IT: Welcome to Derry is currently one of HBO’s biggest titles, with the third-most streamed debut on HBO Max. This series is a prequel to Andy Muschietti‘s feature film IT from 2017, and the story was taken from several interlude chapters from Stephen King‘s acclaimed horror novel. Welcome to Derry is the first of three planned seasons, and tells the origin story of Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), who terrorizes children in the small town of Derry.

Stephen King loves this prequel, but are there any other shows based on his works that he approved of? We know it can be tough to find a faithfully adapted King novel out in the wild, but fortunately, there are some that audiences (and King) loved and felt were worth mentioning. Here are the Stephen King shows to watch if you love IT: Welcome to Derry, and want to explore more of King’s terrifying stories come to life (or live-action).

1‘The Shining’ (1997)

Image via ABC

The Shining is the most famous feature film adaptation of King’s novel of the same name, but did you know there was also a miniseries? The 1997 three-part miniseries is King’s own attempt at adapting the story for the small screens. His dissatisfaction with the film adaptation was no secret, so he wrote the teleplay to reclaim his 1977 novel from the shadow of Stanley Kubrick’s rendition of it. In terms of faithfulness to the novel, it’s among the most faithful adaptations of The Shining—obviously—but it’s not the scariest King show.

The Shining follows the arrival of the Torrance family to the Overlook Hotel, where they’re meant to be the winter caretakers. Jack Torrance (Steven Weber) promises his wife Wendy (Rebecca De Mornay) and son Danny that he will stop drinking after having a fit of rage, making sure they’re never again hurt by him. However, their stay at the Overlook becomes a descent into madness as the hotel exploits their weaknesses and turns them against each other. The story gives more room to the hotel’s history and the backstory of the hauntings that take place; it’s a slow-burn psychological horror with deep lore. If you like that, The Shining miniseries is worth a watch.

2‘Under the Dome’ (2013–2015)

Image via CBS

Under the Dome is another show based on a Stephen King novel that he took part in creating. He wrote some parts himself and participated as an executive producer, but he even admitted the show was different from the novel. Under the Dome is a book King wrote in 2009, and it’s a high-concept sci-fi/horror that delves into themes of paranoia and isolation, as well as their effects and consequences. Both the show and the book are told from multiple perspectives, and depict a riveting small-town mystery.

Under the Dome follows the residents of a small town called Chester’s Mill, where they’re suddenly sealed under an impenetrable dome. While the outside world, from the army to the media, try to break down the mysterious barrier, so do the trapped people of Chester’s Mill. Mike Vogel and Rachelle Lefevre lead the ensemble series and are two of just a few characters who stick around throughout the whole show. Season 1 has the highest rating of the show’s three seasons, and it’s a very quintessential 2010s series.

3‘The Institute’ (2025–)

Image via MGM+

One of the freshest entries, The Institute was based on one of the freshest of King’s novels; The Institute, the novel, was released in 2019 and welcomed with rave reviews. Many critics have compared it to It and praised the tone, saying it feels like the old school King. The Institute, the series, started airing in July 2025 and the reception has so far been mixed but promising: critics praise the performances, especially those of the younger actors, and the atmosphere. If you’re curious about more than just the classics, The Institute will scratch the itch of needing to watch a King adaptation.

The Institute follows teenager Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), who suddenly wakes up in a dark facility where telekinetic and telepathic children are held and exploited. The more time he spends there, the more secrets he learns, and sinister motives come to life. Freeman is joined by familiar faces like Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker. With a vibe that hovers between horror, sci-fi, and teen drama, The Institute still has to establish itself fully; since it’s been renewed for Season 2, the psychic horror thread in King’s universe will continue to live on and hopefully make the show even more interesting and fun.

4‘Haven’ (2010–2015)

Image via SYFY

The Syfy series Haven is loosely inspired by King’s novella The Colorado Kid, but some may find it to be more akin to a generic supernatural crime-show rather than a faithful King story. Still, Haven‘s creators made sure that the story had other callbacks to King’s works, such as including Derry and other IT-related lore into the story, as well as Shawshank Prison as a local penitentiary. If you’re into slow-burn conspiracies, small-town creepiness, and don’t need strict adherence to King’s works, Haven can scratch the itch.

Haven follows FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) arriving in the town of Haven, Maine, where some residents suffer from recurring supernatural events known as “The Troubles.” Parker soon becomes ingrained in Haven’s lore and finds out she’s connected to it in more ways than just the investigation. The show has five seasons, out of which later installments continued to gain critical praise; it’s one of those shows that takes a while to warm up, and fans liked it for its Easter eggs and gradual mythology-building.

5‘Salem’s Lot’ (1979 and 2004)

 

Salem’s Lot may just be one of the most adapted of King’s stories, but the competition is tough there; the 1975 horror is one of King’s most famous, history-making novels, and while it’s hard to fully adapt its creativity and scares to the screens, the 1979 version seems to be somewhat superior to the one from 2004. I recommend both, for comparison’s sake—the 1979 version was directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chain Saw Massacre), while the 2004 version stars Rob Lowe.

Salem’s Lot follows writer Ben Mears (David Soul and Rob Lowe), who returns to his New England hometown, Salem’s Lot, only to discover that a sinister evil has possessed most of the residents, so he decides to investigate further but finds darkness everywhere. The 2004 version earned generally favorable reviews, and critics praised its creepy atmosphere and solid performances; the 1979 story was an instant hit that now has a pretty steady cult following. If you love a vampire story with small-town dread and King vibes, Salem’s Lot is the show for you, regardless of which version you prefer.

