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In the small town of Derry, Maine, a tight-knit group of outcasts nicknamed The Losers Club faces a horror that seems to target kids. The threat is ancient and shape-shifting, surfacing in the civilian disguise of a murderous clown. As they cope with cruelty from bullies and troubled homes, the kids form a bond that sustains them through fear and secret scars. The story shifts to the early 1990s, where the same friends, now adults, are drawn back to their hometown when the malevolent presence reappears. Their reunion forces them to confront memories they thought they had left behind and to face the darkness they once believed they could outrun. No spoilers, just the setup. Characters confront grief together.

Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, this two part television miniseries adapted Stephen King's novel for ABC and debuted in December 1990. Tim Curry stars as Pennywise, supported by Harry Anderson, Dennis Christopher, Richard Masur and Annette O'Toole, for television audiences.

Tim Curry's Pennywise became one of horror's most lasting on screen icons, and the miniseries helped cement Stephen King's works as major TV events. Its standout visuals, eerie atmosphere, and strong ensemble helped define TV horror for a generation, with memorable sewer scenes. Its influence echoes in later adaptations.

Critics praised the production's mood and Tim Curry's performance, with some caveats about pacing. The series examines friendship and memory, the strain of adult lives, and how childhood fears echo into adulthood, pairing small town life with a slow burning sense of dread. Its tone blends nostalgia with dread.

It earned Primetime Emmy nominations in several technical categories, reflecting the show's strong craft. Its makeup, art direction, and sound design were repeatedly noted by critics as standout elements that helped bring Stephen King's unsettling tale to life on screen, and industry critics.