The Most Successful Horror Movie Ever Released Is Now On Max
Horror has always been a lucrative genre, but the 2017 remake of Stephen King’s It proves just how successful genre fare can be with the right ingredients. In fact, It sits as the most successful horror movie of all time.
Now, given that Stephen King adaptations almost always draw a crowd, it’s no great surprise that the film fared well, but few, if any, realized in advance just how successful the picture would actually be. The flick took in over $700 million at the global box office. Making that conceit even more impressive, It sports an R-rating, which studio executives often see as a gamble. Well, the gamble paid dividends in this case!
The setup for It (2017) goes as follows:
Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare—an ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the town’s children. Banding together over the course of one horrifying summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears to battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise.
The film likely resonated for a variety of different reasons, not the least of which is a really impressive marketing campaign. Additionally, the picture harkens back to a simpler time when children ran free without much parental oversight. The kids who grew up in that era are now full-sized consumers who count the film as a welcome reminder of a bygone era. Not to mention, the writing and direction are also on point.
Director Andy Muschietti quickly goes to work establishing atmospheric tension as he brings to life an impressive script by Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. The screenplay captures the essence of the novel, making a few tweaks to update the proceedings for a 21st-century audience.
Bestselling author King is a discerning critic who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, but even he had nothing but praise for the flick. After an advance screening, King had the following to say:
“I had hopes, but I was not prepared for how good it really was. It’s something that’s different, and at the same time, it’s something that audiences are gonna relate to. They’re gonna like the characters. To me, it’s all about character. If you like the characters… if you care… the scares generally work.”
He’s right, characters that get the audience to invest enhance the scares tenfold. If you want to further verify the accuracy of that statement, you can find the film streaming on HBO Max now!
There you have it, It is the most successful horror movie of all time, and it’s available to stream on HBO Max! Stay tuned to the site in the near future for more exciting updates from the streaming scene. If you’re keen for more of my nonsense in your periphery, you can always find me on Threads as @FunWithHorror.
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