Stephen King’s world of horror continues to dominate screens in 2025  and his latest television outing is no exception. HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, the new prequel series to the blockbuster IT films of the 2010s, is already earning high praise ahead of its premiere this Sunday. According to ComicBook, early comments have been extremely positive, indicating that King’s adaptations would be successful again this year. Photos are courtesy of HBO.

As reported by ComicBook, IT: Welcome to Derry currently boasts an impressive 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, earning the platform’s prestigious “Certified Fresh” status. With 35 critic reviews submitted so far, the prequel has been praised as a compelling continuation of Stephen King’s IT universe and a fitting expansion of his ever-growing screen legacy.

As ComicBook reports, 2025 has already been a banner year for Stephen King adaptations. The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), scored an impressive 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, while The Long Walk climbed even higher with an 88% approval rating. Though the year began with Osgood Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel) and his adaptation The Monkey debuting at just 55%, King’s works have since rebounded in critical acclaim. MGM+’s The Institute also performed well, holding a solid 64% rating.

Many reviewers highlighted the prequel’s ability to expand the IT mythology and deepen the lore surrounding Derry and Pennywise. According to ComicBook, critic Marco Vito Oddo (Collider, The Playlist) gave the show a 3 out of 5, writing that the series “expanded the larger mythology of the town and its connection to other King stories,” though he noted “uneven pacing and heavy CGI” as drawbacks. Discussing Film (Film Updates, Next Best Picture) awarded it a 4 out of 5, calling IT: Welcome to Derry a “worthwhile prequel” that explores the “rich Stephen King lore the previous two movies never had time to explore.”

Not every critic was convinced, however. According to ComicBook.com, The Daily Beast (Rolling Stone, Vulture) called the series “the worst King adaptation in many moons,” claiming it “ruins the 1,000-plus page tome that it’s based on.” FandomWire (ScreenRant, ComingSoon.net) rated it a 5 out of 10, suggesting it “would have been better as a theatrical movie” instead of a streaming series. Meanwhile, TheWrap (Deadline, Variety) criticized the show for “mainly playing like a Stranger Things knockoff.”

Even with mixed feedback, ComicBook notes that IT: Welcome to Derry remains Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, continuing Stephen King’s strong streak of acclaimed adaptations. The winning momentum may continue into the end of the year when Edgar Wright (Last Night in Soho, Baby Driver) releases his remake of The Running Man, starring Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You), this November.

IT: Welcome to Derry premieres Sunday on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.