Entertainment
HBO’s Darker ‘Stranger Things’ Replacement Has Become an All-Time Streaming Hit
HBO’s dark new fantasy horror sequel is quietly becoming one of the platform’s biggest streaming hits of all time. On October 26, HBO debuted the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, the body horror series that serves as a prequel to the popular IT movies. The first five episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are now streaming on HBO Max, and the show has yet to be dethroned at the top of streaming charts. It’s #1 by a wide margin on HBO, even beating other shows such as The Seduction, Task, The Chair Company, and Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.
IT: Welcome to Derry stars Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, James Remar as General Francis Shaw, Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman, Amanda Christine as Ronnie Grogan, Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge, and Chris Calk as Dick Hallorann. Bill Skarsgård can also be seen reprising his role as Pennywise in the series, which is based on the popular novel from acclaimed horror author Stephen King. Skarsgård’s Pennywise has taken several forms in the HBO series, but all are equally terrifying. At the time of writing, IT: Welcome to Derry sits at scores of 79% from critics and 76% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s also drawing comparisons to Netflix’s Stranger Things, largely due to the horror elements and kid stars.
Andy Muschietti, who directed both IT movies, wrote and created IT: Welcome to Derry with his wife Barbara and Jason Fuchs. Guadalís Del Carmen, Jasmyne Flournoy, Brad Kane, Austin Guzman, Helen Shang, Gabriel Hobson, and Cord Jefferson all work in the writer’s room for the show. Muschietti has also been tapped to direct The Brave and the Bold, the Batman movie in James Gunn’s DCU, but the film is seemingly stuck in development limbo. There have been no concrete announcements or updates in a while.
When Do New Episodes of ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Come Out?
New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry begin streaming exclusively on HBO every Sunday at 9 PM EST. The first five episodes are now available to stream on the platform, and there will be three more episodes until the season finale airs on December 14. IT: Welcome to Derry has not officially been renewed, but Muschietti has shared that there is a three-season plan for the show. Considering the strong viewership and solid reviews, it would be surprising if this plan isn’t seen through to completion.
Watch the first five episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the show.
- Release Date
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October 26, 2025
- Network
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HBO
- Franchise(s)
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IT
