Pennywise Returns: “It: Welcome to Derry” Draws Record-Breaking Viewers
HBO’s chilling new series It: Welcome to Derry has sent shockwaves through the streaming world — and not just because of its terrifying clown. The prequel to Stephen King’s It has become one of HBO’s biggest debuts ever, pulling in a staggering 5.7 million viewers across platforms within just three days of release. That’s enough to place it third on HBO’s all-time premiere list, right behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
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Set in the eerie 1960s version of Derry, Maine, Welcome to Derry explores how the nightmarish clown Pennywise first came to be — long before the events of the 2017 and 2019 films. The series was developed by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the sibling duo who directed the two It films, alongside writer Jason Fuchs. Their goal this time wasn’t just to tell another horror story, but to take fans even deeper into the unsettling mythology of Derry — and it’s clearly working.
According to HBO, the vast majority of viewers streamed the premiere on Max or watched it through replays, with traditional on-air ratings accounting for only about 6 percent of total viewership. The episode’s chilling finale — which reportedly upends some of the established film storylines — left fans reeling and talking across social media, driving even more people to tune in. The Muschiettis told The Hollywood Reporter that this twist was intentional, explaining that they wanted to “subvert expectations” and “raise the intensity” from the very start.
The show’s atmosphere is steeped in dread — vintage Americana twisted by something deeply wrong underneath. Critics have praised its mix of slow-burn tension and shocking moments, calling it a worthy addition to King’s terrifying universe. And of course, Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, delivering that unnerving grin that fans can’t forget.
For those already hooked, HBO Max has rolled out the full release schedule. The first episode dropped on October 26 , with new episodes arriving weekly every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET — though episode two received a special early release on October 31 to mark Halloween. The season will span eight episodes , wrapping up with the finale on December 14 .
If early numbers are any sign, It: Welcome to Derry could easily become HBO’s next horror sensation. The series has managed to pull audiences back into the sewer-bound nightmare that started it all — proving that, once again, Pennywise isn’t done haunting our dreams just yet.
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