The Highest-Grossing Horror Movie Of All Time Keeps Getting Better

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Many Stephen King stories have been successfully adapted into films, like The Shining and The Shawshank Redemption. However, the 2017 movie It stands out as particularly successful. The film’s careful casting choices were a major factor in its success, helping to establish Finn Wolfhard, previously known from Stranger Things, as a prominent figure in the horror genre.

The second installment of It, titled Chapter Two, brought in a new cast of talented actors – including Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, and James McAvoy – to play the grown-up versions of the characters we met in the first film. While Chapter Two is an important part of finishing the story of It, it didn’t resonate with audiences quite as strongly as the original 2017 film, which continues to be a major part of the franchise’s legacy.

IT (2017) Is The Highest-Grossing Horror Movie Of All Time

The 2017 film It was a hit because it had everything going for it. It appealed to existing fans of the Stephen King novel, tapped into the popular ’80s nostalgia trend, and featured a talented young cast, including a standout performance by Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Plus, it successfully balanced scares with humor and heartfelt moments – a combination that’s become increasingly popular in horror movies.

The villain in It is fascinating and complex because Pennywise exploits each child’s specific and personal fears. This means the characters need to be well-defined, and the movie fully embraces that opportunity. It is both a terrifying story about a creepy clown lurking in the sewers and a heartwarming tale about the Losers, a group of quirky and lovable young outsiders from the 1980s.

Released in 2017, It stood out for its relatable story and engaging style, making it the highest-grossing horror film ever. It continues to be popular today, as horror movies increasingly focus on character development alongside suspense, like Weapons and Sinners which both take the time to create memorable characters.

IT (2017) Brings The Best Parts Of Stephen King’s Novel To Life

Stephen King’s It keeps readers hooked throughout its long length by switching between the story of the characters as children and as adults, building suspense with each shift in time. However, the most captivating part of the novel is definitely the adventures of the kids. While the second half of the story, It: Chapter Two, might have been weaker because it focused only on the adult characters, the original It was as good as it could be by prioritizing the childhood experiences.

The film cleverly updated the time periods in Stephen King’s 1986 novel. The book originally set its ‘present day’ in the 1980s and the characters’ childhoods in the 1950s. By shifting those dates to reflect the present day, the movie It still managed to evoke a sense of nostalgia, but for a modern audience.

IT: Welcome To Derry Expands The Universe Of The Movie

The popularity of the It franchise is still going strong, as proven by the success of the It: Welcome to Derry prequel series. Stephen King’s novel provides a rich backstory for the town of Derry and the monster Pennywise, going beyond the story of the Losers’ Club. While the 2017 film offered glimpses of this deeper history through subtle clues in Pennywise’s actions and research in the local library, these hints suggest there’s a much larger world to discover.

Welcome to Derry expands on Stephen King’s novel, building upon the world created in the 2017 film It. The show delves into the backstories of the Losers’ parents and grandparents, adding emotional weight and connecting it to the original movie. Importantly, Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, and Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the creators and directors of the first film, are also involved, ensuring continuity.

The upcoming second season of Welcome to Derry will probably continue to explore events from the past. Although this might make the story told in It: Chapter Two feel less important, the first It movie will likely still be considered the best and most popular installment, as it was the one that initially brought the story to the screen and gained it a large audience.

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2026-01-24 17:58