‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Sets Record-Breaking Viewership with Premiere Launch
“It: Welcome to Derry” has made a huge splash with its debut, drawing 5.7 million viewers in its first three days, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. The total includes both HBO’s traditional TV audience and streaming numbers from HBO Max, measured in part by Nielsen and the company’s own data.
The new horror series now ranks as the third most-watched HBO Max premiere since the platform launched. Only “House of the Dragon” and “The Last of Us” had bigger openings. “House of the Dragon” pulled in just under 10 million viewers on its first day, while “The Last of Us” brought in 4.7 million, according to WBD.
Serving as a prequel to the hit films “It” (2017) and “It Chapter Two” (2019), the series goes back to the 1960s to explore the origins of Pennywise the Clown and the dark secrets of Derry, Maine.
The show is based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel and was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, who also worked on the original films.
You’ll love Derry so much, you’ll never leave.#ITWelcomeToDerry premieres October 2025 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/ptRIpC2Emg
— HBO Max (@hbomax) July 27, 2025
The cast includes Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler. Bill Skarsgård returns to his famous role as Pennywise and also serves as an executive producer.
Production on the series began in May 2023 but was paused two months later because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed and wrapped up in August 2024. “It: Welcome to Derry” premiered on HBO on October 26.
The story begins in 1962, when a couple and their young son move to Derry just as a boy goes missing. As they settle in, strange and terrifying things start to happen across the town, hinting at the evil lurking beneath its surface.
Warner Bros. Discovery said the strong premiere numbers show how much interest fans still have in the “It” universe. With Andy Muschietti directing several episodes and Fuchs serving as showrunner, the series continues the chilling tone of the original films while diving deeper into Derry’s past.
The success of “It: Welcome to Derry” shows that horror stories still have a big place on television, especially when tied to an iconic franchise. The world of Pennywise clearly hasn’t lost its grip on viewers’ imaginations, and it seems audiences can’t look away from the fear that started it all.
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