Two perfect episodes, one day — this Stephen King’s star-studded thriller is your quick fix

I suppose if you have any sort of soft spot for Stephen King adaptations, 2026 has been rather kind to you. Between Mike Flanagan working his magic on Carrie and everyone gearing up for The Institute season two this autumn, it sometimes feels like a constant parade of haunted towns and questionable parenting decisions. Most King fare is still mining familiar ground: terrified kids, cosmic threats making life hell, and, of course, small-towns where no one sensible would want to buy property. But some stories have burned themselves into the pop culture retina more than others—case in point: the classic battle with a murderous clown in It.

‘It’ first landed as a TV miniseries in 1990, telling King’s saga of childhood horror and grownup trauma across two substantial episodes—roughly three hours in total.

A 90s TV Horror to Revisit

Now, most people probably associate It with the recent films from the late 2010s or even the slick HBO prequel, but the 1990 ABC miniseries still has plenty of unsettling charm. The opening makes that clear: a young girl, Laurie Ann Winterbarger, peacefully cycling and humming ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ until a brief flash of Pennywise—grinning, lurking, and anything but subtle—changes the tune. Her mother’s scream, the hurried ambulance, and the wind whipping sheets on a washing line pretty much tell you what to expect from the town of Derry, Maine. If your idea of a relaxing evening involves not worrying about sudden supernatural death, Derry’s probably not for you.

The Cast: Brilliant, with the Odd Mullet

Unlike the recent approach where everyone’s a child for one film and an adult for the next, this series keeps things tight by splitting the story but weaving both childhood and adult timelines together. There’s a notable line-up: Harry Anderson as the wisecracking Richie Tozier, John Ritter as the sensitive Ben Hanscom, Annette O'Toole gives a really thoughtful take on Beverly Marsh, and—this is the real treat—Tim Curry going full nightmare-fuel as Pennywise. An inspired bit of casting, really. Tim Reid pops up as Mike Hanlon, the Derry librarian who unfortunately has to be the one rounding up the old gang as things get grim again. Richard Thomas and Richard Masur are present and correct as Bill Denbrough and Stanley Uris. And for the trivia-minded: yes, a baby-faced Seth Green is young Richie in all his 80s hair glory.

• Tim Curry (Pennywise the Clown – truly unsettling)
• Harry Anderson (adult Richie Tozier)
• John Ritter (adult Ben Hanscom)
• Annette O'Toole (adult Beverly Marsh)
• Tim Reid (adult Mike Hanlon)
• Richard Masur (adult Stanley Uris)
• Richard Thomas (adult Bill Denbrough)
• Seth Green (child Richie Tozier)

Why It Works (and What’s Dated)

What keeps this miniseries interesting, even all these years on, isn’t just Curry’s iconic clown, but the way it juggles the discomforts of growing up with grown-up failures and baggage. You get all the typical King miseries—kids terrified of the dark, social awkwardness, and basements—and then, as adults, you get mid-life anxiety, crushing guilt, and, of course, unresolved clown trauma. The scenes focusing on grief, especially Bill’s reaction to losing his brother, are quietly devastating. Sure, you’ll notice a 90s cheese factor (awkward blood effects, the classic questionable haircut), and there’s the occasional bit that’s unintentionally more funny than horrific, like Bill bracing himself over a haunted photo album. But the core emotional beats are still strong, mainly because the cast looks like they actually care.

Don’t go in expecting modern levels of gore or pacing, but do expect a few moments that still properly get under your skin. Oddly enough, some of the best bits are when the Losers’ Club are just, well, mucking about—building a dam, complaining about rubbish school food, watching films. It’s easy to see why these characters (and not just the clown) stuck with people for decades.

The 1990 It miniseries currently has a 70% Rotten Tomatoes rating, which honestly feels a bit stingy for something this effective and influential.

Style and production values are definitely a product of their time, but unless you’re allergic to stonewashed denim and VHS fuzz, you’ll find plenty to appreciate. Give it a go between the fresh King projects—the story holds up, bad haircuts and all.