Top 10 Movies to Watch if You Liked IT

“Lady in White” was a box office bomb upon its release in 1988, and it has since faded into relative obscurity. However, if you want a good spooky story starring a child protagonist, then look no further. The story follows Frankie Scarlatti, a young boy who observes a murder and is subsequently haunted by spooky figures. While the movie concerns ghosts rather than shapeshifting alien creatures, it still shares similarities to “It,” like its small-town setting and the concept of children being haunted by mysterious forces. It’s a little more childish than “It,” but it still packs a hell of a creepy punch.

Yes, “Krampus” takes place during Christmas, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s a Christmas movie! “Krampus” and “It” share a common theme: in both stories, something fun and cherished from your childhood is warped it into something terrible and malicious. Just like “It” did for clowns, “Krampus” turns Santa into a living nightmare. Well, technically Krampus is a real character in folklore, but you get the idea. A ton of Christmas concepts, including toys and chimneys, are all made scary throughout the movie, and it serves to give an otherwise cheerful period of the year a demonic and terrifying edge.

When the Stephen King’s novel was released, readers immediately drew comparisons between “It” and the various works of Steven Spielberg. One of its biggest influences was undoubtedly “E.T.,” which is arguably Spielberg’s masterpiece and most, uh…Spielbergian movie. Both movies share a ton of similar themes and concepts, including childhood adventure and friendship, small-town life in the 1980s, and otherworldly creatures that the protagonists must confront and grow to understand. Only in this case the alien is friendly and doesn’t take pleasure in ripping arms off children. It’s like “It,” only much cuter and more touching.

While the 2011 remake was gloriously fun and gory, nothing can top the original. “Fright Night” follows the story of Charley Brewster, a kid who makes the horrifying discovery that his neighbour is a vampire. The story follows a similar concept to “It,” as both films feature a murderous monster living within small-town suburbia. To make the similarities even more apparent, Charley is the only one who knows of and believes in the vampire’s existence, which is the same problem that the Losers’ Club faces throughout “It.” Both movies feature kids against the world, and both make for a great fright night.

A lot of horror stories released in the mid-1980s had similar concepts, didn’t they? We don’t need to tell you about “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” as it is one of the all-time great horror movies, but we will anyway. The movie follows a group of high school students who are hunted and killed within their dreams by the horrifically disfigured Freddy Krueger. Not only do both stories feature a monster picking off the kids of a small town, but both feature a mostly useless adult community. Naturally, the kids are on their own to face off against the seemingly invincible enemy, and in both movies, it makes for terrifically scary entertainment.

“Super 8” is probably the most Spielberg movie ever made by someone other than Spielberg, and because of this, it naturally draws comparisons to Stephen King’s masterpiece. Like “It,” “Super 8” features a slew of fantastic child actors who play real characters rather than Hollywood kids – they swear, they’re smart, and they share a bond that only children can share. However, it wouldn’t be a Spielbergian movie without a monster, and this one features an alien who is released upon a peaceful small town. Like “It,” “Super 8” is a monster movie with a heart.

We had to include at least one other King story on this list! Both “It” and “Pet Sematary” are often considered to be some of his scariest works. So, if you loved the horror aspect of “It,” then you need to check out “Pet Sematary,” as it is infinitely scarier and more demented. Hell, even King admits that he went too far with this story. The movie follows Louis Creed, whose son is killed by a passing truck. Riddled with grief, he takes his son’s corpse to the titular Pet Sematary, and everything goes to Hell. However, we’re warning you now: if you want the heart and warmth of “It,” stay clear.

If you want a movie that’s a bit less grim, look no further than “The Goonies,” another masterpiece from the mind of Steven Spielberg. While Spielberg is only credited with the story, his trademark style is all over this movie, which follows a group of kids as they go on an adventure to find a hidden treasure. It’s not a horror story like “It,” but it follows all the similar beats: childhood friendship, adventure, and coming-of-age. The characters are just as defined and well-acted as the ones found in “It,” and you’d be hard-pressed to find another movie which so perfectly captures the limitless feelings of childhood.

This is the perfect movie for you if you loved “It’s” blend of unimaginable horror and touching familial themes. The movie was written in part by, you guessed it, Steven Spielberg, and it chronicles the adventures of a suburban family after their house becomes plagued by malevolent ghosts. It’s just as scary as “It” (perhaps even more so), and the movie contains similar themes and ideas, like characters facing their fears, the loss of innocence, and unexplainable horror in an otherwise normal small-town. It’s an undeniable classic of the horror genre, and if you’ve never seen it, you’re doing yourself a disservice.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“The Gate” (1987)


“The Final Girls” (2015)


“Children of the Corn” (1984)

It’s only natural that another Stephen King story gets the top spot, even if it’s not quite as terrifying as the rest of his work. “Stand by Me” tells the story of four young boys who go on a rather morbid adventure to find the corpse of a missing child. Despite its rather dark subject matter, the story is full of humanity and warmth, and it’s often considered to be a classic within the coming-of-age genre. While it lacks the scares of “It,” “Stand by Me” features a fantastic cast of characters while perfectly capturing the awkward, melancholic, and heartbreaking transition from the end of childhood to the beginning of adulthood.