It (1990)
The Master of Horror unleashes everything you were ever afraid of.
In 1960, seven outcast kids known as "The Losers' Club" fight against an ancient shape-shifting alien who poses as a child-killing clown, while also dealing with bullies and abusive parents. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the creature once and for all when it returns to their hometown.
| Type | TV series |
|---|---|
| First aired | 18 November 1990 |
| Status | Ended, last episode 20 November 1990 |
| Genre | Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama |
| Created by | Stephen King |
| Starring | Tim Curry, Harry Anderson and Dennis Christopher |
| Seasons | 1 season, 2 episodes |
| Episode length | about 90 min |
| Time to watch it all | about 3 hours |
| Rated | TV-14 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6/10 · Metacritic 79/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 68% · TMDB users 6.9/10 |
Where to watch It
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What kind of watch this is
Stephen King’s 1990 miniseries adapts his own novel, though it leans into the camp of the era. Tim Curry’s Pennywise is a performance that borders on the theatrical, trading subtlety for pure, unadulterated menace. The two-episode runtime totals just 3 hours, a tight container for a story about childhood trauma and cosmic horror. It is not a modern retelling; it is a time capsule of 1990s television, where the special effects look dated but the fear feels surprisingly real. Watch it for Curry, if nothing else.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes splits the verdict. The Tomatometer stands at 68% as of January 2025, while the average of rated reviews sits at 6/10 from October 2021. Metacritic is kinder, assigning a 79/100 Metascore in December 2024. That gap suggests the film is either deeply flawed or deeply misunderstood. The scores are solid enough to watch, if you can handle the jump in perspective.
How it did with audiences
On TMDB, users rate it 6.9 out of 10. That is a solid score, though perhaps not one that guarantees a standing ovation for the jump scare. Audiences seem to have watched it with a mix of genuine fear and dry amusement. It did its job, which is more than some can say.
What came next for the cast
Tim Curry had Rocky Horror and Clue under his belt, then drifted into Home Alone 2 and Scary Movie 2. Dennis Christopher went from Chariots of Fire to a turn in Django Unchained. Richard Masur moved from The Thing to Orange Is the New Black. The credits list what they did next. They cannot prove this film caused it.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched It.
Read more: IT: Welcome to Derry
Sources
- It on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q1131225 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “It (miniseries)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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