HBO Max's 8-Part Sci-Fi Fantasy Series Is One Of Its Best Shows To Binge

HBO Max is currently home to some excellent TV shows. While the streaming platform has become best known for prestige dramas like The Sopranos and Band of Brothers, the platform has branched out, offering some of the most terrifying horror and innovative sci-fi. The best shows on HBO Max right now fit a wide range of genres, and even include some crossovers.

HBO Max is famous for its exciting originals, one of the best shows to binge on the platform might sound like a surprising choice. It is home to an adaptation of a story that has already been adapted for the screen several times. Though it is a story from Stephen King's best decade as a horror writer, it fits the fantasy and sci-fi genres too.

IT: Welcome to Derry is an adaptation of King's book, IT, which features the iconic horror TV monster, the shapeshifter known as Pennywise, who often appears as a clown. The series has made HBO viewing history within three episodes, by becoming one of the three best freshman seasons in the platform's history, with season 1 attracting around 15 million global viewers per episode.

IT: Welcome To Derry Succeeds Where Many Other Stephen King Adaptations Have Failed

Stephen King is a horror legend who regularly has his work adapted for film and TV. That said, not all of his book adaptations have been as good as the source material. While some of the best Stephen King TV show adaptations perfectly capture the spirit of the story, like The Outsider and Mr. Mercedes, others fall short of the mark.

The Mist movie was nightmare fuel with a haunting ending that still disturbs people today. However, the TV adaptation took away the terror of the monsters, focusing instead on the human drama, which was far less interesting. Stephen King adaptations work when the core of the story is represented, even when the story onscreen is not part of the original source material.

IT got a screen adaptation though it was once considered an unadaptable book due to the story's many controversial scenes and metaphysical themes. The success of the original TV miniseries starring Tim Curry as Pennywise proved it could be done, and the subsequent adaptations have built on its popularity. With advances in visual effects, Pennywise is even more terrifying today.

The show works because it shares the same existential dread and brutality of the earlier adaptations, while being a prequel, allowing for a completely different story and cast of characters without the constraints of being based on an existing plot. Both audiences and critics have given IT: Welcome to Derry excellent reviews for its acting, character development, and for expanding the lore.

How Many Seasons Of IT: Welcome To Derry Are Planned?

After considerable speculation, it has been confirmed that IT: Welcome to Derry season 2 is set to be greater than season 1. The second season of the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror mix is already in the works, and while we currently know very little about the follow-up season, the show's co-creator and executive producer Andy Muschietti has high hopes.

In a press conference for the 2026 Saturn Awards, he told audiences that he understood expectations were high after season 1, and added, "I think we're going to deliver something that is greater." Season 1 already expanded the lore with some shocking Pennywise reveals, and the series already has an unapologetically dark tone, so this is exciting news.

The series is thought to be intended as a trilogy, with each season going further back in time. This looks likely, as IT: Welcome to Derry has already set up seasons 2 and 3. To get a glimpse at the show's future plans, there is no better time to binge IT: Welcome to Derry than now, as there are only eight episodes so far.