Why is IT so much more popular than many other King books?

[Neesy]

I get the feeling that it's probably his most popular book nowadays. On this site that I always visit the reactions to other King adaptations are very minimal, yet with It there are loads of replies. People absolutely LOVE it, and while some have read it, the majority seems to know it from the tv-series.

I never felt the tv-series was all THAT special, I would rate it below Hooper's Salem's Lot, which is my favourite of the mini-series. Or below 11.22.63.
The problem with the tv-series is that the first part is very good, but the second with the adults not nearly as good.

Why does this story capture people's imaginations so much more than many of the other ones? Are so many people really all that fascinated with clowns?

Also the idea that a creature feeds on your personal fear is not that unique. It's done in many horrormovies, like for example Joe Dante's The Hole, but it's a staple of horrorstories. It's also in Nightmare on Elm Street: Stop believing in the monster and you deprive it of its hold on you.

So, what gives It that extra that it's so popular still?

It?

Is it really his most popular book?

I wonder how you judge popularity? Is it by numbers of copies sold?

Ooops - see below (I could not add the quote in to edit this post)

 

[Neesy]

We don't keep track of sales and I don't know if the publisher even tracks them by title but I guess that would make sense so that they'd know which back titles are worth reprinting. Having the different publishers over the years certainly adds to the difficulty of getting that information. I'm not going to have them spend a lot of time on it but if it's something they can just pull up on their computer, I'll ask the next time I'm speaking with my contact at Scribner if that information is readily available.

Okay - this would answer my question in post # 61 (came late to this thread - sorry!)

 

[Zone D Dad]

I think the entire cast had a lot to do with the popularity of the mini series. I watched it when it first aired.

At the time Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid and Tim Curry all were huge on TV and/or stage. Richard Masur and Annette O'Toole were recognizable actors as well.

Yes it was rather tame and innocent by today's standards. But some of the best suspenseful movies do not need blood and gore to scare the !@#$ out of you.

Slasher movies like Texas Chainsaw never appealed to me. The build up of tension is what frightens both children and adults alike. Think that is what made the first Nightmare on Elm Street so interesting. It was a mixture of both.

Once the boogeyman has a face, no longer just a bumping sound in the night, he can be dealt with. Thought Curry's portrayal was true to the book itself.


And c'mon he's a clown!! They scary anywhere, anytime.

I remember being out of my mind with excitement over the prospect of the mini-series. Tim Curry aside (he was terrific), the whole thing was underwhelming. I do believe that many people who claim to love the mini-series do so out of nostalgia, having been frightened by IT as children, rather than the merits of the production. I wonder how many of them would go back and re-watch it as adults and find it considerably less effective (or just plain silly). I've also never cared for the old practice of using well-known television actors in those events as I think it automatically downsizes and cheapens the show. I appreciate the efforts of premium cable channels and AMC for the way they make their shows more cinematic in scope.

Noted exception: Tobe Hooper's 'Salem's Lot, which still ranks as the best damn old school television mini-series I'd ever seen next to Shogun.

 

[thekidd12]

I remember being out of my mind with excitement over the prospect of the mini-series. Tim Curry aside (he was terrific), the whole thing was underwhelming. I do believe that many people who claim to love the mini-series do so out of nostalgia, having been frightened by IT as children, rather than the merits of the production. I wonder how many of them would go back and re-watch it as adults and find it considerably less effective (or just plain silly). I've also never cared for the old practice of using well-known television actors in those events as I think it automatically downsizes and cheapens the show. I appreciate the efforts of premium cable channels and AMC for the way they make their shows more cinematic in scope.

Noted exception: Tobe Hooper's 'Salem's Lot, which still ranks as the best damn old school television mini-series I'd ever seen next to Shogun.

Oh I did not think it was a cinematic masterpiece. Was only responding to a post that wondered why it was so well thought of. Tim Curry did a good job I thought also. John Boy wasn't that great. John Ritter was not bad I thought. Tim Reid was solid.

But you mentioned old practice of using well-known TV actors, well it wasn't "old" then. Nowadays there are so many options in getting something out there that movie makers/series makers can use lots of unknowns and still get their voice in front of the public. It's a wonderful time to be a media persona. Your face or message can get on any size screen anywhere. And be the center of an individual's attention.

Don't believe it try and talk to your children.

Huh?

 

[Gerald]

Noted exception: Tobe Hooper's 'Salem's Lot, which still ranks as the best damn old school television mini-series I'd ever seen next to Shogun.

Hooper's Salem's Lot I love so much more than a lot of the subsequent King mini-series. It simplified the book, but at least it was really scary. Seventies tv-horror is in general really good.

The look of the It ABC-miniseries is too bright, there isn't a lot of use of darkness and shadows. Darkness and shadows are what make a horrorfilm frightening. The new movie already looks better in that respect.
In the eighties lighting of darker scenes feels very unnatural, it gives an almost videoclip look often which gives a stagey feel, taking away scariness. Of course in the eighties they compensated that with a lot of gore.

 

[Zone D Dad]

But you mentioned old practice of using well-known TV actors, well it wasn't "old" then. Nowadays there are so many options in getting something out there that movie makers/series makers can use lots of unknowns and still get their voice in front of the public.

