Thing right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Thing runs 1h 49m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 4/10, suggesting a lighter emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Thing. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.1/10 from 8,438 votes. Updated Nov 12, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact4/10
Mind-Bending7/10
Scary9/10
Violence4/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Thing
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Flips the scenario round from the original to great effect.”
Viewer reaction
“It was a good and original movie but some parts were still too boring, am i the only one who thinks like this?”
Viewer reaction
“Stuck on a remote station in Antarctica with… The Thing RELEASED IN 1982 and directed by John Carter, “The Thing” stars Kurt Russell as the…”
More reactions (2)
Viewer reaction
“1982 was a good year for alien movies.”
Viewer reaction
“The Thing is a bloody disgusting groundbreaking masterpiece that reinvented cinema and reminded everyone that true fear lies in what can't be seen.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“How you doin', old boy?”
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Finish imitating these dogs.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
Where The Thing fits.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
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