IT Movies in Order: Release and Chronological

The IT movies in order of release are It (2017) first and It Chapter Two (2019) second, and those two films make up the whole theatrical series.

1. It (2017), directed by Andy Muschietti, released in the US on September 8, 2017. Runtime: 135 minutes.
2. It Chapter Two (2019), directed by Andy Muschietti, released in the US on September 6, 2019. Runtime: 169 minutes.

What are the 3 IT movies? There are only two. People often land on three by assuming a sequel to It Chapter Two exists, but none has been announced. The it chapter three entry covers what is known about a third film. For the full count, see how many it movies are there, and for cast and credits, see it 2017 and it chapter two.

Release dates shift by a day in some markets. Australia saw both films one day before the US, on September 7, 2017 and September 5, 2019, while the UK matched the US dates. Those one day gaps are why different sources sometimes list different dates for the same film.

The It (1990 miniseries), in which Tim Curry played Pennywise, and HBO's IT: Welcome to Derry (2025) are television, so they sit outside this list of films. The two movies share the same director and the same Pennywise, Bill Skarsgård, which is why the pair plays as one long story told in two parts. For how the two films performed commercially, see it box office.

Start with It (2017) and finish with It Chapter Two (2019), because the second film leans on the first for nearly every emotional beat. In my opinion, that is the only order that works for a first viewing.

Should you watch IT before Welcome to Derry? It could be argued either way, but I would say yes. HBO's IT: Welcome to Derry (2025) is a TV series, not a film, so it sits outside this order, and the two movies stand on their own.

Where does the It (1990 miniseries) fit? It is a separate television version of the same Stephen King story, with Tim Curry as Pennywise, so it is not part of the Muschietti order. For a comparison with Bill Skarsgård's take on the clown, I would watch it after both films.

Do you need to read Stephen King's book first? No, the films work without it, so you can start with It (2017) as it is. If you finish the movies and want to compare, it book vs movie covers what changed.

The practical side is simple. You need about five hours, so, if you are planning a double feature, treat the break between films like an interval at a long play. As of November 3, 2026, both films stream on HBO Max in the US, and in Australia both are on Netflix and HBO Max. In the UK, It Chapter Two is on Netflix and HBO Max, while It (2017) is on HBO Max, according to JustWatch via TMDB. Services change often, and where to watch it lists the current options by country.

Is a third film waiting? Nothing has been announced. In 2019, Muschietti floated a roughly 390 minute supercut combining both films with unseen footage, calling it only an expression of desire. Warner Bros. had made no decision, and the idea is unconfirmed. It would be a re-cut of existing material, not a new story.

To know who is who before the first scene, read it characters and the losers club it, and it cast shows who plays them at each age. Once you have seen both, my verdict on which one wins is in it movies ranked.