Absolutely true. I think every mini-series in those days would have television regulars starring in them; a nice opportunity to break away from their usual roles I guess. I love that streaming services have become big enough business to attract A-listers to their series (I'm thinking like Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright for HOC for example). It adds an air of credibility and prestige to the project.

 

[Zone D Dad]

Hooper's Salem's Lot I love so much more than a lot of the subsequent King mini-series. It simplified the book, but at least it was really scary. Seventies tv-horror is in general really good.

The look of the It ABC-miniseries is too bright, there isn't a lot of use of darkness and shadows. Darkness and shadows are what make a horrorfilm frightening. The new movie already looks better in that respect.
In the eighties lighting of darker scenes feels very unnatural, it gives an almost videoclip look often which gives a stagey feel, taking away scariness. Of course in the eighties they compensated that with a lot of gore.

Totally agree. I picture Derry as a pretty dingy place where the lighting is bad and the tiles are stained.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Totally agree. I picture Derry as a pretty dingy place where the lighting is bad and the tiles are stained.

...in other words, the Derry from 11/22/63......

 

[recitador]

My problem with the mini-series was that the clown looked so ordinary. Just an actor in a clownsuit, there was nothing scary about it for me.
He looks weirder in the remake.

I think It would be best served with a series like 11.22.63. The three hours of the mini-series was too short, and what will the length of the new movie be - two hours for each part at most? Still seems short.

But with 11.22.63 which is also a long book, although not quite as long as It, they did it in 8 episodes. Maybe a couple more would be right for It. Just a well produced tv-show with good actors like 11.22.63 and with more gore and mature content than the ABC mini-series.

we don't have any info on length yet. plenty of movies go over 2 hours easily these days. we could see as much as 5 hours potentially, or somewhere close to it. no way to know until it gets closer to release.

 

[muskrat]

Now, I don't know that It's the most popular of the heap. I suspect most folks have a look at that big dusty monster of a book and run away. I haven't time to waste on a book that big, she said, eyes still glued to her smartphone. But they know the creepy clown, they know ol Bob. Or Tim Curry, one.

It's so much more'n that. I don't even see the clown when I think of It. I think of Derry, that weird old town. I think of nasty things whispering to me from drain pipes at midnight. I think of that scary s.o.b Patrick Hockstetter. I think of all sorts of things, some I'd rather not. It's punk hard 80s King written full blast and in hyper *middle finger* mode. It's the bloody Beatles White Album. Shut up.

 

[thekidd12]

Personally I liked The Stand the best of all the giant sized pieces I have read of Mr King's. It was an excellent read but something about the apocalyptic nature of The Stand kept me interested all the way through.

Haven't read either twice but that is fodder for another thread.

Oh and what did y'all think of The Stand mini series?

Some kinda recognizable actors in that one too.

Now, I don't know that It's the most popular of the heap. I suspect most folks have a look at that big dusty monster of a book and run away.
It's the bloody Beatles White Album. Shut up.

And never was much of a Beatles fan.

Keith and Mick are more my style.

 

[thekidd12]

Absolutely true. I think every mini-series in those days would have television regulars starring in them; a nice opportunity to break away from their usual roles I guess. I love that streaming services have become big enough business to attract A-listers to their series (I'm thinking like Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright for HOC for example). It adds an air of credibility and prestige to the project.

Just have to say, love the pic in your avatar.

Waited over a year for somebody to do that to Mr Bat Flip.

Who knew it would be a small second baseman?

 

[Tery]

It's punk hard 80s King written full blast and in hyper *middle finger* mode. It's the bloody Beatles White Album.

THIS!!!!

 

[muskrat]

Keith and Mick are more my style.

Preaching to the choir, Cochise. We'll just say The Stand is King's Exile on Main Street.

 

[thekidd12]

Preaching to the choir, Cochise. We'll just say The Stand is King's Exile on Main Street.

I would have said Paint It Black.

Potato, Potata...

Who pronounces it potata?

 

[Gerald]

we don't have any info on length yet. plenty of movies go over 2 hours easily these days. we could see as much as 5 hours potentially, or somewhere close to it. no way to know until it gets closer to release.

But horror as a genre seldom has long films. I can't really think of theatrical horrorfilms that run over 2 hours...

My guess would be for It around two hours for each part. But hopefully they'll run a little longer - if the film is good, of course.

 

[Gerald]

Now, I don't know that It's the most popular of the heap. I suspect most folks have a look at that big dusty monster of a book and run away. I haven't time to waste on a book that big, she said, eyes still glued to her smartphone. But they know the creepy clown, they know ol Bob. Or Tim Curry, one.

It's so much more'n that. I don't even see the clown when I think of It. I think of Derry, that weird old town. I think of nasty things whispering to me from drain pipes at midnight. I think of that scary s.o.b Patrick Hockstetter. I think of all sorts of things, some I'd rather not. It's punk hard 80s King written full blast and in hyper *middle finger* mode. It's the bloody Beatles White Album. Shut up.

There's always so much to do about Sergeant Pepper, they've just released it again. But my favourite Beatles album has always been The White Album.

I think the majority of people see It as the clown. That's the image that's used constantly, even by King himself on Twitter.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

delete

 

[thekidd12]

delete

Backspace?

Could I have "Words you find on a keyboard" for 200 Alex?

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Backspace?

Could I have "Words you find on a keyboard" for 200 Alex?

I wrote something that I realized was stupid and I didn't have time to think of something worthy to write so I just wrote "delete."