The IMDb rating for It (2017) is 7.3 out of 10, placing it solidly in the upper-middle range of horror films on the platform. This score comes from hundreds of thousands of user ratings on IMDb, making it a reliable indicator of how general audiences received Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s sprawling novel.
- Imdb Rating 2017: Table of Contents
- How Does It's 7.3 Rating Compare to Other Stephen King Adaptations?
- Understanding IMDb Ratings and What a 7.3 Actually Means
- Critical Reception Versus Audience Scores on IMDb
- Using the Rating to Decide If It (2017) Is Worth Watching
- What the Rating Doesn't Tell You About Common Criticisms
- The Role of Marketing and Release Timing in the Rating
- What the Rating Means for Horror Cinema Going Forward
- Conclusion
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The 7.3 rating reflects a film that successfully resonated with horror fans while maintaining broad appeal beyond the genre’s core audience. To put this in perspective, a 7.3 rating on IMDb generally suggests a “good” film that most viewers found entertaining and well-executed, though not without its flaws or moments that didn’t land for everyone.
For a horror film released in 2017, this positioned It as one of the stronger entries in the genre that year, competing favorably with other high-profile horror releases in the same timeframe.
Table of Contents
- How Does It’s 7.3 Rating Compare to Other Stephen King Adaptations?
- Understanding IMDb Ratings and What a 7.3 Actually Means
- Critical Reception Versus Audience Scores on IMDb
- Using the Rating to Decide If It (2017) Is Worth Watching
- What the Rating Doesn’t Tell You About Common Criticisms
- The Role of Marketing and Release Timing in the Rating
- What the Rating Means for Horror Cinema Going Forward
- Conclusion
How Does It’s 7.3 Rating Compare to Other Stephen King Adaptations?
Stephen King’s works have produced wildly varying imdb ratings depending on the adaptation quality.
For context, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) sits at 8.4, while other King adaptations like The Green Mile (1999) holds a 8.6, yet recent adaptations like Doctor Sleep (2019) earned a 7.6.
It’s 7.3 rating positions it respectably within the King adaptation landscape, suggesting the film captured the essence of the source material while making the necessary changes for screen adaptation that don’t always please purists.
The rating also reflects the different expectations audiences have for King adaptations versus other horror films. Viewers approaching It had sky-high expectations based on the novel’s cultural significance and the legacy of the 1990 television miniseries.
Meeting those expectations partially—enough to earn a 7.3—demonstrates that Muschietti’s film succeeded in translating King’s dense narrative to cinema effectively, even if it couldn’t please every fan of the source material.
Understanding IMDb Ratings and What a 7.3 Actually Means
IMDb ratings are calculated from user votes, with the algorithm weighing votes from experienced raters more heavily than casual voters. A 7.3 rating indicates that the majority of users found It (2017) to be above average, but not exceptional.
This threshold typically means the film delivered on its core promise—in this case, a genuinely creepy interpretation of King’s story with solid performances and effective scares—while also having some elements that didn’t universally land.
However, one limitation of IMDb scores is that they represent aggregate opinion and can skew toward certain demographics. The 7.3 rating for It doesn’t distinguish between hardcore horror fans who might rate it 8 or 9 and general audiences who found it adequate at 6 or 7.
If you’re specifically seeking a recommendation for whether this film will work for your personal taste, you’ll want to consider that the rating obscures these variations.
Additionally, IMDb ratings can shift slightly over time as new votes are added, though major films like It (2017) have relatively stabilized scores after accumulating hundreds of thousands of votes.
Critical Reception Versus Audience Scores on IMDb
It’s worth noting that professional critics often rate films differently than IMDb users do. Many professional reviews praised It (2017) for its ambitious scope, visual style, and the performances of its young cast, while also critiquing its lengthy runtime and occasional tonal inconsistencies.
The 7.3 IMDb rating represents the consensus of everyday viewers rather than credentialed film critics, which can be a strength or limitation depending on your perspective.
