If you have been looking for where to watch IT: Welcome to Derry, you are in the right place. The show is one of the most popular horror series of 2025, and it is available on more than one platform depending on where you live and what subscriptions you already have. Here is the quick answer, followed by every detail you need.
About IT: Welcome to Derry
IT: Welcome to Derry is an American horror drama television series set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. It serves as a prequel to the films IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019), which were based on the 1986 novel by Stephen King. The series takes place in 1962 and follows a group of children and a newly arrived family as they begin to notice a pattern of missing kids and strange behavior from the town’s adults.
As they search for answers, they uncover signs of an ancient and dangerous force hiding beneath Derry. At the center of this mystery is a shapeshifting entity that often appears as a clown, known as Pennywise. The show explores the early history of Derry and the events that shaped the town long before the story seen in the films.
Where can you watch IT: Welcome to Derry right now?
IT: Welcome to Derry is currently streaming on MAX inside the United States. It is also available on Hulu with an HBO add-on, through the HBO Max channel on Amazon Prime Video, and to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
There is no free streaming option for the show right now.
| Platform | Available? | Cost |
| HBO Max (Max) | Yes | Starting at $9.99/month |
| Hulu with HBO Add-on | Yes | Hulu + HBO add-on required |
| Amazon Prime Video (HBO Max Channel) | Yes | HBO add-on required |
| Apple TV | Buy or rent | Per episode or full season |
| Amazon Video | Buy or rent | Per episode or full season |
| Fandango at Home | Buy or rent | Per episode or full season |
| Netflix | No | Not available |
| Disney+ | No | Not available |
| Free streaming | No | Not available yet |
How to Watch IT: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max
The best and cheapest way to watch IT: Welcome to Derry is through HBO Max, also known simply as Max. The show is an HBO Original, so this is the main home for the series.
HBO Max plans start at $9.99 per month for the ad-supported plan. If you want to watch without ads, the ad-free plan starts at $15.99 per month. There is also a Max Ultimate plan that includes 4K streaming.
| HBO Max Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
| With Ads | $9.99/month | Access to all content with ads |
| Ad-Free | $15.99/month | No ads, HD streaming |
| Ultimate | $19.99/month | No ads, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos |
HBO Max does not currently offer a standard free trial. However, it is worth checking if your mobile carrier, internet provider, or cable package includes Max access. Some AT&T, Xfinity, and Cricket Wireless plans come with Max included.
You can sign up at max.com or download the Max app on any device.
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How to Watch IT: Welcome to Derry on Hulu
If you already have Hulu, you can add HBO to your plan and get access to the show that way. This is a good option if you are already paying for Hulu and do not want to sign up for a separate HBO Max account.
The HBO add-on through Hulu costs around $15.99 per month on top of your existing Hulu plan. Hulu does offer a free trial for new subscribers, so if you are new to Hulu, you may be able to access the show during that trial window depending on what deals are available.
How to Watch IT: Welcome to Derry on Amazon Prime Video?
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can add the HBO Max channel to your Prime Video account. This gives you access to IT: Welcome to Derry and all other Max content without leaving the Amazon app.
The HBO Max add-on through Amazon costs the same as signing up directly. The benefit is that you can manage everything inside one app if you already use Amazon Prime Video regularly.
You can also rent or buy individual episodes or the full season on Amazon Video without any subscription. Prices vary but buying the full season outright is typically around $20 to $30.
Can You Watch IT: Welcome to Derry for Free?
Not right now. As of April 2026, there are no free streaming options for IT: Welcome to Derry.
Here are a few ways you might be able to save money or access it at a lower cost:
- Check if your internet or phone provider includes Max in your plan
- Look for a first-month discount on Max, which sometimes runs at $1.99 for the first month during promotions
- Use a Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle, which can save money compared to paying for each service separately
- Sign up for a Hulu free trial if you are a new subscriber and add HBO to the plan
What is IT: Welcome to Derry about?
In 1962, a young boy goes missing in Derry. A new family, the Hanlons, moves to town around the same time. A group of misfit kids starts to notice that something very wrong is happening in their town. Children keep disappearing, and nobody seems to want to talk about it.
At the same time, the U.S. military has sent a team to Derry to investigate something they believe could be used as a weapon. As the adults try to figure out what is going on, the kids are already getting closer to the truth.
And underneath it all, a shapeshifting monster known as Pennywise is watching and waiting.
