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i’m giving it a solid 4.5/5. it’s 2025 and even after the sequel fumbled the bag, this first chapter still stands as a total masterclass in how to make a coming-of-age movie that’s actually terrifying. andy muschietti basically took that 80s stranger things energy and injected it with straight nightmare fuel.
bill skarsgård as pennywise is absolute peak. he didn’t just do a tim curry impression; he made the clown feel like this glitchy, predatory alien entity that actually gets under your skin. but the real flex is the 'losers club.' the chemistry between those kids—especially finn wolfhard and jack dylan grazer—is the heart of the movie. their banter is hilarious and feels 100% real, which makes the stakes hit way harder when they’re in danger. sophia lillis is also a total standout as bev.
the visuals and scares are a massive flex. the opening scene with georgie and the sewer grate is an all-timer that sets the tone immediately. the movie looks incredible too—it's got this saturated, summer-nostalgia vibe that contrasts perfectly with the grimy, blood-soaked horror in the basement scenes.
the only reason it’s not a perfect 5 is that it relies on loud-noise jump scares a little too often in the second act. also, some of the cgi on the monsters (like the flute lady) looks a bit dated now in 2025 compared to the practical clown effects.
overall, it’s a high-intensity, emotionally resonant, and visually sick ride. it’s one of the few stephen king adaptations that actually captures the soul of the book. if you haven't seen it yet, you're trippin