IT: Welcome to Derry

IT: Welcome to Derry

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Overview

In 1962, amid a spate of unexplained disappearances of local children, a group of misfit friends begin to suspect a long-buried ancient evil lurking. As the kids set out to determine what's really going on, a rising unease prompts several townspeople to work together to restore peace – all while a U.S. military operation seeks to exploit Derry for its own objectives.

Media

IT: Welcome to Derry | Opening Credits | HBO Max

Cast

Creator:

Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs

Fist Air Date:

2025-10-26

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Warner Bros. Television, Double Dream, Rideback, Vertigo Entertainment, HBO, FiveTen Productions

Genres:

Keywords:

1960s amused based on novel or book children in danger clown disappearance dramatic grim horrified horror joyous prequel psychological horror psychotic questioning small town supernatural horror suspenseful

More Show Details

Vote Average: 8.2/10

Vote Count: 1442 Votes

Show Popularity: 27.983

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 02 May 2026 at 8:25 pm

9 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10 THE SUMMARY Set in 1962, this prequel series takes us back to Derry, Maine, long before the Losers' Club faced their fears. The story follows a group of local kids—including "Loony" Lilly, Ronnie, and Phil—who begin to notice a pattern of disappearances and strange occurrences that the town’s adults seem desperate to ignore. As racial tensions boil over at the Black Spot club and a mysterious Air Force base keeps a watchful eye on the woods, the children realize they are being hunted by an ancient, shapeshifting evil. Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, proving that the clown’s presence in Derry is a pained, centuries-old cycle of hunger and terror. THE PROS This is an amazing series because it manages to capture the specific "King" vibe of childhood wonder mixed with absolute dread. It hits a 9 because the production design is a total highlight; the 1960s aesthetic feels honest and lived-in, making the sudden bursts of supernatural horror even more jarring. Bill Skarsgård’s return is a great series move—he is pained, eerie, and still the most terrifying thing on television. The show is smart to dive into the town’s history, like the Black Spot incident, giving us a sincere look at the human monsters that are just as scary as the clown. It’s a high-budget, cinematic experience that feels like a true expansion of the films rather than just a quick cash-in. THE CONS It stays at a 9 because the first few episodes can feel like a bit of a slog as they establish the massive cast of characters. It misses a perfect 10 because some of the CGI for the newer "creatures"—like the winged mutant from the pilot—is an honest head-scratcher and doesn't quite match the terrifying practical look of Pennywise. The pacing in the middle of the season drags slightly during the army-focused subplots, which aren't always as gripping as the kids' perspective. While the show is amazing, the sheer level of brutality toward children is a fair shout for "too much" for some viewers, making it a pained and difficult watch at times. THE VERDICT 9/10. A dark, smart, and genuinely terrifying masterpiece of modern horror. It’s a great series that respects the source material while carving out its own pained place in the *IT* mythology. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • To prepare for the 1960s setting, the young cast was given a "time capsule" kit that included music, magazines, and movies from 1962 to help them understand the slang and world-view of the era.• Bill Skarsgård reportedly requested that his scenes be filmed separately from the child actors as much as possible to ensure their reactions to seeing Pennywise for the first time were honest and genuinely frightened.• The "Black Spot" sequence was filmed with heavy input from local historical consultants to ensure the portrayal of the era's racial tensions was handled with a sincere and accurate touch. THE VIBE Like a balloon caught in a storm. It smells of damp sewers, old popcorn, and the metallic tang of a rusty drainpipe.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

8 Episodes

Air Date: 2025-10-26

In 1962, amid a spate of unexplained disappearances of local children, a group of misfit friends begin to suspect a long-buried evil lurking. As the kids set out to determine what's really going on, a rising unease prompts several townspeople to work together to restore peace – all while a U.S. military operation seeks to exploit Derry for its own objectives.

Videos

IT: Welcome to Derry | Opening Credits | HBO Max

Deadlights. Camera. Action. #ITWelcomeToDerry

IT: Welcome to Derry | Invitation to the Set | HBO Max

Follow the red balloon tomorrow. #ITWelcomeToDerry

IT: Welcome to Derry | Official Red Band Trailer | HBO Max

IT: Welcome to Derry | Official Trailer | HBO Max

We've surely got trouble. #ITWelcomeToDerry #TheMusicMan #StephenKing

IT: Welcome to Derry | Official Teaser 2 | HBO Max

IT: Welcome to Derry | Official Teaser | HBO Max

Don't miss IT. 🎈

What did you see? 🤡🎈

HBO Original Series It: Welcome to Derry | Coming In 2025 | Max

Cast

Amanda Christine

Blake Cameron James

Arian S. Cartaya

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Reviews for

IT: Welcome to Derry

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 2 May 2026 at 9:25 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 9/10
THE SUMMARY
Set in 1962, this prequel series takes us back to Derry, Maine, long before the Losers’ Club faced their fears. The story follows a group of local kids—including “Loony” Lilly, Ronnie, and Phil—who begin to notice a pattern of disappearances and strange occurrences that the town’s adults seem desperate to ignore. As racial tensions boil over at the Black Spot club and a mysterious Air Force base keeps a watchful eye on the woods, the children realize they are being hunted by an ancient, shapeshifting evil. Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, proving that the clown’s presence in Derry is a pained, centuries-old cycle of hunger and terror.
THE PROS
This is an amazing series because it manages to capture the specific “King” vibe of childhood wonder mixed with absolute dread. It hits a 9 because the production design is a total highlight; the 1960s aesthetic feels honest and lived-in, making the sudden bursts of supernatural horror even more jarring. Bill Skarsgård’s return is a great series move—he is pained, eerie, and still the most terrifying thing on television. The show is smart to dive into the town’s history, like the Black Spot incident, giving us a sincere look at the human monsters that are just as scary as the clown. It’s a high-budget, cinematic experience that feels like a true expansion of the films rather than just a quick cash-in.
THE CONS
It stays at a 9 because the first few episodes can feel like a bit of a slog as they establish the massive cast of characters. It misses a perfect 10 because some of the CGI for the newer “creatures”—like the winged mutant from the pilot—is an honest head-scratcher and doesn’t quite match the terrifying practical look of Pennywise. The pacing in the middle of the season drags slightly during the army-focused subplots, which aren’t always as gripping as the kids’ perspective. While the show is amazing, the sheer level of brutality toward children is a fair shout for “too much” for some viewers, making it a pained and difficult watch at times.
THE VERDICT
9/10. A dark, smart, and genuinely terrifying masterpiece of modern horror. It’s a great series that respects the source material while carving out its own pained place in the *IT* mythology.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• To prepare for the 1960s setting, the young cast was given a “time capsule” kit that included music, magazines, and movies from 1962 to help them understand the slang and world-view of the era.
• Bill Skarsgård reportedly requested that his scenes be filmed separately from the child actors as much as possible to ensure their reactions to seeing Pennywise for the first time were honest and genuinely frightened.
• The “Black Spot” sequence was filmed with heavy input from local historical consultants to ensure the portrayal of the era’s racial tensions was handled with a sincere and accurate touch.
THE VIBE
Like a balloon caught in a storm. It smells of damp sewers, old popcorn, and the metallic tang of a rusty drainpipe.

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