The show is based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel IT and was developed by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, the same duo who directed the 2017 and 2019 films.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Title | IT: Welcome to Derry |
| Network | HBO |
| Premiere Date | October 26, 2025 |
| Episodes | 8 episodes |
| Genre | Horror, Drama, Supernatural |
| Rating | TV-MA |
| Based On | IT by Stephen King (1986) |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 80% (critics), 82% (audience) |
| IMDb Score | 7.9/10 |
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Full Cast of IT: Welcome to Derry
| Actor / Actress | Character |
| Bill Skarsgård | Pennywise / Bob Gray |
| Taylour Paige | Charlotte Hanlon |
| Jovan Adepo | Leroy Hanlon |
| Chris Chalk | Dick Hallorann |
| James Remar | General Francis Shaw |
| Stephen Rider | Hank |
| Madeleine Stowe | Ingrid Kersh / Periwinkle |
| Rudy Mancuso | Captain Pauly Russo |
| Clara Stack | Lilly |
| Amanda Christine | Ronnie |
| Mikkal Karim-Fidler | Rich |
| Peter Outerbridge | Chief Clint Bowers |
Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, the same role he played in both IT films. According to director Andy Muschietti, Skarsgård was hesitant to come back because he had already played many dark characters and those roles can be hard to let go of mentally. He agreed to return when he found out the show would explore Pennywise’s backstory as Bob Gray, the human form of the creature.
Episodes List
| Episode | Title | Brief Description |
| Episode 1 | The Pilot | Four kids look for a missing classmate as Major Leroy Hanlon arrives at Derry Air Force Base |
| Episode 2 | The Thing in the Dark | Charlotte settles in, Will faces a rough first day at school, and Ronnie worries about her father |
| Episode 3 | Now You See It | General Shaw pushes ahead with his mission as the kids try to find proof of the strange things happening |
| Episode 4 | Seen and Not Heard | The kids face scary events while Charlotte tries to help Hank and Shaw pushes harder |
| Episode 5 | The Black Spot | Dick gets a surprise visit as dark visions return |
| Episode 6 | All the Dead Children | A violent attack on the Black Spot wakes up something that has been dormant for a long time |
| Episode 7 | In the Sewers | The military moves on Neibolt Street as the kids head underground to face what is waiting for them |
| Episode 8 | Welcome to Derry | Shaw pushes forward with his plan as the Hanlons and their allies fight to save Derry |
Is IT: Welcome to Derry worth watching?
Yes, especially if you are a fan of the IT films or Stephen King in general.
The show sits at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 82% from audiences. Most viewers agree that it builds tension well, takes its time with characters, and does a good job of making Derry feel like a real, lived-in place with a very dark history.
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise is just as good as he was in the films. He shows up less often than you might expect, but every scene he is in is unsettling in the right way. The child actors are also widely praised for feeling real and natural, which is not always easy to find in horror shows built around kids.
The main complaints from viewers are about the CGI, which some people felt did not always look great, and the pacing, which is slow in the middle episodes. It is not a jump-scare show. It builds dread slowly over each episode.
If you liked Stranger Things or the original IT films, you will probably enjoy this. It feels similar in tone but a little darker and more focused.
| What Works | What Does Not Work |
| Bill Skarsgård is great as Pennywise | CGI is sometimes weak |
| Strong child actors | Pacing is slow in the middle |
| Great atmosphere and setting | Some plot threads feel scattered |
| Good ties to the original films | Not a lot of jump scares if that is what you want |
| Rich story with real character depth | A few subplots do not fully pay off |
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Do you need to watch the IT Movies First?
You do not need to watch the IT films to understand Welcome to Derry. The show is a prequel, so it happens before the movies. You can jump right in.
That said, if you have seen the 2017 IT and IT Chapter Two, you will pick up on a lot more references and connections. The show rewards people who know the films. Some characters from the movies appear here in younger forms. There are also direct connections to moments and locations that show up later in the films.
The best viewing order if you want to watch everything is:
- IT: Welcome to Derry (takes place in 1962)
- IT (2017) (takes place in 1989)
- IT Chapter Two (2019) (takes place in 2016)
Is There a Season 2 of IT: Welcome to Derry?
Season 2 has not been officially confirmed yet, but the showrunners have made it clear they have a plan for more seasons. In March 2026, producer Barbara Muschietti said that Season 2 will happen once the right story is in place. Director Andy Muschietti has described Season 1 as just “opening a window” into the larger story, and said the show will really “manifest” in Seasons 2 and 3.
The plan is to keep going deeper into the origins of Pennywise and the cursed history of Derry itself.
