Everyone’s still talking about the HBO series It: Welcome to Derry after its first season ended in December, but it’s not actually the best Stephen King TV adaptation of recent years. While it had some good moments and we’re eager to see what happens with Pennywise in Season 2, we think the best King-based series from the last two decades is a lesser-known show from 2016 that’s recently become popular again on Netflix.
The eight-part sci-fi thriller 11.22.63 follows a time traveler who journeys back to 1960 with the goal of preventing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Originally released on Hulu ten years ago, the miniseries has been available on different streaming services, and recently became available on Netflix in the US. This has led to a big increase in popularity, and it’s now one of the top three most-watched shows on the platform.
Featuring a talented cast including James Franco, Chris Cooper, and Sarah Gadon, 11.22.63 is widely considered a remarkably true adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. The show successfully captures the essence of the massive, 849-page book with incredible detail and accuracy. The creators clearly paid close attention to every aspect of the story, and Stephen King himself has praised it as one of his favorite adaptations of his work. Here’s what the show is about:
Okay, so I’m totally hooked on this story! It’s about Jake Epping, a divorced English teacher from a small town in Maine, and his friend Al gives him this unbelievable opportunity – to go back in time to 1960! The big mission? Try to stop Kennedy’s assassination. But here’s the thing, Jake starts building a life for himself in the past, and honestly, it’s making me wonder if he’ll even be able to complete the mission. He’s got to figure out who was involved in the plot, all while pretending to be someone new and not drawing any attention to himself. It’s a really tense setup!
‘11.22.63’ Is Rated Higher Than ‘Welcome to Derry’
Hulu
Some people debate whether 11.22.63 is better than Welcome to Derry, but a quick look at Rotten Tomatoes settles the argument. While the HBO series received impressive scores from both critics (81%) and audiences (82%), 11.22.63 actually scored a bit higher overall.
Critics gave 11.22.63 a score of 83%, but audiences loved it even more, giving it an 88% rating on the Popcornmeter. While opinions always differ, the numbers suggest 11.22.63 performed better overall.
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If you haven’t already, you can now watch all eight episodes of the sci-fi, suspenseful, and dramatic series 11.22.63 on Netflix—it even has a touch of romance!
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2026-01-09 17:04