It
Series, 1990, Derry, Set in 1960 and 1990, the miniseries
It is #14 of 42 in release order and #27 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
In 1960, seven outcast kids known as "The Losers' Club" fight against an ancient shape-shifting alien who poses as a child-killing clown, while also dealing with bullies and abusive parents. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the creature once and for all when it returns to their hometown.
It recap
It (1990) is a two-part ABC miniseries about seven friends in Derry, Maine, who fight a shape-shifting clown as children in 1960 and again as adults in 1990. Tommy Lee Wallace directs, with Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. In 1960, Bill Denbrough's little brother Georgie is killed by Pennywise in a storm drain, and Bill and six other outcasts, the Losers Club, are each terrorised by the creature in the shape of their worst fears while dodging the bully Henry Bowers. They wound It in the sewers and swear to return if it ever comes back. Thirty years later, Mike Hanlon (Tim Reid), the only one who stayed in Derry, calls the others home when children start dying again. Bill (Richard Thomas), Ben Hanscom (John Ritter), Beverly Marsh (Annette O'Toole), Richie Tozier (Harry Anderson), Eddie Kaspbrak (Dennis Christopher) and Stan Uris (Richard Masur) have forgotten almost everything. Stan kills himself rather than return, and Henry escapes from an asylum to hunt the others.
It ending explained
It ends, in its second part, with the Losers killing the creature in its lair beneath Derry. Its true form is a giant spider-like monster. Eddie is killed, and the others tear out its heart. Afterwards Ben and Beverly marry, and Bill rides his old bike Silver with his catatonic wife Audra on the back until she wakes. Mike stays behind as Derry's librarian, and their memories of each other begin to fade.
Where to watch It
It isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 70%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Misery, before Needful Things.
- Chronological order: after It: Welcome to Derry, before It.
What to watch before It
Nothing. It (1990) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Tim Curry as Pennywise
- Harry Anderson as Richie Tozier
- Dennis Christopher as Eddie Kaspbrak
- Richard Masur as Stan Uris
- Annette O'Toole as Beverly Marsh
- Tim Reid as Mike Hanlon
- John Ritter as Ben Hanscom
- Richard Thomas as Bill Denbrough
- Jonathan Brandis as Bill Denbrough - Age 12
- Brandon Crane as Ben Hanscom - Age 12
- Adam Faraizl as Eddie Kaspbrak - Age 12
- Seth Green as Richie Tozier - Age 12
Created by Stephen King.