It Chapter 2has become a streaming hit on Netflix in the U.S. Based on the 1986 horror novel byauthor Stephen King, the sequel serves as a follow-up toIt(2017), with both films having been directed by Andy Muschietti. The firstItfilm follows a group of kids living in Derry, Maine, as they face off against a terrifying, shape-shifting clown called Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), while the sequel follows these same characters 27 years later as they return to their hometown. Both films were box office successes, with the sequel grossing $473 million worldwide.
Now, newNetflixdata reveals thatIt Chapter 2ranks as the seventh most popular movie on the streamer in the U.S. for the week of September 30 to October 6. Unlike with the global chart, the U.S. chart doesn’t include watch data for each of the top 10 titles, but theItsequel comes ahead of films like2 Guns(2013),Robin Hood(2018), andHalloween(2018). The full top 10 list is included below, with the number one movie in the U.S. beingThe Garfield Movie(2024):
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Why You Should Watch It Chapter 2
The Sequel Is A Worthy Successor To It
2017’sItwas well-received critically and commercially, and currently sports an impressive 85% critics score and 84% audience score onRotten Tomatoes. The film was also a major box office hit, grossing $702.8 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. The sequel didn’t quite reach these same heights, but it is still undoubtedly a success and a worthy conclusion to the story.It Chapter 2’s Rotten Tomatoes score is a respectable 62%, but it’s withgeneral movie-goers that the film really succeeded, with the audience score coming in higher at 78%.
Pennywise the Monster Clown’s Origin In IT Explained
Pennywise the monster clown is the reason Stephen King’s IT terrifies readers and audiences. Here are the origins of the clown from IT explained.
Muschietti’s sequel was also made on a larger budget of $79 million, and it generally features more spectacle and some bigger-name actors. TheIt Chapter 2cast, for example, features Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, and James McAvoy, among others, with Skarsgård returning as Pennywise.Now is also a great time to watch theItsequel because theIt:Welcome to Derryprequel show is due to release in 2025, with a story that takes place in the 1960s and leads up to the events of the first film.
Skargård is now confirmed to be reprising his role as Pennywise the Clown forHBO’sWelcome to Derryshow.
Economically, the horror genre makes a lot of sense for studios. Films in this genre can often be made on relatively low budgets with reasonable expectations that they’ll turn a profit.It Chapter 2is most definitely not made on a low budget, however, and it makes for an interesting change purely from a production value and spectacle standpoint. The VFX used to bring Pennywise and his different forms to life are remarkably effective, and there are some blockbuster-sized horror sequences in the movie that just wouldn’t be possible if the film was instead made for $15 million.
How It Chapter 2 Connects To It: Welcome To Derry
The Two Titles Have Elements In Common
Muschietti was key to bringing bothItfilms to life, and he’s also responsible for developingIt:Welcome to Derryalongside Barbara Muschietii and Jason Fuchs. Muschietti will direct multiple episodes of the show, including the pilot, with Fuchs having taken on writing duties. The prequel will consist of nine episodes in total, and it seemingly isn’t being billed as a limited series, meaning there is a potential for a season 2.
The footage is brief, but shots of multiple characters covered in blood suggest the series will be continuing the graphic violence featured in bothItandIt Chapter 2.
As far as cast, in addition to Skarsgård’s Pennywise,It: Welcome to Derrystars Madeleine Stowe, James Remar, Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Peter Outerbridge, Kimberly Guerrero, Tyner Rushing, and Morningstar Angeline. Though the first official trailer for the show hasn’t yet been released, HBO did includefootage fromIt: Welcome to Derryin a look ahead at their 2025 slate. The footage is brief, but shots of multiple characters covered in blood suggest the series will be continuing the graphic violence featured in bothItandIt Chapter 2.
Our Take On It Chapter 2’s Streaming Success
It’s One Of The Better Recent Stephen King Adaptations
Netflix’s U.S. top 10 for the week of September 30 features two horror movies, and this number is sure to grow in the coming weeks as Halloween approaches. WhileIt Chapter 2makes for spooky Halloween viewingon its own, it obviously also pairs well with the first film, with the pair making for an effective decades-spanning exploration of one monster’s devastating impact on a town and a few key citizens.
It Chapter Two
Cast
It Chapter Two follows the now-adult members of the Losers' Club as they return to Derry 27 years after their first encounter with the malevolent entity Pennywise. Drawn back by a fateful phone call, they must confront their past and the lingering threat of the shape-shifting clown.
