This article contains mention of homophobia and violence.
Throughout the IT movies and miniseries, Pennywise’s quotes offer bone-chilling reminders of why he is one of the most memorable horror movie villains. Author Stephen King is one of the most prolific horror writers of all time as he can create monsters that tap into the most basic human fears. While many great Stephen King adaptations exist, perhaps the best-known are the movies IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019), as well as the 1990 IT miniseries. This centers on a group of friends called the Losers Club who go up against a shape-shifting alien called IT.
IT wakes up every 27 years, tormenting the town of Derry, Maine. The monster takes the form of a victim’s worst nightmares, feeding off their fear. Throughout both the movies and the miniseries, IT’s most common form is that of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Played by Bill Skarsgård in the movies and the upcoming prequel TV series Welcome to Derry, and Tim Curry in the miniseries, Pennywise manages to torture many little kids with his appearance and words. Many of Pennywise’s quotes throughout the adaptations are terrifying enough to induce nightmares in the bravest souls.
15 “Hiya, Georgie.”
IT (2017) and IT Miniseries (1990), Said To Georgie
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The first line said by Pennywise in both IT and the IT miniseries is, “Hiya, Georgie.” While the words on their own aren’t terrifying, they become one of the creepiest lines when examined in context. Pennywise is talking to Georgie from inside the sewage drain, a location that nobody should be. The little boy never tells the monster his name, making it eerie that he knows. What’s more, the specific way of greeting Georgie sounds casual, friendly, and familiar. This contrasts with his unnerving physical appearance and tone of voice – which subtly hints at the shape-shifting monster’s sinister intentions.
While Pennywise is attempting to lure Georgie close enough so he can strike, the line also highlights the darkly playful way Pennywise speaks to his victims. Georgie is unaware of the danger at this moment, but even when the victims are aware, Pennywise enjoys playing this game with them and acting like a friendly clown.
14 “Why Him? Because You Weren’t There, Billy!”
IT Chapter Two (2019), Said To Billy
Georgie’s death is not only a shocking and disturbing way to kick off the story, but it also serves as a moment that will haunt Bill Denbrough for the rest of his life. He is filled with guilt over the loss of his younger brother, seen both in the first movie as well as the sequel, where it becomes clear that even in adulthood, Bill has not gotten over the trauma. As expected, this is something that Pennywise latches onto and constantly tortures Bill with.
In It: Chapter Two, there is a sequence in which Bill imagines visiting the sewer where Pennywise grabbed Georgie. He breaks down into tears and in anger, crying out loud as to why it had to be Georgie who was taken. As Bill gets up to leave, Pennywise’s voice answers the question. He further taunts Bill with the same guilt-ridden idea that has been in his mind for years — if Bill had been there with Georgie, maybe he’d still be alive.
13 “Beep Beep, Richie.”
IT (2017) and IT Miniseries (1990), Said To Richie
IT is one of the best horror movies about a group of friends, as the Losers Club makes for an endearing team of heroes. They are outcasts who come together to make each other feel better and stronger in the face of their everyday struggles as well as the growing threat of Pennywise. Of course, it fits into Pennywise’s sadistic ways that he even uses this friendship against the heroes when he begins targeting them.
“Beep beep Richie” becomes a recurring line in the franchise that the other characters say to Richie Tozier. It serves as a comical warning whenever Richie is going too far. However, when the friends are exploring the derelict house, Pennywise surprises Richie and repeats the line to him before attacking. It serves as a chilling tease that Richie and the others have gone too far in investigating Pennywise and he is after them now. It also shows that he is watching them closely.
12 “Or… Just Leave Us Be.”
IT (2017), Said To The Losers Club
Pennywise has been around for centuries, but the Losers Club proves to be formidable enemies for the evil entity. However, the brutal monster doesn’t just attack the young heroes — he also looks to tear apart their psyches and destroy them as a group. When the heroes are in the sewers, Pennywise manages to grab Bill while the others surround him and prepare to fight.
Pennywise begins by threatening them all with the horrific deaths that await them when he finally gets them all, but then he offers them a dark deal instead. He tells the others that they can simply allow him to take Bill for his final meal before his sleep and Pennywise will leave the others to live long and happy lives. It is a chilling way to fracture the group, as these young kids want nothing more for the horror to end.
11 “You Will Be.”
IT (2017), Said To Beverly
Pennywise’s sadistic glee in tormenting his victims is unsettling, but it becomes even scarier when he takes a more serious tone. Among the Losers Club, Beverly seems to be the most confident and strong of the young heroes and she proves it even when she is taken by Pennywise to his sewer lair. While Pennywise grabs Beverly by the throat, she tells him that she is not afraid of him.
In a subtle moment of Pennywise’s vulnerability, he seems to sense that this is true. He twitches in frustration, but instead of this seeming like a triumphant moment for Beverly, it becomes more frightening with how angry Pennywise seems at this revelation, and he promises that he will change that. While it is a somewhat cliché horror movie villain line, it does conjure up a lot of fear about what else Pennywise might do to ensure he can feast on this child’s fear.
