The Movie Order

The Thing watch order

Two adaptations of the same novella, thirty years apart, and a 2011 prequel that ends exactly where the 1982 film begins.

3films
1951–2011released
2films change position
2separate continuities
0 of 3 watched

The 1951 film 1 film

A separate, earlier adaptation of the same story.

  1. 1

    The Thing from Another World 1951

    Set 1950s Arctic

    Stream onBBC iPlayer

    Stream onTCMFawesomeThe Roku Channel+2 more

    Where to watch Buy

Carpenter's film and its prequel 2 films

  1. 1

    The Thing 1982

    Set 1982, Antarctica · Chronological order #2

    Stream onPrime VideoMUBI

    Stream onPrime VideoPhiloAMC++1 more

    Where to watch Buy
  2. 2

    The Thing 2011

    Set 1982, the days before · Chronological order #1

    Not on a subscription service in the UK, but you can rent or buy it

    Stream onPeacockYouTube (free)

    Where to watch Buy

The 1951 film 1 film

A separate, earlier adaptation of the same story.

  1. 1

    The Thing from Another World 1951

    Set 1950s Arctic

    Stream onBBC iPlayer

    Stream onTCMFawesomeThe Roku Channel+2 more

    Where to watch Buy

Carpenter's film and its prequel 2 films

  1. 1

    The Thing 2011

    Set 1982, the days before · Release order #2

    Not on a subscription service in the UK, but you can rent or buy it

    Stream onPeacockYouTube (free)

    Where to watch Buy
  2. 2

    The Thing 1982

    Set 1982, Antarctica · Release order #1

    Stream onPrime VideoMUBI

    Stream onPrime VideoPhiloAMC++1 more

    Where to watch Buy

Worth knowing. The 2011 film is a prequel set at the Norwegian camp, and its final scene leads straight into the 1982 opening. Watch 1982 first: the prequel spends its runtime explaining what Carpenter left to the imagination.

Where to stream it

1 film isn't on any subscription service in the UK. Use "Where to watch" to rent or buy it.

  • TCM1 of 3 films
  • Fawesome1 of 3 films
  • The Roku Channel1 of 3 films
  • Xumo Play1 of 3 films

Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB, checked 19 October 2026. Availability changes often. Some links to streaming services earn us a commission.

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