The film benefits from genuinely strong ensemble acting, particularly from its child cast, which likely contributed positively to its user ratings. Viewers often reward films where young actors deliver credible, non-irritating performances, and It (2017) cleared this hurdle convincingly.
The rating reflects audience appreciation for both the scares and the character development in the first chapter of the story.
Using the Rating to Decide If It (2017) Is Worth Watching
A 7.3 rating suggests you’ll likely find It (2017) entertaining if you enjoy horror films or Stephen King adaptations, but temper your expectations about it being a masterpiece. The rating indicates a solid, competent horror film rather than a genre-defining achievement.
If you’re watching specifically for scares and atmospheric dread, you’ll probably find enough to satisfy you; if you’re seeking profound social commentary or perfect fidelity to the novel, you might feel the film falls short.
The main tradeoff to consider: It (2017) is a substantial commitment at nearly two hours and thirty minutes. The rating doesn’t tell you whether that length is worthwhile for your patience level. Many viewers appreciated the extended runtime for character development, while others found sections slow.
The 7.3 rating averages these experiences together, so you’ll want to consider your personal tolerance for pacing when making your decision.
What the Rating Doesn’t Tell You About Common Criticisms
The 7.3 rating obscures some frequently cited criticisms that emerged after the film’s release. Some viewers and critics noted that the CGI used for Pennywise in certain sequences felt less effective than practical effects, and that some scares relied on jump-scares rather than sustained tension.
These specific complaints don’t heavily tank the overall rating because many users still found the film effective despite these issues, but they’re worth knowing if you’re sensitive to cheap scares or dated special effects.
Another consideration: the rating was accumulated before its sequel, It Chapter Two, arrived and informed audiences’ retrospective view of the first film.
Some viewers adjusted their opinions upward after realizing how much worse the second chapter’s reception was (it rated 6.3 on IMDb), while others felt the first film’s unresolved story structure became more frustrating in retrospect.
The 7.3 rating represents a snapshot of audience opinion, primarily from 2017-2018, and individual viewers may now rate it differently based on how the broader adaptation project unfolded.
The Role of Marketing and Release Timing in the Rating
It (2017) arrived at an optimal moment for horror films, released in September 2017 when audiences were shifting attention toward spookier content. The film’s massive marketing campaign and novelty factor likely contributed to its strong box office and substantial vote count on IMDb.
Newly released films with high-profile marketing campaigns often accumulate votes more quickly, which can affect how stabilized and representative the rating becomes. The 7.3 rating also reflects that It (2017) succeeded in appealing beyond the typical horror audience.
This crossover appeal—the fact that mainstream audiences with varying genre preferences voted on the film—might actually lower the rating compared to a film watched primarily by horror enthusiasts, since general audiences are more likely to rate more conservatively.
What the Rating Means for Horror Cinema Going Forward
It (2017)’s 7.3 rating sits in an interesting position in the post-2010 horror landscape. The film demonstrated that prestige-level budgets and A-list directors could make horror commercially viable without needing to chase mainstream approval through toning down the genre.
In the years since, we’ve seen more horror films receive ratings in this range, suggesting a stabilization around what audiences expect from the genre. The film’s rating also marked a shift in how Stephen King adaptations were approached.
The commercial and critical success of It (2017)—reflected in its respectable 7.3 rating—encouraged studios to invest in larger-budget King adaptations with serious directors, fundamentally changing how the author’s work reaches audiences.
Conclusion
The IMDb rating of 7.3 for It (2017) accurately reflects a film that delivers effective horror with strong performances and ambitious scope, while also containing some elements that prevent it from reaching the highest echelon of the genre.
For potential viewers, this rating should signal that the film is worth watching if you enjoy horror, Stephen King adaptations, or coming-of-age stories with supernatural elements woven throughout.
When evaluating whether to watch It (2017), consider your personal preferences alongside the rating: if you appreciate slow-burn horror with character development, strong ensemble casts, and don’t mind slightly dated CGI, the film will likely satisfy you.
The rating reflects genuine audience appreciation rather than hype, making it a reliable but not definitive guide to your own experience.
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