John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Has Been Added to the National Film Registry

Alex DiVincenzo

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.”

Here’s the full list of films selected for the 2025 National Film Registry:

  • The Tramp and the Dog (1896)
  • The Oath of the Sword (1914)
  • The Maid of McMillan (1916)
  • The Lady (1925)
  • Sparrows (1926)
  • Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
  • White Christmas (1954)
  • High Society (1956)
  • Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
  • Say Amen, Somebody (1982)
  • The Thing (1982)
  • The Big Chill (1983)
  • The Karate Kid (1984)
  • Glory (1989)
  • Philadelphia (1993)
  • Before Sunrise (1995)
  • Clueless (1995)
  • The Truman Show (1998)
  • Frida (2002)
  • The Hours (2002)
  • The Incredibles (2004)
  • The Wrecking Crew (2008)
  • Inception (2010)
  • The Loving Story (2011)
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The public submitted 7,559 titles for consideration this year. Nominations for next year will be accepted until August 15. Cast your vote here.

Previous horror films added to the National Film Registry include Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, Psycho, The Birds, Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Carrie, Alien, The Shining, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The post John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Has Been Added to the National Film Registry appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.