History YMMV / TheThing2011

** Much praise is also given to how the filmmakers painstakingly recreated the camp, using only production stills from the first film and Val Kilmer's height. Doubly so when you learn that no blueprints survive from the original set.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The few practical effects we see are pretty stunning, and behind the scenes footage of the original pre-CGI-facelift effects are likewise impressive - to the point that you have to wonder why the higher ups thought it would have looked better with CGI.

* RemadeAndImproved: [[VindicatedByHistory It took a while, ]] but this film is often pointed to as one of the few horror remakes that managed to not only live up to but exceed the original in quality, and given that the original already enjoyed a good reputation, that's tall praise.

** [[spoiler: People recently have come to the conclusion that the Thing in this movie was more of a "rookie"/feral beast in terms of infiltration. Trying to explain its [[{{LeeroyJenkins}} reckless, loud approach to killing and infecting people.]] The degree of validity to this explanation varies between people. [[{{VoodooShark}} With some asking why a creature that can absorb human memories and personality didn't use that human intuition to be a stealthier predator.]] ]]

** Special award goes to [[spoiler: Griggs-Thing for having the [[https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthething.fandom.com%2Fwiki%2FGriggs-Thing&psig=AOvVaw1OfNcDTNLwCBJbYByw8y7X&ust=1652198890806000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCOjLh9Xm0vcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK worst effects in the movie]].]]

* VindicatedByHistory: Not to the same extent as the original film, of course, but now people tend to view this film more favorably than before despite some questionable CGI effects. The main reasons are the still present horror atmosphere, as well as providing at least some backstory for the Norwegian outpost and its infestation.

%%* ContestedSequel: Or prequel, in this case. On one hand, this film did critically better than the original, which was so wasted at its time that it was proposed as the ''most hated'' film of all time. On the other hand, while the latter ended up developing a cult following and a [[VindicatedByHistory reconsideration]] as one of the ''best'' science fiction or horror films around, this film received criticism [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks for leaning too much on the original]].

* VindicatedByHistory: Not to the same extent as the original film, of course, but now people tend to view this film more favorably than before despite some questionable CGI effects. The main reasons are the still present horror atmosphere, as well as providing at least some backstory for the Norvegian outpost and its infestation.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Lars and Jonas are secondary characters without much CharacterDevelopment, but are probably the most popular characters in the movie. This is due to how Jonas is an adorable NiceGuy played by Creator/KristoferHivju, while Lars bravely and competently fights multiple Things.* FanonDiscontinuity: There are those who prefer to see this as a standalone work rather than a prequel due to its continuity errors and prequel nature meaning fan favorite Lars died in the next movie.

%%* EnsembleDarkhorse: Both Lars and Jonas.
* FanonDiscontinuity: There are those who prefer to see this as a standalone work rather than a prequel due to its continuity errors and prequel nature meaning fan favorite Lars died in the next movie.

* CreepyAwesome: The Thing, in all its gory glory.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Both Lars and Jonas.

* HarsherInHindsight:
** The 2015 film ''Film/HarbingerDown'' was created and advertised by Studio ADI to show off what they could do without the CGI they were forced to apply over their practical effects in this film. However, given that ''Harbinger Down'' was widely considered a SpecialEffectsFailure in its own right, considered by some to be even worse than this film's CGI, it is hard not to feel ill feelings about it.
** Jonas getting assimilated/infected is now much scarier in that nine years later, his actor Creator/KristoferHivju would contract COVID-19.

* {{Narm}}:
** [[spoiler:The Thing having Sander's face more or less intact on the center of its body when in the saucer.]]
** [[spoiler: Sanders-thing swallows the explosive that kills it, the viewer hears this very cartoonish GULP sound effect.]]

* SpecialEffectsFailure: Detailed or not, it's very difficult not to be aware that you're looking at mid-budget CGI, which stands out especially in the wake of Rob Bottin's original effects, especially in regards to the lighting and rendering of said CGI. It's worth noting that every monster was actually filmed using practical effects (with the intention of mixing the two methods as necessary), but later everything was "painted over" in CGI. The effects company noted that the CGI was faithful to their actual designs, but disappointed their work was covered up.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: The [[spoiler: Carter-Thing]] at the end of the film offers to talk things out with Kate. While this was almost certainly a trap, some viewers believed it would've been fascinating to have a Thing speak for itself.

* ContestedSequel: Or prequel, in this case. On one hand, this film did critically better than the original, which was so wasted at its time that it was proposed as the ''most hated'' film of all time. On the other hand, while the latter ended up developing a cult following and a [[VindicatedByHistory reconsideration]] as one of the ''best'' science fiction or horror films around, this film received criticism [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks for leaning too much on the original]].