Movies Like The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1998)

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape is a 1998 documentary film from Michael Matessino with a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Burden of Dreams and 78/52.

Documentary

Burden of Dreams

1982

The Amazon rain forest, 1979. The crew of Fitzcarraldo (1982), a film directed by German director Werner Herzog, soon finds itself with problems related to casting, tribal struggles and accidents, among many other setbacks; but nothing compared to dragging a huge steamboat up a mountain, while Herzog embraces the path of a certain madness to make his vision come true.

7.5

MagicScore

78/52

2017

The most famous murder scene in movie history comprises 78 camera settings and 52 cuts: the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. 78/52 tells the story of the man behind the curtain and his greatest obsession.

7.2

MagicScore

His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

2010

A retrospective documentary about the groundbreaking horror series, Friday the 13th, featuring interviews with cast and crew from the twelve films spanning 3 decades.

6.7

MagicScore

Full Tilt Boogie

1998

A documentary about the production of From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and the people who made it.

6.4

MagicScore

A. K.

1985

An intimate chronicle of the shooting of Ran (1985), a film directed by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

6.3

MagicScore

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

1991

A chronicle of the production problems — including bad weather, actors' health, war near the filming locations, and more — which plagued the filming of Apocalypse Now, increasing costs and nearly destroying the life and career of Francis Ford Coppola.

7.9

MagicScore

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5

2026

An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final installment of the Duffer Brothers' generation-defining series.

7.7

MagicScore

Making 'Taxi Driver'

1999

A behind the scenes snapshot of the making of one of the greatest films ever made. Filled with trivia, interviews from cast and crew, and more.

6.9

MagicScore

Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump

1994

A look behind the scenes of Robert Zemeckis' 1994 Oscar-winning film, 'Forrest Gump'.

7.5

MagicScore

#10

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

2025

The authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors alongside Steven Spielberg, top shark scientists, and conservationists, the film uncovers the behind-the-scenes chaos and how the film launched the summer blockbuster, inspired a new wave of filmmakers, and paved the way for shark conservation that continues today.

7.5

MagicScore

#11

Wick Is Pain

2025

Witness the never-before-seen footage and true story behind the John Wick phenomenon – from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.

7.5

MagicScore

#12

Spider-Man 2: Making the Amazing

2004

A comprehensive 12-part documentary on the making of "Spider-Man 2," covering everything from pre-production to premiere.

6.7

MagicScore

#13

More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead

2011

Retrospective documentary about the making of the horror cult classic "The Return of the Living Dead."

7.4

MagicScore

#14

Society of the Snow: Who Were We on the Mountain?

2024

An in-depth look at the creative process behind "Society of the Snow," featuring cast, crew, director J.A. Bayona and even real-life survivors.

7.4

MagicScore

#15

The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist

1998

A behind-the-scenes retrospective made for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the classic horror film, The Exorcist. Includes interviews with Linda Blair and the other stars of the film, along with commentary from the director and writer on some of the deeper meanings behind the elements they used to terrify their audiences, and previously unreleased footage including make-up tests and deleted scenes.

7.3

MagicScore

#16

The Walking Dead: The Return

2024

Stars of "The Walking Dead," Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, walk down memory lane and visit iconic locations where pivotal moments between their characters, Rick and Michonne, were filmed.

7.3

MagicScore

#17

Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno

2009

In 1964, Henri-Georges Clouzot's production of L'Enfer came to a halt. Despite huge expectations, major studio backing and an unlimited budget, after three weeks the production collapsed. This documentary presents Inferno's incredible expressionistic original rushes, screen tests, and on-location footage, whilst also reconstructing Clouzot's original vision, and shedding light on the ill-fated endeavor through interviews, dramatizations of unfilmed scenes, and Clouzot's own notes.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

The Shark Is Still Working

2009

After three decades, Jaws continues to intrigue, thrill and frighten viewers. This documentary focuses on the many ways in which Jaws has helped to shape popular culture.

7.2

MagicScore

#19

Game of Thrones: The Last Watch

2019

For a year, acclaimed British filmmaker Jeanie Finlay was embedded on the set of the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones,” chronicling the creation of the show’s most ambitious and complicated season. Debuting one week after the series 8 finale, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH delves deep into the mud and blood to reveal the tears and triumphs involved in the challenge of bringing the fantasy world of Westeros to life in the very real studios, fields and car-parks of Northern Ireland. Made with unprecedented access, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is an up-close and personal portrait from the trenches of production, following the crew and the cast as they contend with extreme weather, punishing deadlines and an ever-excited fandom hungry for spoilers. Much more than a “making of” documentary, this is a funny, heartbreaking story, told with wit and intimacy, about the bittersweet pleasures of what it means to create a world – and then have to say goodbye to it.

7.1

MagicScore

#20

Memory: The Origins of Alien

2019

The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott's Alien - rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, the art of Francis Bacon, and the dark visions of Dan O'Bannon and H.R. Giger. A contemplation on the symbiotic collaborative process of movie-making, the power of myth, and our collective unconscious.

6.3

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Thing: Terror Takes Shape?

The top films similar to The Thing: Terror Takes Shape by MovieMagicScore are Burden of Dreams (7.5), 78/52 (7.2), His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (6.7). Each shares documentary themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Thing: Terror Takes Shape worth watching?

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10 from 28 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is The Thing: Terror Takes Shape?

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1998) is a documentary film directed by Michael Matessino, starring John Carpenter, David Foster, Bill Lancaster.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Thing: Terror Takes Shape?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more documentary recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Burden of Dreams Movies like 78/52 Movies like His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th Movies like Full Tilt Boogie Movies like A. K.Movies like Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

About movies like The Thing: Terror Takes Shape

This ranked list pairs The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1998), a documentary film from Michael Matessino, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of John Carpenter take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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