The Thing
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Back in cinemas Oct 11 — 5 cinemas in 2 states · 5 screenings at 5 cinemas on our showtimes page
Where to watch: Streaming on Peacock (US, subject to change)
▶ Watch the trailer
How it scared people
The vibe
Carpenter's Antarctic paranoia machine: twelve men, one shapeshifter, zero trust. Rob Bottin's practical effects remain the high-water mark for body horror, but the film's coldest weapon is the question it never answers — who's still human, including at the end.
The Thing (1982) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 109 minutes |
| Jump scares | 4/5 — genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares |
| Gore | 5/5 — extreme gore — not for the squeamish |
| Dread | 4/5 — heavy atmosphere — expect it to sit with you afterwards |
| Themes | graphic bodily transformation; monster attacks; characters cut off from help; paranoia and distrust |
The Thing is rated R by the MPA. We score it 4/5 for jump scares, 5/5 for gore and 4/5 for lingering dread, over 109 minutes. Weigh the gore first: extreme gore — not for the squeamish. Older teens and adults, mostly on the strength of what it shows.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is The Thing?
- On our intensity scale, The Thing rates 8/10 for jump scares and 8/10 for dread. It is genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares.
- How gory is The Thing?
- The Thing rates 10/10 for gore — expect extreme gore — not for the squeamish.
- How long is The Thing?
- The Thing runs 109 minutes (1h 49m).
- What is The Thing rated?
- The Thing is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 8/10 for jump scares, 10/10 for gore and 8/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch The Thing (1982)?
- The Thing is back in cinemas from Oct 11 — 5 screenings at 5 cinemas on our showtimes page. As of our last update, The Thing is streaming on Peacock in the US (checked 2026-09-14). Availability changes, so check your service before settling in.
