H1: The Definitive Watch Order for Every IT Movie and Show Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and it movies and shows in order.
The Derry Dilemma: Where to Start
Stephen King’s story refuses to stay a single adaptation. You face a choice between two distinct tonal paths. The 1990 miniseries brings a campy, nostalgic horror. The films from 2017 and 2019 opt for visceral, streamlined terror. Neither path is wrong.
The 1990 version aired over three nights. Tommy Lee Hall holds the title role. It feels like a sprawling family TV event. The movies split the book into two cinematic parts. Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise lacks that old TV charm. Instead, he offers a terrifying, alien menace.
Option A: The Linear Book Order
This route respects the novel’s structure first. It sacrifices strict release dates for narrative flow.
- 1. IT Chapter One (2017). This film covers the Losers Club as children. It focuses on the shape-shifting clown and a vicious storm.
- 2. IT Chapter Two (2019). The adult survivors return to Derry. This picks up where the first film left off twenty-seven years later.
- 3. IT (1990 Miniseries). You can place this either before or after the films. Watching it last reveals how modern effects altered our perception of the horror.
Option B: The Chronological Release Order
Purists prefer following the cultural timeline. This shows how the adaptation evolved over three decades.
- 1. IT (1990 Miniseries). Start here to understand the foundational visual grammar. The mini-series relied on practical effects and theatrical fog.
- 2. IT Chapter One (2017). A massive reboot of the childhood chapters. This version grossed over $700 million worldwide [^1].
- 3. IT Chapter Two (2019). The concluding chapter that tried to merge childhood flashbacks with adult reckoning.
Why the Miniseries Still Matters
The 1990 version has a weird, handmade quality. It moves slowly. The horror feels more psychological than the films. The miniseries captures the specific grief of small-town America. It also introduces themes of childhood trauma that the films barely touch.
Watching it after the 2017 film changes the context. You realize how much the book spans beyond just a clown. The movies focus on Pennywise. The TV show focuses on the losers and their fractured families.
The Perfect Binge Sequence
I prefer a hybrid approach. It maximizes shock value while respecting the source material.
- 1. IT (1990). Experience the original broadcast version. Let its dated effects serve as a stylistic choice, not a flaw.
- 2. IT Chapter One (2017). The modern reboot hits harder after seeing the old version. You appreciate the cinematic scope.
- 3. IT Chapter Two (2019). The final piece of the puzzle. This wrap-up explores the lasting wounds of Derry.
This specific path gives you the full arc. It honors King’s sprawling narrative without losing the plot threads.
Beyond the Films: Other Derry Stories
The IT universe bleeds into other King adaptations. "11.22.63" features a stop in Derry. The show "Castle Rock" also references the town and its lore. These aren’t strictly required viewing. But they enrich the world if you want more small-town Maine horror.
[^1]: Box Office Mojo reports the gross for IT (2017) globally.