Stephen King’s IT Poster

The original IT mini-series, based on Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel of the same name, aired on American television in two parts on 18th and 20th November 1990. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, the production was a joint venture between Lorimar Television and Warner Bros. Television. With a total runtime of over three hours, the mini-series sought to condense King’s sprawling, time-jumping narrative into a format suitable for network broadcast. Set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, the story followed a group of childhood friends — collectively known as the Losers’ Club — as they battled a shape-shifting entity that most often took the form of a demonic clown called Pennywise.

Tim Curry delivered a now-iconic performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, a role that cemented his place in horror history. His portrayal was widely praised for its unnerving balance of dark humour and raw menace, setting a benchmark for onscreen evil clowns. The adult versions of the Losers’ Club were played by a cast of well-known TV and film actors of the era, including Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, and Annette O’Toole. The mini-series was notable for its ability to explore themes of trauma, memory, and the enduring strength of childhood friendship, albeit within the constraints of early ’90s television standards.

Filming took place primarily in British Columbia, Canada, with locations in New Westminster and Vancouver doubling as the town of Derry. The production made use of practical effects and eerie sound design to create a creeping sense of dread rather than relying on overt gore, which was largely restricted by network guidelines at the time. Though it inevitably softened some of the novel’s darker and more violent content, the series retained much of the psychological tension and emotional weight that defined King’s original work. The child actors, including Jonathan Brandis and Seth Green, were also praised for their performances, adding depth and authenticity to the characters’ formative experiences.

The 1990 IT mini-series became a cultural touchstone for a generation of viewers, many of whom first encountered horror through this adaptation. It remained a staple of home video and DVD collections for years, remembered for its atmospheric tone and chilling moments rather than high-end special effects. While later adaptations would revisit the material with bigger budgets and fewer content restrictions, the original series held a nostalgic charm and continued to influence the portrayal of Pennywise and Stephen King’s universe in popular media. The poster from this series often features Tim Curry’s menacing grin beneath a stark, theatrical title font — a striking piece of visual history for horror fans and collectors alike.