This 1980s Horror Movie Was Named the Greatest Ever—and It Still Terrifies Fans

During the 1980s, several of the most influential and beloved scary movies ever produced were made. One of those films stands out as a true legend, and it was even ranked No. 1 on a horror list compiled by experts. What makes John Carpenter'sThe Thing so unsettling that viewers still call it terrifying decades later?

The List That Named 'The Thing' the No. 1 Horror Movie of All Time

The biggest horror fans are some of the most dedicated movie lovers that there are. On top of keeping up with the major new releases, many watch the classics, including those that came out long before they were born. That is why it was a big deal when the experts at "The Scariest Things Podcast" crowned The Thing as the Top Horror Movie of All Time in its Top 100 countdown.

"The Scariest Things Podcast" Top 20 Horror Movies of All Time Listed:

• 20. Cabin in the Woods (2012)
• 19. Suspiria (1977)
• 18. The Fly (1986)
• 17. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
• 16. Get Out (2018)
• 15. Psycho (1960)
• 14. Rosemary's Baby
• 13. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• 12. Dawn of the Dead
• 11. Scream (1996)
• 10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 9. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
• 8. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
• 7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• 6. Jaws (1975)
• 5. The Exorcist (1972)
• 4. Halloween (1978)
• 3. Alien (1979)
• 2. The Shining (1980)
• 1. The Thing (1982)

Why The Thing Still Feels So Terrifying Today

The Thing was released June 25, 1982, to harsh reviews, including from Roger Ebert, who memorably ravaged the film at the time. However, the movie that starred Kurt Russell later underwent a dramatic reappraisal, and it is now considered to be a masterpiece by many. A perfect example of that is the fact that a writer for Roger Ebert's website wrote a 2020 article that named The Thing "one of the most effective horror movies ever made."

Similarly, an October 2025 Looper article called The Thingthe best sci-fi horror movie of all time while noting what makes it scary even decades later. Those elements include its "claustrophobic and terrifying" setting, its "revolutionary special effects," the "creepy score," not knowing which characters can be trusted, and more.

For me, The Thing remains scary thanks to the staggering amount of tension it builds, despite the fact that I've watched it countless times. Even knowing what is going to happen next doesn't stop me from feeling my heart rate pick up as the film's story unravels before me. The slow-boil blood test sequence is a perfect example of what keeps me feeling on edge while watching the film. As I wait for the moment that chaos breaks loose, I can never quite predict the exact second that will take place. The sense of tension and excitement that inspires in me is nothing short of thrilling. Thankfully, that is only one example of many masterful scenes from the movie, which is why I can't even imagine a scenario in which I will cease to love The Thing.