The HBO Max premiere of It: Welcome to Derry, a Stephen King HBO Max premiere, has achieved impressive viewership, ranking as the streamer’s third most-watched debut. Released recently, the series attracted 5.7 million viewers within its first three days across both HBO Max and the HBO linear channel, signaling strong audience interest in the King franchise’s expansion.
Background and storyline of the series
Created by Jason Fuchs, alongside Andy and Barbara Muschietti, It: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the 2017 and 2019 films that originally adapted Stephen King’s famous novel. Set in 1962, the storyline follows Pennywise the Clown’s return to torment the residents of Derry, Maine, coinciding with a couple and their son moving into the town. Returning to the role of Pennywise is Bill Skarsgård, with notable cast members including Jovan Adepo, James Remar, Clara Stack, Matilda Lawler, Jack Molloy Legault, Amanda Christine, and Taylour Paige.
Comparison to other HBO Max premieres and upcoming episodes
The only HBO Max series premieres surpassing this show’s viewership numbers are House of the Dragon (2022) and The Last of Us (2023). Adding to the momentum, HBO announced that episode two of Welcome to Derry will be released early at 3 a.m. ET on October 31—Halloween—creating anticipation for audiences. Subsequent episodes will air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on both the HBO Max platform and HBO channel, leading up to a season finale scheduled for December 14.
Critics’ reception and audience response
Critics have generally responded positively to the series, praising its unsettling atmosphere and its effective use of horror elements, alongside social commentary. Zach Moser from ScreenRant gave the show a score of seven out of ten, stating,
“It’s not a novel story, and the uninspired directing and the occasional confusing leaps of logic and time can make centering yourself difficult. What IT: Welcome to Derry does offer is an unrelenting amount of horror and carnage. While none of it is as surprising as Pennywise bursting out of the movie screen like he did in IT, the scares are finely crafted and purposeful. Horror fans will welcome a horror TV show willing to throw everything at the wall.” – Zach Moser, ScreenRant
Further underlining the show’s appeal, Welcome to Derry holds an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, reflecting broad audience appreciation and sustaining viewership optimism for the remaining episodes.
Implications for the franchise and Stephen King’s recent successes
The strong premiere numbers suggest promising prospects for a second season, although no official renewal has been confirmed yet. Continued high ratings will likely influence the show’s future. This successful premiere comes amid a notably active year for Stephen King adaptations, with recent theatrical releases like The Monkey and The Long Walk gaining attention, and Edgar Wright’s The Running Man scheduled to debut in theaters soon.
As It: Welcome to Derry continues to captivate viewers, it reinforces the enduring popularity of Stephen King’s work across multiple media. The show’s early achievements indicate that fans of horror and King’s stories remain engaged, setting a hopeful tone for the rest of the season and potential expansions.
