The Derry Viewership Soars phenomenon has officially begun.
IT: Welcome to Derry, the new prequel to Stephen King’s iconic horror saga, has scared up an enormous audience, attracting 5.7 million cross-platform viewers in its first three days on HBO and HBO Max.
According to Nielsen, the series has now earned the third-largest premiere in HBO history, following House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
Its debut underscores the enduring strength of King’s universe — and the appetite for quality horror storytelling in streaming’s golden age.
Historic Numbers for HBO’s New Horror Entry
The launch figures for Welcome to Derry underline a major success for Warner Bros. Television and HBO.
With 5.7 million total viewers, the show sits only behind the fantasy juggernaut House of the Dragon and the acclaimed survival drama The Last of Us.
This marks the biggest debut for a horror series in HBO’s history.
The series continues the IT franchise’s momentum after its two feature films grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide.
Streaming Takes the Crown
Industry experts note that the majority of Derry’s audience came via streaming.
Only 334,000 viewers tuned in for the live cable broadcast, meaning about 94% watched on HBO Max or replays.
Analyst Tom Harwood of MediaTrends Insights stated:
“This debut reinforces HBO Max’s position as the home for cinematic-quality horror. The Derry Viewership Soars story proves fans prefer streaming for immersive series experiences.”
The viewing split mirrors broader entertainment trends — audiences are moving decisively toward on-demand content.
A New Standard for Horror Streaming
The early success of IT: Welcome to Derry sets a new benchmark for genre television.
Its strong start shows that horror, long considered niche, now drives mainstream viewership on major platforms.
HBO executives are expected to leverage this success in upcoming promotional campaigns, positioning Derry as a flagship title for the network’s 2025 slate.
If its audience retention mirrors The Last of Us, the show could emerge as one of the most-watched horror series in recent memory.
The Road Ahead for Derry
Following the record-breaking debut, new episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry will premiere weekly on HBO and HBO Max.
Fans can expect deeper exploration of Pennywise’s origins and the cursed history of the town of Derry.
Creators Andy and Barbara Muschietti have hinted that future episodes will bridge directly into the events of the IT films.
With Derry Viewership Soars trending across social media, HBO will be looking to sustain momentum and viewer engagement in coming weeks.
Sources
Nielsen Ratings Report (October 2025)
HBO Official Press Release
Variety Entertainment News
The Hollywood Reporter
Deadline Hollywood Analysis
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