The Thing
8.2
“Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone.”
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Your rating
Your review
Part of The Thing Collection
2 films
Cast
22 people
Kurt Russell
MacReady
Known for
The Hateful Eight
Death Proof
Wilford Brimley
Blair
Known for
Cocoon
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
T.K. Carter
Nauls
Known for
The Corner
Runaway Train
David Clennon
Palmer
Known for
Gone Girl
Being There
Keith David
Childs
Known for
Hazbin Hotel
They Live
Richard Dysart
Dr. Copper
Known for
Back to the Future Part III
Spawn
Charles Hallahan
Norris
Known for
Dante's Peak
Hunter
Peter Maloney
Bennings
Known for
Breaking Away
Class Rank
Richard Masur
Clark
Known for
It
My Girl
T. K. Carter
Nauls
Donald Moffat
Garry
Known for
Clear and Present Danger
The Bourne Identity
Joel Polis
Fuchs
Known for
Alien Hunter
Attraction
John Carpenter Director · Bill Lancaster Screenplay John W. Campbell Jr. Author
Worldwide gross $20M · Budget $15M · United States release June 25, 1982
Box office
Budget
$15,000,000
Worldwide gross
$19,629,760
Gross vs. budget
1.3×
Production
Universal Pictures
Production · Studio
The Turman-Foster Company
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Norwegian
Release dates
Canada · June 25, 1982
Theatrical
United States · June 25, 1982
Theatrical
United States
January 7, 2020 · Limited theatrical · Film at Lincoln Center
Argentina
August 26, 1982 · Theatrical
Australia
August 20, 1982 · Theatrical
October 28, 2016 · Theatrical · Re-release (Brisbane, Sydney)
Brazil
February 3, 1983 · Theatrical
October 13, 2026 · Limited theatrical · CineSesc
Canada
October 27, 2005 · Premiere · Cinemuerte International Horror Film Festival
February 6, 2010 · Premiere · Digital Film Festival
Czechia
September 9, 1998 · Physical
Denmark
November 5, 1982 · Theatrical
Finland
December 17, 1982 · Theatrical
November 12, 2011 · Premiere · Iik!! Horror Film Festival
France
November 3, 1982 · Theatrical
October 17, 2015 · Premiere · Grand Lyon Film Festival (Restored Version)
January 27, 2016 · Theatrical · Re-release (Restored Version)
September 16, 2019 · Premiere · Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival
January 24, 2023 · Premiere · Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers
Germany
October 22, 1982 · Theatrical · West Germany
March 28, 2019 · Physical
Ireland
November 28, 1982 · Theatrical
Italy
November 26, 1982 · Theatrical
May 7, 2016 · Premiere · Future Film Festival
Japan
November 13, 1982 · Theatrical
October 19, 2018 · Theatrical · Re-release
Mexico
June 2, 1983 · Theatrical
June 25, 2004 · Physical
Netherlands
November 11, 1982 · Theatrical
December 29, 2001 · TV · Net 5
October 30, 2008 · Physical · Blu-ray
July 13, 2010 · Physical · DVD
Norway
January 21, 1983 · Theatrical
Poland
January 3, 2018 · Physical · DVD
Portugal
November 11, 1982 · Theatrical
November 23, 1982 · Theatrical · Porto
June 1, 2019 · TV · RTP 1
Russia
June 28, 1982 · Theatrical
Russia
September 23, 2008 · Physical · DVD
South Korea
December 25, 1983 · Theatrical
Spain
October 8, 1982 · Theatrical · Madrid
October 18, 1982 · Theatrical · Barcelona
June 10, 1983 · Theatrical
January 13, 2011 · Limited theatrical · Phenomena Barcelona (Subtitled Version)
April 26, 2012 · Limited theatrical · Phenomena Madrid (Subtitled Version)
January 10, 2015 · Limited theatrical · Phenomena Barcelona (Subtitled Version, Event Re-release)
February 16, 2022 · Limited theatrical · Madrid
March 18, 2022 · Limited theatrical · Sevilla
Sweden
October 29, 1982 · Theatrical
July 1, 1996 · Physical · VHS
December 2, 1999 · Physical · DVD
October 15, 2008 · Physical · Blu-ray
United Kingdom
August 26, 1982 · Theatrical
March 19, 1987 · Physical · VHS
April 5, 2000 · Physical · DVD
September 15, 2009 · Theatrical · Re-release
October 17, 2011 · Physical · Blu-ray
March 12, 2016 · Premiere · Bristol Film Festival
February 23, 2017 · Premiere · Glasgow Film Festival
November 20, 2017 · Physical · Arrow Video Blu-ray
September 20, 2021 · Physical · 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray
September 21, 2022 · Theatrical · 40th Anniversary Re-release
More from John Carpenter
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked The Thing
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.