Pennywise the Dancing Clown is the primary antagonist of It, a 1986 horror novel by Stephen King. Pennywise is the preferred form of an ancient, shapeshifting entity called It (also known as Bob Gray or the Eater of Worlds), which has been feeding on the children of Derry, Maine, in roughly 27-year cycles for centuries. The entity takes the form of its victims' greatest fears. The novel has been adapted into a 1990 TV miniseries (starring Tim Curry) and two films: It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019).

What Is It (the Entity)?

It is a cosmic entity that originated in a void called the Macroverse (also called the Deadlights). It arrived on Earth millions of years ago and has been feeding on humans — primarily children — ever since. It hibernates for approximately 27 years between feeding cycles. While It can take any form, It most commonly appears as Pennywise the Dancing Clown because the clown form is effective at luring children. Its true form is described as the Deadlights — an incomprehensible, radiant light that drives any human who sees it insane.

Why Does Pennywise Target Children?

It feeds on fear, and children's fears are more intense, more vivid, and more easily exploited than adults'. King has described children's imaginations as both their greatest vulnerability (they can imagine terrors more vividly) and their greatest weapon (they can also imagine ways to fight back). The adults of Derry are largely unaware of or complicit in the cycle of violence, having lost the imaginative capacity to perceive It.

Who Are the Losers Club?

The Losers Club is a group of seven children who confront and defeat It in 1958: Bill Denbrough (the leader, whose brother Georgie was killed by It), Beverly Marsh, Ben Hanscom, Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, Mike Hanlon, and Stan Uris. They reunite as adults in 1985 when It returns. The name Losers refers to their social status as outcasts in Derry. Their bond is the weapon that ultimately defeats It — King presents genuine human connection as the antithesis of the isolation that It exploits.

How Many Adaptations of It Exist?

Major adaptations include the 1990 ABC TV miniseries (Pennywise played by Tim Curry), the 2017 film It (Pennywise played by Bill Skarsgard), and the 2019 sequel It Chapter Two. The 2017 film grossed over 700 million dollars, making it the highest-grossing horror film of all time at that point. Tim Curry's and Bill Skarsgard's portrayals are considered two of the most iconic horror performances in film history.

Can You Talk to Pennywise?

Pennywise is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. It already knows what you are afraid of.