10 “You’re All Grown Up…”
IT Chapter Two (2019), Said To The Losers Club
Most of Pennywise’s creepiest quotes come from the threat he poses to the characters in the story. However, one of his most unsettling lines actually comes when he is finally defeated in IT Chapter Two. The Losers Club is able to overcome the monster who has haunted them for their entire lives. With Pennywise subdued, they literally pull out his heart and prepare to crush it, ending him forever. As Pennywise looks on, aware that this is the end for him, he tells the Losers Club “You’re all grown up…” and delivers a weak laugh.
What makes this such a chilling final line for the intense horror movie villain is that it is so ambiguous. It is unclear what Pennywise means by this, with the strange hint that he is in some way proud of them and what he has forced them to become in the end. It makes him have a lingering presence even in his demise.
9 “I’m Every Nightmare You Ever Had. I’m Your Worst Dream Come True.”
IT Miniseries (1990), Said To The Losers Club
When looking through photos of old Derry in the IT miniseries, Pennywise addresses the Losers Club through a photograph, telling them about the danger that they face with him. This quote would already be scary if said hyperbolically, but it’s even worse when considering that his words are quite literal. Pennywise can read their fears and become their worst nightmares in a tangible way. He then feeds off those fears and gets stronger. What’s more, because everybody is afraid of something, Pennywise saying this quote could make anybody afraid.
Quotes like these cement Pennywise as a villain alongside the likes of Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, a dangerous killer who is a physical threat but can also get inside the minds of his victims. There is a sense that Pennywise could take his victims by surprise sooner, but he likes to taunt them with what he sees inside.
8 “I’m Pennywise, The Dancing Clown.”
IT (2017), Said To Georgie
One of the least scary-sounding quotes that’s really terrifying is Pennywise’s introduction to Georgie in IT. The line is delivered immediately after Georgie says he isn’t allowed to take things from strangers. By introducing himself, Pennywise disarms Georgie’s hesitations. What’s more, by using the phrase “Pennywise the Dancing Clown” instead of just his first name, the monster makes himself sound more appealing to Georgie, a kid who has positive memories of the circus.
This quote shows just how manipulative Pennywise is, making it much more creepy than many of his other statements. While shape-shifting aliens aren’t something that the general population would be able to relate to, psychological manipulation is something that happens in the real world. It’s terrifying to know that humans can do damage in the same way a shape-shifting alien does. Additionally, this character isn’t just manipulating an adult. Pennywise is preying on children, the most vulnerable population. This adds a certain level of depravity to this introduction.
7 “Tasty, Tasty, Beautiful Fear.”
IT (2017), Said To Eddie
Throughout IT, Pennywise feeds off fear. This creepy quote shows that it isn’t just a necessity; Pennywise seemingly takes joy in the idea of eating children’s fear. He finds the prospect satisfying and beautiful. This makes Pennywise an even worse monster because he’s not just trying to survive. Additionally, by saying these words aloud, he expresses those thoughts in addition to making Eddie more afraid. Eddie could have guessed how Pennywise would kill him, but he now knows that he’s going to be eaten. These elements combined make this one of the creepier Pennywise quotes, albeit on the milder side.
Bill Skarsgård brings a new level of creepiness to Pennywise with his delivery of lines like this. It is as if Pennywise is overcome with the pleasure and engrossing feeling of getting the proper fear out of his victims. The fact that Pennywise is drawn to eliciting the most fearful reactions from his victims is just another way in which he becomes a true menace.
6 “This Isn’t Real Enough For You, Billy? I’m Not Real Enough For You?”
IT (2017), Said To Billy
There is a sense throughout the movie that Pennywise is a nightmare that keeps popping up but is also somewhat separated from reality. The kids can see him and sense that he is terrorizing them, but it is unclear if what they are seeing is real. Previously, the monster interacted in a way that induced fear but didn’t directly harm any of them. However, once the kids come face to face with him, Pennywise asks these questions, almost signaling that the threat will become even more real.
Related IT Show Welcome To Derry Could Explore 7 Other Stephen King Stories
Stephen King’s many stories set in Derry mean that the upcoming IT prequel Welcome to Derry could explore more of the author’s back catalog.
Additionally, rather than maintaining one tone, Skarsgård jarringly changes his inflection between the two questions, adding an extra layer of fear. The speed at which Pennywise switches from a rather smug tone and expression to upset within two seconds makes him seem more volatile. It is the terrifying realization that this nightmare is not just something that will haunt their dreams but is coming for them.
5 “For 27 Years, I Dreamt Of You. I Craved You.”
IT Chapter Two (2019), Said To The Losers Club
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Pennywise’s obsession with the Losers Club was fear-inducing in the first IT movie, but it becomes terrifying when he lures them back and tries to prey on them after 27 years. This creepy quote shows the level of Pennywise’s fixation, with this group of children that once thwarted him now becoming Pennywise’s ultimate target. There is something deeply unsettling about how these adults attempted to move on with their lives only for Pennywise to be waiting in the darkness to strike again.
