Stephen King's 1986 horror novel the fictional town of Derry, Maine in the 1950s. The 1990 television adaptation of IT was loyal to this part of the story, also setting the scene in the '50s.
The 2017 feature film version took a different approach; it changed the decade to the 1980s. That movie's sequel—director Andy Muschietti has stated that he gave a lot of thought to his decision. Eventually, he came to the conclusion that he would do a better job telling the story if the movie was set in the '80s. Ultimately, this decision came down to the old adage many writers use to tell a proper story: "write what you know".
Since Muschietti drew from his personal experience, the setting change added authenticity to the coming-of-age tale. Even King himself set the book in the '50s because he knew he would be able to authentically tell a story of his own youth in that time period. However, for the purpose of adapting the iconic novel into a cinematic version, setting is of paramount importance, as it allows the audience to not only immerse themselves into the fictional setting, but relate to the characters and—in the case of a horror movie—get properly scared. Which was the better decade for Stephen King's IT?
Why The 1980s Was The Better Setting For Stephen King's Story
A modern audience is definitely much more receptive to the movie version of IT. For one, most of the movie's core audience re the 1980s, or at least understands the general trends and fads of the decade. They can picture themselves in the shoes of the "Losers" more easily, and can feel nostalgic over the '80s set and costume designs, as well as the movie or music references the characters make.
They would, therefore, be less receptive to the TV miniseries. The 1950s is somewhat of a less approachable decade to today's viewers. It would certainly be more difficult for younger audience to understand the nuances of the time, to grasp the references made, and to ultimately understand and relate to the characters. Also, when the miniseries came out in 1990, the '80s were barely even a thing of the past.
In another vein, setting the IT movie in the 1980s made for more interesting looks for the characters. The clothing trends of the time were creative and colorful, while the 1950s general style was more conforming and plain. Additionally, perhaps the language some of the "Losers" use in the movie—hilariously filled with swear words—would have been different if the movie was set in the '50s, a decade in which children and teens were probably less likely to speak that way. While both versions tell a good story, the modern retelling of Stephen King's IT seems to be the preferred choice for most, as the 1980s are not just a popular era for horror media of late, but a time period that reflects a lot of social changes and movements that are useful to bolster a horror movie, where the 1950s can seem almost innocent and boring by comparison.
