The Thing (2011): Ratings, Box Office, Plot & Where to Watch
The Thing is a 2011 sci-fi thriller directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.. It is inspired by Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $31.5 million worldwide on a $38 million budget. Critics gave it 34% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Stream it on Peacock and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $38M
- Inspired by
- Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Thing About?
The premise of The Thing without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Deep in the Antarctic wilderness, an American research team discovers an alien spacecraft and a mysterious, otherworldly organism. As the creature awakens, it begins to assimilate and imitate the team members, sowing paranoia and distrust. Paleontologist Kate Lloyd and pilot Carter must work together to uncover the truth and stop the terrifying, shape-shifting alien from wiping out the entire expedition in a desperate fight for survival against the brutal, icy environment.
The Thing Themes & Keywords
· 44 tags- alien
- scientist
- antarctica
- student
- paleontologist
- alien creature
- norwegian
- polar research station
- frozen body
- body horror
- spaceship
- horror movie prequel
+32 more Show fewer
- prequel
- paranoia
- sole survivor
- mistrust
- metal dental filling
- blood test
- graphic violence
- based on novella
- based on short story
- creature feature
- year 1982
- falling through ice
- scientific research
- laboratory
- burned alive
- isolation
- transformation
- survival horror
- mutation
- helicopter crash
- deception
- suspicion
- flamethrower
- tissue sample
- 1980s
- snowstorm
- shapeshifting
- shapeshifting alien
- monster
- gore
- dog
- outpost
Where to Watch The Thing
Stream it on Peacock and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
The Director of The Thing
Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr..
-
Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
The Thing Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Thing 34% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.
-
IMDb 6.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 34% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 43%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 49 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.7 /5
86 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.9 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Thing Plot Summary
What happens in The Thing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In Antarctica, 1982, a group of three Norwegian scientists sets off in a snow cat to investigate a mysterious signal across a vast, icy landscape. Their expedition takes a dangerous turn when their vehicle suddenly drops into a fissure, exposing a spaceship hidden beneath the ice. Sander, a Norwegian scientist, reaches out to Kate Lloyd, an American paleontologist, convincing her to join him in Antarctica to study the groundbreaking find.
Full summary
The whole story of The Thing, scene by scene
The Thing Box Office & Budget
The Thing grossed $31.5 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, 83% of what it cost. $16.9 million came from the US and Canada and $14.6 million (46%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$31.5M
83% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $16.9M
- International
- $14.6M
- Budget
- $38M
The Thing Trailers & Videos
7 videos: 4 trailers and 3 clips.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Restricted Trailer
- Trailer Trailer
- Clip Escape
How Well Do You Know The Thing?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year do the events of the movie take place?
Cars in The Thing
3 cars on screen, including the LMC 1200C ST and the Thiokol Spryte 1200.
-
LMC 1200C ST Important role -
Thiokol Spryte 1200 Important role -
Thiokol Imp Background role
The Thing Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “The Thing: The Beginning” and “Дещо”.
- Also known as
-
- The Thing: The Beginning
- Дещо
- La cosa
- La Chose
- چیز
- Щось
- 怪形(2011)
- 異種2011
- Şey
- Нечто
- 怪形前传
- A Dolog
+19 more Show fewer
- Věc - Počátek
- A Coisa
- La cosa (The Thing)
- Coś
- Vec: Počiatok
- Нещото
- Η Απειλή
- 遊星からの物体X ファーストコンタクト
- Creatura
- היצור
- 더 씽
- 極地詭變
- La cosa del otro mundo
- แหวกมฤตยู อสูรใต้โลก
- Quái Vật Kinh Dị
- Stvor
- Padaras
- موجود
- الشيء
Seen The Thing?
Movies Like The Thing
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Thing, The Thing from Another World and The Thaw.
The Thing FAQ: Where to Watch, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Thing, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Thing?
The Thing runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was The Thing released?
The Thing was released on October 14, 2011.
Who directed The Thing?
The Thing was directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
More films by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Where can I watch The Thing?
In the US, The Thing is streaming on Peacock and YouTube Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did The Thing make at the box office?
The Thing grossed $31.5 million worldwide ($16.9 million domestic, $14.6 million international) on a budget of $38 million.
How is The Thing rated?
The Thing has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Does The Thing have a post-credit scene?
No. The Thing has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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