How Many IT Movies Are There in Total
There are three main IT movies based on Stephen King's novel and its sequel. The first is the 2017 film titled IT, the second is the 2019 sequel IT Chapter Two, and the third is the 2025 prequel IT: Welcome to Derry, which is structured as a limited series rather than a single film. Together, these three projects form the core cinematic adaptation of King's story. The 2017 and 2019 films were produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, with box office data tracked by Forbes showing combined global earnings exceeding $1.1 billion. The prequel series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and premiered on HBO in 2025, expanding the IT universe beyond the theatrical releases.
When people ask how many IT movies exist, they are usually referring to the two main theatrical films released in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 film, simply titled IT, adapted the first half of the novel and focused on the Losers Club as children. Box Office Mojo records it as the highest-grossing horror film of all time at the time of its release. The 2019 sequel, IT Chapter Two, covered the adult reunion and the final confrontation with Pennywise. While the 2025 HBO series is technically a limited series and not a feature film, it is often counted in discussions of the IT movie count because it is a major screen adaptation produced by the same core studio team.
Release Order and Production Details of the IT Films
The first IT movie, released in September 2017, was directed by Andy Muschietti and starred Jaeden Lieberher and Bill Skarsgård. It was based on the first 600 pages of King's novel and focused on the child versions of the Losers Club. The film was a commercial breakthrough, earning over $700 million worldwide and becoming a cultural phenomenon. Forbes reported that its opening weekend set records for the horror genre. The production was a joint effort between Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Vertigo Entertainment, with a budget reported around $35 million.
The second IT movie, IT Chapter Two, was released in September 2019 and brought back director Andy Muschietti with an adult cast led by Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy. It adapted the second half of the novel, covering the Losers Club's return to Derry as adults. The film had a larger budget of around $79 million and earned over $470 million globally. The 2025 prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, shifts the timeline back to the 1960s and explores the origins of Pennywise. Deadline confirmed that the series is produced as a multi-season limited series by Warner Bros. Television, making it the third major screen entry in the IT franchise.