IT: Welcome to Derry

Critical reception for IT: Welcome to Derry has leaned generally positive, though reviews reflect noticeable division regarding its pacing and depth. Enthusiastic critics praised the prequel for successfully expanding the lore of Stephen King's universe, commending its terrifying set pieces and darker thematic exploration of American history, including racism, trauma, and militarization. Outlets like Forbes called it one of the finest and most faithful expansions of King's terrifying fiction, while others noted that despite glaring narrative flaws, it offered top-tier entertainment for horror enthusiasts.

However, a contingent of reviewers found the series less compelling, describing it as an uneven spinoff stuck in first gear between its major shock sequences. Multiple critics pointed out a sluggish start across the initial episodes before the plot finds momentum, with some labeling the result an average, worked-over horror production that relies too heavily on familiar tropes and Easter eggs rather than forging its own fully satisfying identity.