Since its premiere in 2016, Stranger Things has become a true phenomenon. The sci-fi series, which is about to premiere its long-awaited Season 5 on November 26, garnered fans from all over the world, and became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows of all time. But while Stranger Things makes for some gripping and spine-chilling TV, HBO’s latest horror series is giving it a run for its money. IT: Welcome to Derry, a prequel inspired by Stephen King‘s novel It, has a similar setting and premise to Stranger Things, but it’s darker, creepier, and, at times, even more effective.
What Is ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ About?
Set in 1962, Welcome to Derry follows the twisted events that unfold in the small town of Derry, Maine, aka the hometown of the notorious clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), 27 years before the events of the 2017 film. The series kicks off when a couple, Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) and his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige), and their young son Will (Blake Cameron James), move to town for one of Leroy’s top-secret military assignments. They’re craving peace and quiet, but find anything but.
As the couple begin to find stable ground, the seeming dullness of Derry is threatened as children begin disappearing and strange occurrences begin to take place. In the meantime, a group of children become curious about the unexplained disappearances of children their own age, and begin digging in and investigating what really happened. Piece by piece, they become closer to finding Pennywise and his gruesome crimes.
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Is Darker and More Sinister Than ‘Stranger Things’
From the description alone, some comparisons can be easily drawn between Welcome to Derry and Stranger Things. After all, both shows take place in a retro small town as a curious group of children uncovers supernatural phenomenons and the ghastly monsters that lie within them. With that said, however, both shows are different in tone and mood. While Stranger Things manages to balance sci-fi with horror, while also telling the kids’ stories with humor, adventure and coming-of-age, Welcome to Derry is, undoubtedly, a horror. As such, while Stranger Things might have viewers feeling every type of emotion in an episode, Welcome to Derry has a greater emphasis on actual terror and gore, leaving fans at the edge of their seats in each episode. Plus, without the sci-fi element in Stranger Things, Welcome to Derry feels more grounded in reality, which only enhances the brutal and graphic crimes that begin to plague the small town.
Another major difference between both series is the victims of the crimes themselves. In Stranger Things, while main character Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has certainly been through the ringer during her time at Hawkins National Laboratory, the stakes for her and her friends seem relatively low. After all, even though some secondary characters have become fatalities, like Season 1’s Barb (Shannon Purser), the main characters have developed a presumed “safety net” throughout the seasons. Welcome to Derry, however, defies that notion. In the very first episode, for example, actual named characters that viewers have just gotten to know die at the hands of Pennywise. By doing so, the show makes one thing crystal clear: no one is safe.
With Season 5 of Stranger Things right around the corner, fans of the Netflix hit surely can’t wait to see the events that will continue to unfold in Hawkins and the dreaded Upside Down. But as Eleven and her friends continue their adventures, viewers, especially those who love horror, should certainly watch IT: Welcome to Derry. The series, which has earned an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics since its release, leans into the horror genre more than Stranger Things ever did, and makes for one of the most bone-chilling, unpredictable horror series to date.
- Release Date
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October 26, 2025
- Network
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HBO
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