Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Terrifying evil clown movie based on Stephen King classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
It
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 299 parent reviews
Parents say this film, while beloved by many for its portrayal of Pennywise and its mix of humor and horror, is generally better suited for teens and older due to its strong language, gory violence, and some unsettling themes. Many recommend screening it beforehand, emphasizing that it may not be appropriate for younger viewers, especially those who might be sensitive to graphic content or adult humor.
- graphic violence
- strong language
- teen suitability
- humorous elements
- parental discretion
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 1,063 kid reviews
Kids say the film is surprisingly suitable for family movie nights and can impart valuable life lessons like teamwork and emotional resilience, despite concerns about its violent imagery and themes. Many younger viewers find it not as scary as anticipated, making it accessible for ages 11 and up, provided they are mature enough to handle the moderate gore, swearing, and heavy themes of bullying and family issues presented.
- life lessons
- not very scary
- moderate violence
- age appropriate
- humor elements
- family-friendly
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
IT begins in 1988 in the town of Derry, Maine, where little Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) goes outside in the rain to sail the toy boat that his older brother, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), made for him. The boat goes down the drain. Looking into the sewer, Georgie encounters a scary clown called Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) and disappears. The following summer, as school lets out, Bill and the other town outcasts -- including Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis) and loudmouth Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard) -- are beset by teenagers. They start to experience terrifying events of their own and notice that other kids in town are disappearing. Thanks to their new friend, Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), the teens discover that the waves of evil things seem to happen in cycles of 27 years and that all of it leads back to a well in the basement of a creepy old house. Bill vows to stop whatever it is that killed his brother.
Is It Any Good?
Based on Stephen King's 1986 novel, this terrifying clown movie builds its fright from fear itself. In that respect, It is more aligned with The Goonies, Stand by Me, and Stranger Things than it is with slasher movies or jump scares. Director Andy Muschietti, whose disappointing horror movie Mama never would have indicated anything as good as It, keeps things simple by focusing on the bond between the outcast kids -- there are plenty of scenes that could have been taken right out of any summertime coming-of-age movie -- and by using a slick combination of practical and digital effects.
The result feels like it could have come right out of the 1980s. Few of the familiar, overused clichés of more recent horror movies are here, and, with its effective use of music, editing, set design, choice of angles, and overall rhythms, It generates honest-to-goodness tingles, rather than quick shocks. And Pennywise (a chilling Skarsgård) is an iconic character, based not on a simple fear of death but on something more primal and unexplainable, the thing nightmares are made from.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about It's violence. What's the difference between the violence committed by abusive parents and classmates and the movie's supernatural forces? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Clowns are often seen at the circus or children's parties. Why is the clown here so scary?
How are the teens who bully their peers depicted in the movie? What are some ways to deal with harassment? How would you deal with them?
How does this movie compare to the book? To the miniseries?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 8, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2018
- Cast : Bill Skarsgård , Finn Wolfhard , Jaeden Martell
- Director : Andres Muschietti
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : New Line Cinema
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy
- Run time : 135 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence/horror, bloody images, and for language
- Last updated : April 23, 2026
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