The new IT prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, is rapidly achieving remarkable success, cementing its place among HBO’s most popular shows. Since its premiere on October 26, the show has attracted 5.7 million viewers in the United States within its first three days, as reported by Warner Bros. Discovery. This impressive viewership combines audiences from both the HBO network and the HBO Max streaming service.
IT: Welcome to Derry’s debut marks it as one of the top three launches in the history of HBO Max, sitting behind only House of the Dragon, which recorded over 10 million viewers in a single day, and The Last of Us. It’s noteworthy that the rankings consider only shows released after HBO Max’s inception, meaning classic series like Game of Thrones and The Sopranos are excluded.
Set in the 1960s, IT: Welcome to Derry draws inspiration from Stephen King’s acclaimed ’80s horror novel IT, unveiling a narrative that precedes Andy Muschietti’s 2017 film IT and its sequel released in 2019. The series showcases the infamous shape-shifting clown terrorizing the town of Derry, delving deeper into the chilling lore surrounding the community.
The series has garnered positive reviews, evidenced by a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it solidly between the original IT film and its sequel. Critics have praised it as “a supremely confident and well-realized step back into the history of Stephen King’s cursed town and killer clown.”
In a treat for fans, the second episode of IT: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere two days earlier on Halloween, allowing viewers in both the US and the UK to relish more of this thrilling tale before the traditional weekly release schedule resumes.
As excitement builds around IT: Welcome to Derry, fans are encouraged to explore more about the series through available rankings of Stephen King adaptations and Easter eggs present throughout the episodes. The show’s successful debut and ongoing viewership suggest a promising future for this chilling addition to the beloved horror franchise.