IT: Welcome To Derry Feature Scores
Explore all 62 feature scores for IT: Welcome To Derry, organized into pros and cons.
Scores by Feature
Summary
62 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.013 (21%)
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Positive 3.5-4.420 (32%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.49 (15%)
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Negative 1.5-2.414 (23%)
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Very negative below 1.56 (10%)
Pros
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Sets and overall production design are major strengths, giving Derry a polished, period-specific identity.
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The main ensemble, especially the younger cast, receives broad praise for carrying fear, grief, and emotional stakes.
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The deeper history of Derry, Pennywise, and the wider King universe is one of the most consistently praised elements.
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Connections to the films and wider King universe are a major draw, although the Easter eggs can become overbearing for some viewers.
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Early shocks and later reveals are among the most widely praised storytelling moves, especially the premiere's major reversal.
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The music is repeatedly praised for heightening dread without overwhelming the drama.
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Even mixed reviews often find stretches fun or entertaining, especially when the horror, lore, and Pennywise material are working together.
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Performances are one of the most dependable strengths, with frequent praise for both the child ensemble and key adult leads despite a few complaints about stilted moments.
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Derry often looks polished and striking, especially in credits and period design, but flat lighting or artificial backdrops occasionally undermine the look.
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Many critics connect with the layered fears, grief, and friendships, although some reviews find portions of the ensemble underwritten.
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The premiere is widely seen as bold and memorable, with its opening and late twist frequently singled out even by otherwise negative critics.
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Period clothing is consistently praised for helping transport the show convincingly into the early 1960s.
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The episodic format gives Derry, its history, and its mythology more room to breathe, which many critics see as a major advantage.
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Cinematography is usually praised for making Derry picturesque, eerie, and cinematic, though one review found it bland.
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Direction earns strong praise for atmosphere, visual control, and the show's most effective horror sequences.
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Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise is usually a highlight when present, but many critics complain that the clown is held back too long or underused.
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The later episodes and finale earn substantial praise for spectacle and payoff, though a few critics found the ending bland or disappointing.
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The season earns praise for ambitious lore and emotional stakes, but the military plot and overloaded structure divide critics.
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Horror effectiveness is highly uneven: some critics found the series terrifying and inventive, while others found many scares silly, repetitive, or too CGI-heavy.
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Sound design and immersive audio are praised for making quiet scenes threatening and big sequences more enveloping.
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Several critics found the expanding mystery easy to get hooked on and were eager to continue once the story gained momentum.
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The core kids are often easy to root for, and several reviewers became emotionally attached to them quickly.
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The young ensemble often sells the friendships and group dynamics, though some critics feel the chemistry falls short of the 2017 film.
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When the character bonds land, the series can be moving and heartbreaking; weaker reviews say some intended emotional beats fail to resonate.
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Themes of fear, racism, collective apathy, and cycles of violence can add real weight, though some critics find the treatment too broad or didactic.
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Casting, especially among the younger performers, receives strong praise and is repeatedly treated as a major asset.
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Cars, clothing, sets, and social context often sell the 1960s setting, though one critic found the era artificial and unlived-in.
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The dual child/adult structure can broaden Derry effectively, while the strongest pilot uses its setup and reversals especially well.
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Interest in more seasons is positive overall but not universal; some reviewers are eager for more lore while others fear repetition.
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The series is presented as accessible even to newcomers who have not read King or watched the films.
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The expansion feels King-like to some critics, while others question creative liberties or fan-fiction-like additions.
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Where practical creature work is used effectively, it is praised as more convincing than the weakest CGI.
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The physical 4K release is described as economical and well stocked with extras for committed fans.
Cons
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CGI is the clearest technical weakness: multiple critics found creature work obvious, cartoonish, or distracting even when the underlying scare ideas were strong.
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Multiple storylines and dense lore can make the narrative feel scattered, overloaded, or difficult to track.