The words “dreamt” and “craved” are active verbs that elicit a sense of passion and longing that runs deep within the monster. If the quote used the words “thought” and “wanted” in place of the existing verbs, it wouldn’t have the same effect. However, this quote proves Pennywise becomes entranced with the ones who got away to a disturbing level.
4 “I Am The Eater Of Worlds.”
IT Chapter Two (2019) and IT Miniseries (1990), Said To The Losers Club
This Pennywise quote occurs in both IT Chapter 2 and the miniseries for good reason as it speaks to the larger and intimidating nature of the characters. The quote very directly relays to the Losers Club the extent of IT’s powers. The monster isn’t just scary; he has the ability to consume entire worlds. He’s beyond the confines of man, making him seem untouchable by mere humans.
The quote makes it clear that Pennywise and all of IT’s other forms are basically eternal. As such, it is equally unlikely and impressive that the Losers defeat Pennywise in every iteration of IT. The source material by Stephen King delves deeper into the grander elements of the story, and while there are many who feel the movies and TV miniseries did better by leaving these moments out, it is something that might be explored more in the upcoming prequel series.
3 “I’ll Feast On Your Flesh As I Feed On Your Fear.”
IT (2017), Said To The Losers Club
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One of the most nightmare-inducing quotes in the entire IT franchise is when Pennywise tells the Losers Club, a bunch of children, that he’s going to eat them both physically and mentally. Part of the reason this quote is so terrifying is the composition of the sentence. The word flesh stands out because it’s more graphic than words like “body” or “corpse.” The word choice brings up a very gory mental image because it is so vivid.
What’s more, the alliteration of the F sound and the assonance of the long E sound draws attention to the words “feast,” “flesh,” “feed,” and “fear.” These evocative words elicit a strong emotional reaction. If any one of those words were changed, the quote would lose its impact. Only by combining the words in this quote does it create a strong sense of terror.
2 “I Know Your Secret, Your Dirty Little Secret.”
IT Chapter Two (2019), Said To Richie
One of the most fascinating things about Pennywise targeting the Loser Club when they’re both children and adults is how he targets different types of fears. When they were kids, Pennywise used nightmarish ghouls and monsters. However, when they are adults, he goes for more psychological torment. In IT Chapter Two, it’s revealed Richie is gay but still grappling with his sexuality and in the closet, giving Pennywise a different level of control over him. The fear of being outed is very real for many people in the LGBTQ+ community.
There is no consensus within the
fandom about whether
Richie was gay in the
IT
book
. While he isn’t explicitly stated as LGBTQ+, there is a lot of subtext that implies he could be.
The controversial Adrian Mellon scene at the start of the film shows that, just like in real life, being outwardly queer can put people at risk of violence and death within the narrative. As such, Pennywise’s taunting quote about knowing Richie’s dirty little secret – and the underlying threat of outing him – has a deep, visceral effect that isn’t present in almost any other IT quote.
1 “You’ll Float Too.”
IT (2017), IT Chapter 2 (2019), IT Miniseries (1990), Said To Various Characters
This is the only quote in the entire IT franchise that appears in every adaptation, and this is for good reason. Pennywise’s “You’ll float too” line is as iconic as it is terrifying. The shapeshifting alien is telling his victims that they’re going to die without directly saying the words. By using this roundabout phrasing, Pennywise adds an air of mystery that feels more ominous than if he just directly told a character they would die.
Additionally, there’s a sense of doom and hopelessness that comes every time Pennywise says this quote in IT, IT Chapter 2, and the IT miniseries. There’s a sense of finality, telling the character and viewer that they can never escape Pennywise. Ultimately, because of its everlasting nature, this quote has to be the creepiest and best Pennywise quote of all time.
IT
IT is a horror franchise based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. The story centers on the town of Derry, Maine, where a group of children, known as the Losers’ Club, encounters a shape-shifting entity that primarily takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. IT exploits the fears of its victims and returns every 27 years to feed on the town’s children. The franchise has become iconic in horror, blending psychological terror with supernatural elements. It includes a highly regarded miniseries, two feature films, and various adaptations in other media.
Created by Stephen King Cast Tim Curry , Bill Skarsgard , Jaeden Martell , Sophia Lillis , Finn Wolfhard , Jeremy Ray Taylor , Jack Dylan Grazer , Chosen Jacobs , Wyatt Oleff , James McAvoy , Jessica Chastain , Bill Hader TV Show(s) It (1990) , Welcome to Derry Character(s) Pennywise , Bill Denbrough , Beverly Marsh , Richie Tozier , Ben Hanscom , Eddie Kaspbrak , Mike Hanlon , Stanley Uris , Henry Bowers , Georgie Denbrough
Summary
IT is a horror franchise based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. The story centers on the town of Derry, Maine, where a group of children, known as the Losers’ Club, encounters a shape-shifting entity that primarily takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. IT exploits the fears of its victims and returns every 27 years to feed on the town’s children. The franchise has become iconic in horror, blending psychological terror with supernatural elements. It includes a highly regarded miniseries, two feature films, and various adaptations in other media.
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