Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory horror, strong language in King prequel series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
IT: Welcome to Derry
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say the show is highly graphic and disturbing, with intense scenes featuring violence, gore, and mature themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While many viewers appreciate the dark storyline and character development, they emphasize that it is not recommended for those who are sensitive to horror elements or extreme content.
- graphic violence
- not suitable for kids
- strong themes
- intense horror
- mature audience
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the sleepy Maine town of Derry, nothing much happens—most of the time. It's 1962, and decorated airman Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) has just settled in town to work on the local airbase. His wife, Charlotte (Taylour Paige), and son, Will (Blake Cameron), are ready for a quiet life—but when kids start going missing and mysterious, gruesome events become more common, they realize Derry might not be the idyllic respite they expected.
Is It Any Good?
For fans of King's popular franchise, this series is a welcome treat, packed with more of Pennywise's horrifying antics and savvy kids coming together to defeat evils. But it's possible that the IT well (or sewer, in this instance) might be close to running dry: IT: Welcome to Derry is a lot more of the same old scares. The recurring demon baby creature, while certainly grotesque, borders on camp. And while Pennywise himself gets an origin story here, it doesn't feel entirely necessary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about scary stuff. Is there such a thing as a "fun scare" for you? What does it include? On the other hand, what's too scary?
How do the kids use teamwork to help solve the mystery of what happened to their friends? They come from different social groups and worlds; have you ever had to team up with folks different from yourself? How did it go?
Why do you think Stephen King's stories keep getting told? What do you think of the worlds he's created in his books and other media?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 26, 2025
- Cast : Jovan Adepo , Taylour Paige , Rudy Mancuso
- Network : HBO Max
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Fantasy ( Ghosts , Monsters ) , Friendship , History , Holidays ( Halloween )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 16, 2026
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