It (miniseries)
A 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel.
In 1990, ABC aired a two-part psychological horror drama miniseries called *It*, also known as *Stephen King's IT*. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and adapted by Lawrence D. Cohen from King's 1986 novel, the story centers on a predatory monster that shifts into whatever its victims fear most, often appearing as Pennywise, a sinister clown. The heroes are a group of misfit kids known as The Lucky Seven or The Losers Club, who uncover Pennywise and swear to destroy him. The narrative splits across two eras: the Losers first battle the creature as children in 1960, then reunite as adults in 1990 when it returns.
The cast included Tim Curry as Pennywise, alongside Richard Thomas, Annette O'Toole, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Jonathan Brandis, Tim Reid, and Dennis Christopher. Green/Epstein Productions handled production, filming over three months in Vancouver, British Columbia, in mid-1990 on a $12 million budget—double the typical television amount. Broadcast during November sweeps, the miniseries faced risks like mixed early reviews and coverage of President George H. W. Bush’s foreign trips cutting into airtime, yet it became ABC’s biggest hit of 1990, drawing 30 million viewers across both parts.
The miniseries earned nominations for two Emmy Awards, one Eddie Award, one Youth in Film award, and a People’s Choice Award nod for best miniseries. It won two: an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition (Richard Bellis’s score) and an Eddie Award for editing. Critical opinions have remained divided over the years, but Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise stands out, with many publications calling it one of the scariest clown characters in film and TV. The miniseries later inspired a crowdfunded documentary, *Pennywise: The Story of It* (2020), and a short alternate-history sequel, *Georgie*, from the same producers.
**Plot**
In spring 1960, during a heavy rain in Derry, Maine, George Denbrough plays with a paper sailboat made by his stuttering older brother, Bill. The boat falls into a storm drain, where Pennywise the Dancing Clown lures Georgie to reach in, then tears off his arm, leaving him to bleed to death. Months later, Bill and his asthmatic friend Eddie Kaspbrak befriend the chubby new kid Ben Hanscom. They’re soon joined by Beverly Marsh, who lives with her abusive father, and she and Ben meet Bill and Eddie’s other pals: the funny Richie Tozier and skeptical
- Directed by
- Tommy Lee Wallace
- Adapted by
- Lawrence D. Cohen
- Network
- ABC
- Budget
- $12 million
- Viewership
- 30 million total viewers for its two parts
- Awards
- Won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition and an Eddie Award for editing
- Notable cast
- Tim Curry, Richard Thomas, Annette O'Toole, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Jonathan Brandis, Tim Reid, Dennis Christopher
Lore & Background
The miniseries was produced by Green/Epstein Productions and filmed over three months in Vancouver, British Columbia, in mid-1990 with a budget of $12 million, double the usual television budget. It was first broadcast during the November sweeps month. Despite mixed pre-airing critical reviews and coverage of President George H. W. Bush's foreign trips cutting into the program, It was ABC's biggest success of 1990, pulling through with 30 million viewers for its two parts. It was nominated for two Emmy Awards, one Eddie Award, one Youth in Film award, and a best miniseries recognition from the People's Choice Awards; it won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for Richard Bellis' score and an Eddie Award for the miniseries' editing.
Reader's Guide
While divided critical perspectives towards It have continued in later years, the miniseries has become most known for Tim Curry's version of Pennywise, considered by several publications to be one of the scariest clown characters in film and television. The casting was unusual for a horror production at the time, featuring actors not well known in horror such as John Ritter, Tim Reid, Harry Anderson, and Tim Curry. Producer Jim Green reasoned this was to increase eyeballs from more easily frightened casual viewers. The miniseries has spawned an Indiegogo-funded documentary film about its production titled Pennywise: The Story of It (2020), and an alternate history sequel short named Georgie, also by the producers of the documentary.
Did You Know?
- Tim Curry used Robin Williams-esque natural improvisation when playing Pennywise, giving the character a Bronx accent to sound like 'an old-time Catskills comic.'
- The miniseries was filmed over three months in Vancouver, British Columbia, in mid-1990 with a budget of $12 million.
- It was ABC's biggest success of 1990, with 30 million total viewers for its two parts.
- The miniseries won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition and an Eddie Award for editing.
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