The Thing (1982): cast, story & where to watch
1982 · Film · ★ 8.1
Released in 1982, The Thing is a horror, mystery and science fiction film directed by John Carpenter, running about 109 minutes. “Man is The Warmest Place to Hide.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A team of American scientists investigate the empty, destroyed base of their Norwegian counterparts in Antarctica, only to discover a terrifying life force that can take the form of its prey.
Who’s in it. The Thing stars Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady, Wilford Brimley as Blair, T.K. Carter as Nauls and David Clennon as Palmer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, The Thing sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $19.6M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Thing page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Thing tend to enjoy Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Alien.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Thing (1982)?
- In US, The Thing is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Thing worth watching?
- The Thing holds an audience score of 8.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy horror, mystery and science fiction. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Thing?
- The Thing stars Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon and Keith David.
- When was The Thing released?
- The Thing was released in 1982, with a runtime of about 109 minutes.