Stephen King's It

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 18, 1990
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 44
  3. Negative: 1 out of 44

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User Reviews

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  1. drlowdon
    May 25, 2013
    5
    Originally aired as a two-part television movie in the early 90's 'I't has since been re-edited into a three hour movie. Based on the novel by Stephen King 'It' opens in Maine where a young girl is murdered by a malevolent force that takes the form of a clown known as Pennywise. Whilst at the scene, Mike, a resident of the town notices a picture, a picture of his friends brother, killed 30Originally aired as a two-part television movie in the early 90's 'I't has since been re-edited into a three hour movie. Based on the novel by Stephen King 'It' opens in Maine where a young girl is murdered by a malevolent force that takes the form of a clown known as Pennywise. Whilst at the scene, Mike, a resident of the town notices a picture, a picture of his friends brother, killed 30 years ago. Having originally put a stop the clown's murderous spree as children he soon realises that he must reunite with his friends, a group who called themselves "the losers club", in order to defeat Pennywise once and for all.

    Let me say now that I am a huge fan of Stephen King's novels but will always try to judge any movie taken from his work on its own merits. Condensing a book well in excess of 1000 pages into 180 minutes was never going to be an easy task and cuts have obviously been made. The real problem however is that with some less than stellar dialogue, a few uneven performances and any scenes of violence taking place off screen the movies low budget TV origins are painfully obvious throughout. As a result, despite a memorable performance from Tim Curry as Pennywise, It lacks the creepy atmosphere created by King’s book and while Pennywise may inspire nightmares for younger viewers very little in the movie is actually scary.

    It’s not all bad of course. Underneath it all there is a good tale and it certainly makes for a watchable three hours but if you want the full story I suggest you read the book instead (or listen to the unabridged audiobook that is now available).    … Expand
  2. Fozzy
    Jan 16, 2014
    5
    I remember reading the original novel, and it was really, really good. It was well over a thousand pages, one of the few epics of the horror genre. However, when I saw the television show, I was... less than pleased. The show ran for 189 minutes, just over three hours, and so it's to be expected that they couldn't condense the entire book into those three hours. I can also understand thatI remember reading the original novel, and it was really, really good. It was well over a thousand pages, one of the few epics of the horror genre. However, when I saw the television show, I was... less than pleased. The show ran for 189 minutes, just over three hours, and so it's to be expected that they couldn't condense the entire book into those three hours. I can also understand that they were unable to make a television series out of the novel.

    However, the performances could be better. The story feels jumbled and disjointed, and it feels like they just took the main plot elements and threw them in. The acting and effects are cheesy and, since it's a television movie, they were unable to throw in the more violent aspects of what was an extremely violent novel. However, this film does have one saving grace, and that's Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. He pulls of something that very few horror movie actors have in recent times, or ever have. Pennywise is actually freaking terrifying.

    However, this film has a jumbled and abrupt plot, silly and cheesy dialogue and effects and extremely average acting (mostly), so it's not as brilliant as I would have hoped.    … Expand
  3. overlordofgeek
    Jul 29, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The atmosphere could have been better. Acting was bad. But Tim Curry played Pennywise very well. And the spider thing at the end was very ridiculous..… Expand
  4. Dylanhubbard77
    Feb 10, 2018
    6
    While I wouldn't say this is overall a good movie, Tim Curry's iconic, and at times, frightening performance as Pennywise, the good acting and sense of friendship from the kids and some very famous moments, (albeit for good and bad reasons) make this adaptation an intriguing and somewhat fun watch. Even if the ending is a little bit of a letdown and it can sometimes drag. The book is stillWhile I wouldn't say this is overall a good movie, Tim Curry's iconic, and at times, frightening performance as Pennywise, the good acting and sense of friendship from the kids and some very famous moments, (albeit for good and bad reasons) make this adaptation an intriguing and somewhat fun watch. Even if the ending is a little bit of a letdown and it can sometimes drag. The book is still way better though as is often the case with King.… Expand
  5. I_love
    Jan 4, 2019
    4
    The cup of tea scene was great, the sewer scene was great, and it is kinda nostalgic, and Tim Curry was amazing, the kids did great as well. But the whole thing is boring, the ending of both the kids and adult part is terrible. The bulies are cliche.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Peter Farrell
    May 2, 2021
    90
    A true horror story, possibly the most successful horror story ever made for television, a medium hostile to sustaining belief in the unbelievable. The four-hour miniseries is a bit too long, and the ending doesn't live up to what has gone before, but this Stephen King story is gripping, fascinating, well-acted and superbly produced. [18 Nov 1990, p.5]
  2. San Diego Union-Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert P. Laurence
    May 2, 2021
    75
    Offers some deliciously shocking moments, several sequences when you may want to remind yourself: "This is not real. [17 Nov 1990, p.C-9]
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    May 2, 2021
    60
    If Twin Peaks is a midnight movie for prime-time, then Stephen King's It is the miniseries equivalent of those Saturday-matinee shockers that merrily warped a generation before Freddie and Jason began staking their more graphic turf...None of the big moments, especially the limp climax, are as nerve-wracking as the plentiful incidental spooks along the way. Accept It on its own popcorn-munching terms, and keep the lights on high. [16 Nov 1990, p.1D]
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