There is no single official count for how many IT movies exist, but the term typically refers to adaptations and stories centered on Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel It and its recurring antagonist, Pennywise. This overview addresses feature films, television miniseries, direct-to-video releases, and notable ambiguity caused by similar titles and international co-productions. The primary IT movie series includes theatrical adaptations, a television miniseries, and related projects, while other uses of “IT” in film titles are generally unrelated. Below is a verified breakdown to clarify what counts and how to determine a reliable total.
Defining What Counts as an IT Movie
Core Criteria
- Direct adaptation of Stephen King’s novel It or a narrative sequel that prominently features the character Pennywise.
- Credit in widely indexed databases (IMDb, TMDB) under the primary title It, possibly with a season or sequel qualifier.
- Excludes unrelated projects, short films without broad release, and works where IT is an acronym or unrelated wordplay unless officially tied to the King IP.
Ambiguities to Track
- International films or co-productions that use It in translation but are not narrative continuations.
- TV movies, student films, and parody projects that rarely reach commercial audiences.
- Releases with similar names, such as It’s or Them!-type titles, which are commonly misindexed.
IT Franchise Filmography
The canonical IT film series consists of major releases and televised event adaptations that directly engage the story of Bill Denbrough and the Losers’ Club. This includes two principal theatrical features, a television miniseries, and subsequent updates that expand the same continuity.
| Title | Year | Type | Runtime (Minutes) | Primary Cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| It | 1990 | TV Mini-Series | 184 | Harry Anderson, Richard Masur, Annette O’Toole |
| It | 2017 | Feature Film | 135 | Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard |
| It Chapter Two | 2019 | Feature Film | 169 | Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader |
Narrative and Production Notes
- The 1990 television miniseries, though formatted for TV, is treated as one long-form entry and typically counts as an IT adaptation in franchise tallies.
- The 2017 feature and its 2019 sequel form a duology with overlapping cast and directorial continuity (Andy Muschietti), widely regarded as the principal modern cinematic definition of IT.
- As of early 2020s, there are no officially announced further theatrical features in active development under the It IP.
Counting the IT Movie Catalog
When people ask how many IT movies are there, they usually mean canonical features and major miniseries derived from King’s novel. Using this widely accepted standard, the count is small but clearly defined.
- One TV miniseries (1990) treated as a single long-format entry.
- Two theatrical features (2017, 2019), with the second explicitly billed as a continuation.
- No additional wide-release narrative films directly adapting It are currently recognized in authoritative sources.
This brings a practical, content-focused total to three major IT releases that answer the question for most audiences seeking the story of the clown and the Losers’ Club.
Common Miscounts and Why They Occur
Search results sometimes inflate the number by including unrelated projects, short student films, or international titles that coincidentally share the word It. These should be distinguished from the core franchise when clarity is required.
| Category | Example Titles or Cases | Why They Are Excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Unrelated Features | It Happened One Night (1934), It (1969), The It Factor (2003) | Different plots, no narrative connection to King’s story |
| Short or Non-Theatrical | Student shorts, unaired pilots, web series | Limited or no commercial reach, not part of official franchise |
| Co-Productions with Similar Names | Non-English films using variations of It in title | Different language, different IP origin, no narrative continuity |
Where to Verify Counts and Sources
Reliable tallies rely on authoritative databases and published studio information, filtered for relevance to the King property. When in doubt, prioritize sources that differentiate between franchise entries and coincidental title matches.
- IMDb advanced search using It with filter for feature films and TV movies, then manual review for narrative connection.
- Official Warner Bros. and New Line press kits for the 2017 and 2019 films listing them as parts of a duology.
- Peacock or network documentation for the 1990 miniseries as a single entry.
Practical Guidance for Viewers and Researchers
If you are compiling data, writing an article, or simply curious about the scope of the IT adaptations, use the three-item list above as a baseline. Context matters: a casual viewer might count the miniseries and two features and arrive at three, while a strict production-based count might separate TV and film but arrive at the same practical answer.
Going forward, any new announcement from Warner Bros. or official King estate statements would shift this count, but as of now the franchise remains stable at three major screen adaptations.
Key Takeaways
- The question how many IT movies are there most often refers to adaptations of Stephen King’s novel, not general uses of the word “it” in titles.
- Using widely accepted criteria, there are three principal releases: a 1990 TV miniseries, a 2017 feature, and a 2019 sequel feature.
- Unrelated films, short works, and international coincidences are commonly miscounted and should be excluded for clarity.
- No new canonical IT narrative films have been announced beyond the 2017–2019 duology as of the early 2020s.
For a stable, evergreen answer, treat the IT movie catalog as comprising these three major screen works, with the understanding that future announcements could change the count. This approach balances completeness with accuracy and protects against conflating unrelated productions with the core franchise.