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Some military logic, character decisions, and plot mechanics strain credibility even within the supernatural premise.
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Individual episodes are unevenly paced, with slow stretches, rushed revelations, and a frequently criticized midseason lull.
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The large ensemble can feel overstuffed, with too many characters and subplots competing for attention.
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Editing draws unusually sharp criticism for jarring transitions and weak rhythm.
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Dialogue is a recurring weakness, with complaints about clunky exposition, wooden exchanges, and overly obvious monologues.
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Writing is one of the most divisive areas: strong concepts and emotional beats coexist with clunky exposition, weak dialogue, and contrived plot turns.
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The violence is extremely graphic and can be effective horror for some viewers, while others find it excessive or hard to watch.
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Opinions split between fresh expansion of King lore and the sense that the show is repeating the Losers Club formula.
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A slow or uneven first half is a common complaint, with many full-season reviews saying the back half improves substantially.
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The graphic horror and disturbing material are viewed as inappropriate for children.
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A small number of critics strongly object to the use of real-world trauma and prejudice as shock material.
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The show is emphatically not family-friendly because of graphic violence, disturbing imagery, and strong language.
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Frequent strong profanity is treated as a major content concern rather than a neutral detail.
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Some embedded audience commentary strongly rejects the show's perceived contemporary political framing.
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One family-oriented review strongly objects to explicit bodily imagery and nudity in the horror material.
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Long episodes can feel bloated when the story slows down or repeats information.
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Added rules and weaknesses around Pennywise sometimes make the entity feel less unknowable or less threatening.
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A few critics flag inconsistent character behavior and logic as part of the show's uneven writing.
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Some relationship drama is viewed as forced rather than organically earned.
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The show can swing abruptly between serious horror, emotional drama, and sillier spectacle, creating tonal friction.
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Suspense is inconsistent; the best sequences build real dread, but weak CGI and fragmented plotting often break tension.
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Script reactions are mixed, ranging from a strong pilot to complaints about contrivance and implausible dialogue.
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Critical response is visibly divided, with rave notices for craft and terror alongside sharp complaints about plotting and scares.
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Adult supporting work is generally respected, even when critics feel the material gives those actors too little to do.
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The prequel's value is contested: some call it essential or worthy, while others see it as unnecessary franchise extension.
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Effects quality varies sharply by episode, improving late in the season but suffering from conspicuous digital work earlier.
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The focus on racism, civil rights, and Indigenous history is often seen as meaningful, but some critics call parts of the treatment shallow, stereotyped, or heavy-handed.
Cast & Creators
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Dick HalloranChalk is one of the most consistently praised performers, making Hallorann's psychic burden and internal fear compelling across several reviews.
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PennywiseHis Pennywise performance is repeatedly treated as a major lift for the series, with critics praising how confidently he returns to the role.
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DirectorMuschietti's direction is credited as a major reason the series' atmosphere and horror work when they are at their best.
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ComposerWallfisch's score is praised for creeping dread and forceful crescendos that strengthen the psychological horror.
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LilyStack is singled out as a stellar young performer, carrying Lilly's grief and fear with notable emotional weight.
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HankRider is included among the adult performers praised for strong work.
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Leroy HanlonAdepo earns strong praise as a grounding lead, though one review feels the role gives him less distinctive material than some of his other work.
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CharlottePaige is widely praised for giving Charlotte emotional and cultural weight, even if one reviewer has seen her in stronger roles elsewhere.
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ActorEven in a small role, Stowe is described as a welcome and enjoyable presence.
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MargeLawler is praised for bringing energy and gusto to Marge, particularly as the season progresses.
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Production DesignerAusterberry's production design is praised for shaping a convincing and visually distinctive Derry.
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RonnieChristine is praised as a solid season-long presence whose character carries unusually high personal stakes.
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General ShawRemar's work as General Shaw is generally viewed positively even when the character's writing and motivations divide critics.