Kurt Russell to appear at Portland’s Hollywood Theatre for 35mm screening of ‘The Thing’ and Q&A

Event brings the 1982 John Carpenter film back to the big screen with its lead actor in attendance

Kurt Russell is scheduled to visit Portland’s Hollywood Theatre for an in-person question-and-answer session following a screening of The Thing, the 1982 science-fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. The presentation is billed as a 35mm screening, pairing a film-format revival with a live appearance by the movie’s star.

The Hollywood Theatre, a nonprofit movie house in Northeast Portland, has built much of its identity around repertory programming and event-style screenings that combine classic titles with special guests, introductions, and community-focused series. The venue regularly programs analog film formats alongside digital exhibition and is widely known locally for hosting one-off engagements that draw audiences beyond standard first-run releases.

Why this screening stands out

The Thing has grown into a staple of repertory calendars decades after its initial release. Set at an Antarctic research station, the story follows a group of men confronting a shape-shifting organism that can imitate human and animal life, turning isolation into paranoia. Russell plays helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady, a role that became one of the defining performances of his long career and a centerpiece of his collaborations with Carpenter.

The Hollywood Theatre’s decision to present the film on 35mm places emphasis on theatrical projection as an experience distinct from home viewing. For many audiences, the movie is closely associated with its tactile practical effects and stark cinematography—elements often highlighted by theaters when programming the title as a big-screen revival.

What to expect from the Q&A

Post-screening conversations at repertory venues typically focus on production context, creative decisions, and the realities of filmmaking at the time of release. In Russell’s case, a Q&A format also opens the door to discussion of:

• working methods with Carpenter and the film’s ensemble cast
• the challenges of shooting an effects-driven feature
• how audience reception and the film’s reputation have evolved over time
• the experience of revisiting a decades-old performance in front of a live crowd

Live appearances attached to repertory screenings have become a central way independent theaters add reporting-worthy value: they create a one-night-only cultural event around a title many viewers already know.

Local context

Portland’s repertory scene has increasingly leaned on special engagements to sustain interest in classic cinema, and the Hollywood Theatre remains one of the city’s most prominent hosts for guest-driven programs. Russell’s appearance fits that model while also tapping into the enduring popularity of The Thing as a crowd title—one that reliably draws both longtime fans and first-time viewers looking for a communal screening of a landmark genre film.