6‘The Stand’ (1994)

Image via ABC

The Stand is another King story that’s been adapted a couple of times, but in opposition to the universally semi-to-disliked 2020 version, the 1994 version is superior—moreover, because King wrote the teleplay and has a minor role in it. The Stand is a post-apocalyptic show magnificent in scope and storytelling, including as many as 125 speaking roles. The story itself is a tale about a collective, but it separates several characters as leads, played by Gary Sinise and Molly Ringwald. The Stand is a story about a clash between good and evil, though it begins as just post-apocalyptic.

The Stand is a contemporary story and follows the accidental release of a weaponized flu called Project Blue from a top-secret government lab. One of the escapees from the lab, Charlie (Ray McKinnon), takes his family on a cross-country run, unwittingly spreading the flu himself. Charlie soon meets Stu Redman (Sinise) and tells him about the accident, as well as being pursued by the “Dark Man.” Stu turns out to be immune to the flu and becomes integral to leading the rest of the survivors like him. For fans of a big apocalyptic scope with horror and moral weight, The Stand is a really satisfying four-part miniseries.

7‘Castle Rock’ (2018–2019)

Image via Hulu

Castle Rock is an anthology-style series that isn’t a direct adaptation of any single King book. Instead, it draws thematic and narrative inspiration from across his written universe, placing the story into one of his favorite fictional towns: Castle Rock, Maine. Just like Derry and Salem’s Lot, Castle Rock is a fictional town in Maine where a lot of King’s stories are set, and it first appeared in the 1979 novel The Dead Zone. The show Castle Rock takes many characters from his more (and less) famous novels and stories, bringing them together in a unique setting.

Castle Rock follows Henry Deaver (André Holland), who returns to his hometown of Castle Rock after a mysterious prisoner in the Shawshank Prison, known as The Kid (Bill Skarsgård) is found. The Kid asks for Henry personally though Henry’s been gone from the town for 27 years and the two never met. The small-town dread, the supernatural undertones, and iconic characters like Annie Wilkes, Alan Pangborn, and Jack Torrance—or, well, his niece Jackie (Jane Levy)—make Castle Rock a standout; it’s lively and developed as though King’s world lives off-screen, too.

8‘Mr. Mercedes’ (2017–2019)

Image via Audience

Mr. Mercedes is a different flavor of King’s style than what we’re used to. Rather than sci-fi or overt horror, this story is a crime thriller based on King’s trilogy about the retired detective Bill Hodges. Mr. Mercedes is a widely praised adaptation, led by Brendan Gleeson as Hodges, and all three of its seasons were received well. The biggest detriment to the show’s future became the discontinuation of AT&T’s channel Audience, where Mr. Mercedes was an original series. King has a cameo in this show, which might also be a sign of his approval for it.

Mr. Mercedes follows a retired detective, Bill Hodges (Gleeson), haunted by an unsolved case known as “Mr. Mercedes,” and becoming the target of a sadistic killer who taunts him; the show often takes place from the killer’s perspective, too, and he’s played by Harry Treadaway (this role was first Anton Yelchin‘s). The show boasts sharp writing, a creepy atmosphere, and strong performances; while it’s less about ghosts or monsters and more about dread and psychological torment, its dark undercurrents still work well and give us one of the best stories from King’s opus.

9‘11.22.63’ (2016)

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One of the best adaptations of a King novel is the sci-fi thriller 11.22.63 with James Franco in the lead. The title refers to the day of JFK’s murder, and the entire plot revolves around that. The novel is beautifully written, with awe and inspiration, and it’s laid out in detail in a way only King could do. The series adaptation was pretty good, critically lauded and well-rated by audiences; the set and costume design are great, while the casting gives enough momentum for the show to stay interesting.

11.22.63 opens in modern-day Maine, and follows English teacher Jake Epping (Franco), whose longtime friend Al (Chris Cooper) shows him a time-travel portal that takes him to October 1960. Al suggests to Jake to prevent the assassination of JFK, and Jake, through some trial and error, begins working on that; however, he also makes a life for himself in the past, romanticizing the era and feeling at home. Franco is unusual compared to his standard goofy roles, but in a good way, and overall, 11.22.63 is on the top of the most compelling adaptations of King’s work.

10‘The Outsider’ (2020)

Image via HBO

The Outsider is a 2020 series based on King’s 2018 novel of the same name, and it blends crime drama and supernatural horror in the greatest way possible. Fans of King’s work will undoubtedly recognize the name Holly Gibney, who is the protagonist of The Outsider, and a side character in Mr. Mercedes; in the former, she’s played by Cynthia Erivo, while in the latter, her shoes are filled by Justine Lupe—two distinctly different women with different approaches, and one great protagonist. Erivo arguably makes The Outsider hers, dominating the screen; King praised the show for being a faithful and well-made adaptation, even announcing a possible Season 2 before HBO dismissed the possibility.

The Outsider is set in Cherokee City, Georgia, and opens with a gruesome murder of a local child. Police chief Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) initially has a very clear culprit in mind, but things lead him to an impossible truth—that a shapeshifting evil might be involved, and this is something special investigator Holly Gibney (Erivo) can help him with. The first two episodes were directed by Jason Bateman, and among modern King adaptations, this is one of the rare ones that balances mystery, horror, and thrills without ever feeling underwhelming. The pace slows down occasionally, but the watch is worth the time.