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John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Has Been Added to the National Film Registry
Bloody Disgusting ^ | January 29, 2026 | Alex DiVincenzo

Posted on 01/30/2026 6:58:34 AM PST by Ciaphas Cain

John Carpenter‘s The Thing has been selected by the Library of Congress as one of this year’s 25 films to join the National Film Registry due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage.

“When we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come. These selections for the National Film Registry show us that films are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation’s story,” said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen. “We are proud to continue this important work, adding a broad range of 25 films to the National Film Registry as a collective effort in the film community to protect our cinematic heritage.”

Turner Classic Movies will host a television special on March 19 at 8 pm ET to screen a selection of films named to the registry this year. TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, will introduce the films.

“It is especially exciting to see that the top title nominated by the public for this year, The Thing, has been added to the National Film Registry, along with The Truman Show and The Incredibles which also had very strong public support,” said Stewart.

The Library of Congress writes: “Moody, stark, often funny and always chilling, this science fiction horror classic follows Antarctic scientists who uncover a long-dormant, malevolent extraterrestrial presence. The Thing revolutionized horror special effects and offers a brutally honest portrait of the results of paranoia and exhaustion when the unknown becomes inescapable.

“The Thing deftly adapts John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella Who Goes There? and influenced Stranger Things and Reservoir Dogs. It remains a tense, thrilling and profoundly unsettling work of cinema.”

(Excerpt) Read more at bloody-disgusting.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: movies; nationalfilmregistry; notasgoodasoriginal; thething; why

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John Carpenter's The Thing is one of the greatest horror films ever made, and also one of the finest films made period. It's well earned its place in the National Film Registry.

Full list at the link. Some good choices this year including The Karate Kid, Inception, Glory.

1 posted on 01/30/2026 6:58:34 AM PST by Ciaphas Cain
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To: Ciaphas Cain

It’s a great movie.

L


2 posted on 01/30/2026 6:59:33 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Lurker

I watch it every time there’s a winter storm that keeps me stuck inside the house. It’s a tradition of mine. I watched it this past weekend and it looks like I’ll be seeing it again tomorrow :-)


3 posted on 01/30/2026 7:05:07 AM PST by Ciaphas Cain
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To: Ciaphas Cain

The Thing plays so well on fear and paranoia. It was hated by critics at the time of its release, but fans always knew it was special. I saw it in the summer of ‘82 at a theater in Rockford, Illinois. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but the theater had the A/C on full blast. The theater was ice cold! It added to the atmosphere of snow, cold, and the unknown.


4 posted on 01/30/2026 7:07:31 AM PST by Kharis13 (-)
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To: Ciaphas Cain

I’m waiting for “Blazing Saddles” and other Mel Brooks’ classic films to be added to the National Film Registry.


5 posted on 01/30/2026 7:15:30 AM PST by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
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To: Ciaphas Cain
"The Thing" 1982 is a remake of the 1951 Howard Hawks movie "The Thing From Another World" starring James Arness (Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke).
6 posted on 01/30/2026 7:16:00 AM PST by DFG
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To: Ciaphas Cain

Been watching the first Thing on tubi ,LOL


7 posted on 01/30/2026 7:16:01 AM PST by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: Ciaphas Cain

This movie gave me the same nightmares as a kid that the later, and also excellent, “Alien” movie by Ridley Scott did.


8 posted on 01/30/2026 7:20:49 AM PST by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Ciaphas Cain

Crazy, great movie. One of those you can watch over and over again.


9 posted on 01/30/2026 7:21:14 AM PST by frogjerk
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To: Ciaphas Cain

They don’t have the film, “The Haunting” (1964) listed in the National Film Registry That movie is considerably better than Carpenter’s ‘The thing’.


10 posted on 01/30/2026 7:22:13 AM PST by Beowulf9
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To: DFG

Nothing as scary as this one....

https://vimeo.com/70753317


11 posted on 01/30/2026 7:25:02 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: DFG

The classic “The Thing” movie was great though it deviated significantly from the source material. I guess they didn’t have the special effects in the 50’s to remain faithful to the book. All the better since we now have two great versions.


12 posted on 01/30/2026 7:28:01 AM PST by RightOnTheBorder
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To: Ciaphas Cain
Good movie. Very good.

Read the novel from which it is derived (John W. Campbell’s Who Goes There? as mentioned) as a teenager. It scared me pretty good too.

A rare case where the movie's as good as the original story.

13 posted on 01/30/2026 7:30:42 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: DFG

That movie is on the registry also.

They need to add the movie THEM., if they’re going to allow a tired plot movie like INCEPTION on the list.


14 posted on 01/30/2026 7:36:24 AM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: Ciaphas Cain

“Why don’t we just sit here awhile, see what happens.”


15 posted on 01/30/2026 7:38:58 AM PST by circlecity
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To: Ciaphas Cain

Good choice!


16 posted on 01/30/2026 7:39:59 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Ciaphas Cain

Now I’m just waiting for Swamp Thing to be inducted.


17 posted on 01/30/2026 7:42:25 AM PST by Sawdring
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To: Ciaphas Cain

MacReady: “Fire’s got the temperature up all over the camp. Won’t last long, though.”

Childs: “Neither will we.”

MacReady: “How’ll we make it?”

Childs: “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

MacReady: [Laughs faintly] “If you’re worried about me...”

Childs: “If we’ve got any surprises for each other, I don’t think we’re in much shape to do anything about it.”

MacReady: “Well... what do we do?”

MacReady: “Why don’t we just... wait here for a little while? See what happens.”


18 posted on 01/30/2026 7:43:42 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: DFG

“it creeps, it crawls, it strikes without warning”????

which DNC politician is it?


19 posted on 01/30/2026 7:46:17 AM PST by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: circlecity; V_TWIN
MacReady: “Why don’t we just... wait here for a little while? See what happens.”

Great final line. Kurt Russell at his best.

20 posted on 01/30/2026 7:49:00 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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