Stephen King’s ‘It’ Miniseries Is a Global Streaming Hit on HBO Max

Stephen King‘s It, the 1990 ABC miniseries based on the author’s terrifying novel of the same name, has suddenly become a streaming hit. The two-part miniseries is now climbing the charts on HBO’s global Top 10 list, no doubt as a consequence of this week’s release date announcement for the upcoming spin-off, It: Welcome to Derry, the prequel that we now know will premiere in October on HBO.

Way back when, the series was broadcast as a two-night event in which audiences witnessed the rise of the iconic villain, Pennywise. Tim Curry’s iteration of Pennywise, the evil clown that a mysterious entity manifests itself as, is a classic antagonist in the Stephen King universe. In 1990, CGI effects were out of the question, and director Tommy Lee Wallace had to rely on Curry’s outstanding performance and practical special effects to achieve the scares. Although it wasn’t a major Hollywood production, It had a major impact on the industry, influencing modern horror works like Stranger Things, American Horror Story and the modern It adaptation by Andy Muschietti.

The series follows a group of kids in the 1960s who face a horrific monster. “It” is an entity that rises from the Derry sewers every 27 years to feed itself on the souls of the innocent. “The Losers’ Club,” as the gang calls themselves, puts together a plan to battle and defeat the all-mighty creature. Per the official synopsis for the series:

In 1960, seven outcast kids known as “The Losers’ Club” fight an evil demon who poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the demon once and for all when it returns to their hometown.

It was broadcast over two nights in November 1990. The miniseries was a huge success for the network, garnering close to 30 million viewers over the two nights when the episodes were broadcast. Upon release on home video, the series found further success, with Curry’s depiction of Pennywise remaining a major icon in the realm of horror. ABC’s It also received a couple of nominations at the Emmy Awards, with Richard Bellis winning in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Mini-Series or a Special.

The critical reception was also solid, with the two-partter earning a 67% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the audience score coming in at a slightly lower ranking of 64%. The series was successful enough to make the Stephen King universe more attractive for TV producers, with miniseries like The Tommyknockers and Mick Garris’ The Stand and The Shining following as part of this new wave.

1990’s ‘It’ Is One of Stephen King’s Best Miniseries (But There Is One That’s Better)

Although the miniseries is not always mentioned as one of the best King adaptations, it is undoubtedly a seminal entry in his catalog of movies. Audiences have forever been afraid of clowns, but it was It that made those fears come to life best, as Pennywise represented the horror of an ever-grinning fool with a terrifying vendetta.

The ABC version of It is one of Stephen King’s best miniseries. However, there is an underrated adaptation that’s better. When rounding up the selection, there’s nothing quite like Storm of the Century. Also produced by ABC, the series was written by King himself has long been considered the best miniseries based on his work, despite not being based on a novel.