‘The Cat in the Hat’ Sends Its Things Into the Night to Hunt for a Missing Member With a Clever Marketing Stunt
Dr. Seuss fans know the Things as a pair. In the 1957 book, Thing 1 and Thing 2 burst out of a red crate and wreck the house, and they have been inseparable in pop culture ever since. So when Warner Bros. Pictures Animation started promoting its new ‘The Cat in the Hat’ movie with a gag about a missing Thing, it had an easy audience.
The animated film arrives in theaters on November 6, after moving from its earlier February slot. Bill Hader voices the Cat, with Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Matt Berry, Xochitl Gomez, America Ferrera and Paula Pell in the cast. Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja wrote and directed, with DNEG Animation handling the animation and Hader also serving as an executive producer.
The marketing has leaned into the joke from the start. The first teaser ended with the Cat pulling his iconic red crate out of his hat, only for Thing 1 to emerge alongside Thing 3 and a whole crowd of other Things. Thing 2 was nowhere to be seen, which has made his absence an ongoing mystery.
Thing 1 and Thing 3 were spotted searching for Thing 2 ahead of the release of ‘THE CAT IN THE HAT’. https://t.co/DFNTvdu7d5
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 27, 2026
That mystery has now spilled into the real world. Footage shows costumed Thing 1 and Thing 3 wandering a city street at night, apparently searching for their missing companion. In a short clip, the pair walks past a man on the sidewalk, and in another shot they pose beneath the canopy of a Chevron gas station.
It is a playful piece of guerrilla marketing that builds directly on the film’s running joke. The costumes are the same red jumpsuits and blue hair fans know from the books, with the numbers 1 and 3 visible on their chests. The stunt has been drawing millions of views online and fueling plenty of speculation about where Thing 2 might be.
The street stunt is part of a larger push. Warner Bros. has also been integrating the film into 3 popular Roblox games, in a 3-week effort that lets players team up with the Cat to cause mischief. Players can unlock 6 film-inspired items, including a Thing Box that releases Thing 1 and Thing 3, a Glitter Trumpet and a Hat Cannon Launcher.
The approach follows earlier gaming tie-ins from Warner Bros. and its partner Sawhorse, including a 2024 promotion for ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’. Using existing games gives the studio a built-in audience and suits the film’s message of playfulness and spontaneity. It also keeps the Things at the center of the campaign.
The story follows 2 siblings adjusting to life in a new town when they meet the Cat, who now works for the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC. Along with quirky coworkers such as Pig With a Wig and Yack With a Pack, he spreads joy to children around the world. The film also explores the perspective of the children’s mother, a nurse whose life is full of adult responsibilities.
The film is rated PG for action, some peril, mild language and rude humor. It marks the Cat’s first full-length animated feature and the second theatrical adaptation of the book, following the 2003 live-action film. It is also the first in a planned series of Dr. Seuss animated films from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
New trailer for ‘The Cat In The Hat’, in theaters on November 6th. The trailer features Hilary Duff’s new song “CATastrophe.” https://t.co/Vk0fmjOf9y
— Cartoon History (@Cartoonhistory2) October 4, 2026
That last point may explain why the Things are getting such prominent billing. As one writer noted, their starring role in the marketing feels less like a gimmick and more like a launchpad for a wider Seuss slate. The missing-Thing joke also gives the studio something fans can share, which is exactly what a viral campaign needs.
With the release only days away, expect more sightings and more clues. Whether Thing 2 turns up in the film itself or stays missing until the credits is anyone’s guess. For now, the search is on, and the Things are enjoying their moment in the spotlight.
Where do you think Thing 2 is hiding in ‘The Cat in the Hat’?
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