Stephen King’s terrifying world of It has captured audiences again and Port Hope is back in the spotlight.
The new HBO series It: Welcome to Derry premiered on Crave October 26 and has quickly become the most in-demand show in Canada, according to Parrot Analytics. During the week of October 27 to November 2, the supernatural prequel was 76.8 times more in demand than the average Canadian series, topping both the digital and overall TV charts.
Filmed across Ontario, including Port Hope, Hamilton, and Toronto, the series returns to the fictional town of Derry, Maine – a place movie fans will recognize from the 2017 and 2019 film adaptations of It, which also used Port Hope as their primary backdrop. Local landmarks such as Walton Street, Memorial Park, and the Capitol Theatre have once again been transformed into scenes of eerie small-town horror.
Critical reception has also been positive. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, It: Welcome to Derry holds a Tomatometer score of approximately 78%, based on reviews of the first episodes, signalling fairly strong critical approval.
Since its release, demand for the series has remained exceptionally high, with It: Welcome to Derry holding steady at the top of Canadian streaming interest through the first two weeks of November.
The series’ success has also drawn renewed attention to Port Hope’s growing reputation as a filming hotspot, helping boost tourism and local business. As fans continue to tune in, the town’s familiar streets are once again part of one of the most talked-about shows in the country.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
