Who Goes There? and The Thing on screen

The novella's shape-shifting threat has produced three markedly different films, from Cold War creature feature to paranoid body horror and prequel.

This map covers the related screen works currently supported by PlotGeeks, rather than every adaptation ever made.

1. Source book | 1938Who Goes There?View book explainer →
2. 1951 | Feature filmThe Thing from Another WorldInspired by | Christian Nyby

   The alien becomes a single humanoid creature and the story stresses group action over imitation.

3. 1982 | Feature filmThe ThingAdapted from | John Carpenter

   The film restores imitation and uncertainty, turning identity itself into the central threat.

   View film explainer →Compare with the book
4. 2011 | Feature filmThe ThingPrequel to | Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

   The prequel follows the Norwegian camp and ends by connecting directly to the 1982 film.