Key Takeaways
- The 1990 IT miniseries based on Stephen King’s novel provides nostalgic 1980s charm loved by Stranger Things fans.
- IT miniseries combines horror, comedy, and character development, appealing to fans of Stranger Things’ similar style.
- Both IT and Stranger Things feature coming-of-age horror elements, iconic villains, and a mix of heart, humor, and romance.
Stranger Things fans have been diving back into the world of Hawkins to prepare themselves for the show’s final season in 2025. However, when fans have finished recapping everything that Netflix has already provided in the world of Stranger Things, the 1990 Stephen King miniseries based on his famous novel IT would be worth checking out.
Audiences likely know about IT based on the two movies released in 2017 and 2019, but this ABC two-part series is likely to appeal to fans of Stranger Things even more. Blending elements of horror, science fiction, and a teenage ensemble cast, it’s sure to fill the Stranger Things-shaped hole that people have right now as they patiently await the next season of the show.
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Why Stranger Things Fans Would Enjoy The IT 1990 Miniseries
The 1990 ABC miniseries is based on Stephen King’s classic horror novel, IT, which has been more recently adapted into two hit movies. While the films would no doubt be appealing to Stranger Things’ audience, the miniseries will connect with people on a greater level because it has the charm of being created just as the 1980s ended. While Stranger Things aims to capture the 1980s feel with the set, and how the characters act, everything in this miniseries naturally achieves that which fans of the modern series are sure to find enjoyable.
Fans of the Netflix series are likely to enjoy this two-part series because it shares many similarities and has a detailed and exciting story. It isn’t just a straight-up horror that’s out to freak audiences out, which is something the movies leaned into a lot more. Instead, the IT miniseries works more like two long episodes of television that allow for lots of character development, teases, and some elements of comedy and levity.
The fact it’s not always completely serious is a positive thing because that’s what Stranger Things has always provided, as the series is filled with hilarious scenes and quotes. The fact that Pennywise is also such a secretive horror character that has different appearances will appeal to audiences too because there are plenty of other villains throughout Stranger Things that add lots of excitement to the show and ensure that it’s gripping from start to finish, which IT also provides.
The Comparisons Between The Two
There have always been comparisons between Stranger Things and IT because there are lots of similarities between them. Both are essentially coming-of-age stories wrapped up in horror and science fiction, with a creature causing torment and danger throughout. The first half of IT focuses on a group of children coming together to try and kill Pennywise after they discover him. Much like the young cast of Stranger Things, they’re not the popular children in school. However, that bonds them together as they look to overcome their issues while battling against a greater evil that threatens to have a more significant impact if they can’t destroy it.
While Pennywise and Vecna are different types of horror icons, they’re terrifying in their own right and strike the right balance of being genuinely scary but still accessible to an older teenage audience. The second half of IT then sees the children return as adults, and while that doesn’t happen in Stranger Things, the Netflix series does feature a core of adult characters who are involved in their own fight against Vecna and the Upside Down.
Both IT and Stranger Things are willing to kill characters to make the main villain a genuine threat, but they equally bring moments of heart, humor, and romance, which ensures they’re not too serious and scary at all points. The comparisons between them are why fans of the Netflix sensation are guaranteed to enjoy the ABC miniseries.
The 1980s Nostalgia Would Be Popular
Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, and the series thrives on providing nostalgia from that time, which audiences have loved. Whether it’s the fashion, the arcade games they play, or the music used throughout it, Stranger Things gives people many moments from the 1980s that people from that era are familiar with.
That’s one of the reasons Stranger Things has been so popular, because audiences of an older age are able to connect to what’s happening as they remember the technology of the time. Those who are younger are just as obsessed with it because nostalgia is currently popular when it comes to television and movies.
The IT miniseries has all of the same 1980s charm because the novel is set at that time, creating a familiar atmosphere for Stranger Things audiences to appreciate. Throw in the similar story beats and an iconic and menacing villain, and there’s no doubt that Stranger Things would find enjoyment in this miniseries before the season finale drops.
