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HBO's latest horror event premieres with a bang
IT: Welcome to Derry arrived on HBO and HBO Max on October 26, 2025, and the reaction was immediate. Warner Bros. Discovery reports the series' first episode pulled in more than 5.7 million U.S. viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days — a launch that places the Stephen King prequel among HBO Max's top three global debuts, behind only House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
This is not just a numbers story: it’s a reminder of how strong franchise familiarity, star casting, and smart release timing can combine to turn a genre property into a mainstream streaming moment.
What the premiere means in context
Comparatively, other HBO Sunday evening fare has seen smaller audiences — for instance, Task averaged around 3.1 million viewers in a similar slot last September. With 5.7 million viewers, Welcome to Derry capitalized on both Halloween buzz and decades of cultural cachet around King’s novel It and Andy Muschietti’s earlier films.
But big premiere numbers don’t automatically equal long-term acclaim. Early critical responses praise the series' production design and Bill Skarsgård’s chilling return as Pennywise, while a few reviews caution that expanding a contained film story into episodic television risks diluting the original tension.
Cast, creative team, and the expansion of Muschietti’s world
The show brings together a notable ensemble: Elliot Page, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Madeleine Stowe, Rudy Mancuso, and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Under Andy Muschietti’s creative umbrella, the series explores new corners of Derry, aiming to deepen the mythology that made the movies so resonant for horror fans.
Production notes circulating in fan communities highlight a blend of practical effects and atmospheric cinematography that leans into classic horror influences — a welcome contrast to some modern horror that relies heavily on CGI.
"Welcome to Derry lands at a rare crossroads where franchise nostalgia meets television scale," says film historian Anna Kovacs. "The premiere’s numbers reflect pent-up demand for high-quality horror on streaming, and Skarsgård’s Pennywise still has the magnetic menace that made the films appointment viewing."
Release schedule and viewing tips
HBO Max surprised viewers by making episode two available early for Halloween before it aired on linear HBO the following Sunday (U.S. broadcast on November 2). Episodes will continue to roll out weekly on Sundays (early morning Monday in Iran), with the first season slated to conclude on December 14, 2025.
Why fans and the industry are watching
The series arrives at a time when prestige streaming platforms are investing heavily in event television built from familiar IP. Horror has proven reliably bingeable and social-media friendly — factors that likely helped Welcome to Derry become a trending launch. For Stephen King devotees, the show promises lore and new perspectives; for casual viewers, it offers a high-production-value entry into a famously eerie town.
Whether the season sustains its initial momentum will depend on episodic storytelling, word-of-mouth, and whether the series can balance scares with meaningful character work. Early indicators suggest HBO has another contender in the horror crown, and for now, Derry—like Pennywise—has the audience’s attention.
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