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The Thing (1982)
The Thing (1982) poster
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4.3

The Thing (1982)

Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction • 1h 48m

Overview

In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing creature wreaks havoc, creates terror... and becomes one of them.

Director: John Carpenter

Best English-Friendly Release

Universal 4K Blu-ray. Maybe Turbine Blu-ray instead for better audio?

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Solid
Universal:

caveat: great video, controversial new 4.0 sound mix

TSPDT

2026: #208
2025: #211
2024: #211
2023: #217
2022: #217

Length

108 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

John Carpenter's The Thing

Last Updated

5 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

Universal 4K Blu-ray. Maybe Turbine Blu-ray instead for better audio?

Best Video Release
Best Audio Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Solid
Universal:

caveat: great video, controversial new 4.0 sound mix

Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #208
2025: #211
2024: #211
2023: #217
2022: #217
Length
108 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
John Carpenter's The Thing
Last Updated
5 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

House of Wax poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

House of Wax poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

How Green Was My Valley poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

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HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Baby Face poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Rebel Without a Cause poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Fabulous Films 4K Blu-ray, some caps

Additional Info:

disc info

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UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Fabulous Films 4K Blu-ray, some caps

Additional Info:

disc info

Halloween poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression

Best Audio:

1994 Criterion LaserDisc

Halloween poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression

Best Audio:

1994 Criterion LaserDisc

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray (review)

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray (review)

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Italy Koch Media Blu-ray

Best Video:

Italy Koch Media Blu-ray is not stretched compared to US Shout! Factory and UK Arrow Blu-rays

As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italy or US/UK Blu-ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.

Best Audio:

Arrow Blu-ray has lossless original stereo

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score

Best English-Friendly:

Italy Koch Media Blu-ray

Best Video:

Italy Koch Media Blu-ray is not stretched compared to US Shout! Factory and UK Arrow Blu-rays

As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italy or US/UK Blu-ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.

Best Audio:

Arrow Blu-ray has lossless original stereo

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has slightly less rolloff of the higher frequencies

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has slightly less rolloff of the higher frequencies

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is a strong upgrade in PQ compared to a poor old Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray sound was improved compared to the old mixes.

Vampires poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is a strong upgrade in PQ compared to a poor old Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray sound was improved compared to the old mixes.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray. caps by cinemaniac, which look great but the old Sony master doesn’t look too bad and Indicator has a Fidelity encode

Best English-Friendly:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray. caps by cinemaniac, which look great but the old Sony master doesn’t look too bad and Indicator has a Fidelity encode

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray or Carlotta 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray or Carlotta 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar

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Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.

The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.

Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.

The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.

Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.

Bullet in the Head poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Red Sonja poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray in June

Best Video:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode but the mastering shows signs of DNR albeit only momentarily); all other BDs pretty bad.

Best Audio:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray, but whether in the correct speed/pitch is TBC.

Best English-Friendly:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray in June

Best Video:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode but the mastering shows signs of DNR albeit only momentarily); all other BDs pretty bad.

Best Audio:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray, but whether in the correct speed/pitch is TBC.

Carlito's Way poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Universal LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps

InfoArrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.

Best Audio:

Original: Arrow 4K Blu-ray vs New Line LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps

InfoArrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.

Best Audio:

Original: Arrow 4K Blu-ray vs New Line LaserDisc

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps

Best Audio:

Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or New Line LaserDisc for line absent on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases

Additional Info:

Info: Arrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps

Best Audio:

Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or New Line LaserDisc for line absent on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases

Additional Info:

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Best English-Friendly:

Capelight Germany 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

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Capelight Germany 4K Blu-ray

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The Thing (1982) backdrop

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