Movies like Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021)
The best movies like Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021) are Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003), Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective (2011) and Doc of Chucky (2024). If Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ hooked you with its documentary and horror, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- NewestMaternal Instinct (2026)Released 2026
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003)
Using original interviews with director John Carpenter, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and P.J. Soles, and crew members, 'Halloween': A Cut Above the Rest unveils the production of the horror classic and how the ingenuity of Carpenter and his team, coupled with the shoestring budget of $325,000, drove the filmmakers to create one of the most influential horror films of all time.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective (2011)
A year in the making, Still Screaming is the definitive documentary on the making of the iconic Scream movies. Dive into the fascinating success story of the classic trilogy with on-set footage and photos, and dozens of brand new interviews with cast and crew from all the films including Wes Craven, Neve Campbell, Liev Schreiber, Henry Winkler, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalf, Parker Posey, Scott Foley and many others. Written and Directed by Ryan Turek and Produced by Anthony Masi.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Doc of Chucky (2024)
The story of the cult horror empire through interviews with cast, crew, and horror icons such as Don Mancini, Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, John Waters, Fiona Dourif, Perrey Reeves, Gerrit Graham, David Kirschner, and dozens more.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Living with Chucky (2022)
A filmmaker who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll seeks out the other families surrounding the Child's Play films as they recount their experiences working on the ongoing franchise and what it means to be a part of the, "Chucky" family.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIn Search of Darkness: Part II (2020)
The ultimate ‘80s Horror retrospective just got BIGGER. In Search of Darkness: Part II is a four-hour-plus sequel to the Rondo Hatton-nominated In Search of Darkness, adding 15 new interviewees and 40+ returning favorites for the biggest and most comprehensive ‘80s Horror documentary cast ever assembled.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisIn Search of Darkness (2019)
An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and SFX craftspeople who made them, and their impact on contemporary cinema.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHis Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2010)
A retrospective documentary about the groundbreaking horror series, Friday the 13th, featuring interviews with cast and crew from the twelve films spanning 3 decades.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Legacy of Chucky (2021)
A celebration of the 30+ year legacy of the Child's Play franchise and iconic character, Chucky, with never-before-seen interviews with franchise creator and actors.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street (2019)
Mark Patton sets the records straight about the controversial 1985 sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street, which ended his acting career, just as it was about to begin.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPath of Darkness: Making 'Silent Hill' (2006)
6 part behind the scenes feature on making 'Silent Hill'.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Scream: The Inside Story (2011)
In 1996, the horror master Wes Craven unleashed Scream, a slasher movie aimed at a whole new generation of teenage movie-goers.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever (2012)
A celebration of slasher cinema - from PSYCHO to the present day, with a focus on highlighting many of the genre's forgotten cult classics, deconstructing how to survive a slice and dice movie and meditating upon why it is almost always a final girl and rarely a final guy... this is a documentary which is designed for both the biggest fan of "mad maniac" movies and the person who may only have seen HALLOWEEN and SCREAM. Either way, this is a documentary that proves the SLASHER FILM is truly FOREVER!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, the last film of Alexandre O. Philippe explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998)
A behind-the-scenes retrospective made for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the classic horror film, The Exorcist. Includes interviews with Linda Blair and the other stars of the film, along with commentary from the director and writer on some of the deeper meanings behind the elements they used to terrify their audiences, and previously unreleased footage including make-up tests and deleted scenes.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' (2007)
Details the making of Stephen King & George A. Romero's 1982 horror anthology classic, from conception through to completion.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror & documentary
I Am Nancy (2011)
A look at Heather Langenkamp's unique experience playing Wes Craven's legendary teen heroine Nancy Thompson. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Heather asks the burning question: "Why Freddymania, and not Nancymania?" After personally experiencing the Freddy Krueger marketing craze, the rise of horror convention fandom and the phenomenon of eight Nightmare On Elm Street films, Heather reflects on the relevance of heroes in this modern age of monster lovers.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Dinner with Leatherface (2024)
A look at poet, author, filmmaker, actor, and horror icon Gunnar Hansen—the original Leatherface in the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Including perspectives from friends, colleagues, filmmakers, actors, and anyone else who knew one of the nicest people affiliated with the horror genre.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
The Curse of Robert the Doll (2022)
Considered the most haunted doll in the world, Robert the Doll lives behind glass in a museum in Key West, Florida, where every year thousands of visitors who fail to follow his rules find themselves cursed. Victims have experienced illness, injury, accidents and even death. But what makes Robert curse his victims? What evil entity lives inside this doll? This latest Shock Docs installment explores the true origin of Robert the Doll, uncovers the story of Robert's first owners in 1905, and seeks to find out why this doll is so nefarious.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)
Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the original locations used in the films - seeing the effects on the local community. For the first time, cast, crew, critics and fans join together in the ultimate 'Halloween' retrospective.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHalloween: Unmasked (1999)
A retrospective documentary on the making of the movie "Halloween," featuring exclusive interviews with director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill, and stars Jamie Lee Curtis, PJ Soles, and Nick Castle.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary
In Search of Darkness: Part III (2022)
The conclusion to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ '80s trilogy. In this epic final chapter, our focus turns to the straight-to-video horror classics that populated the bottom shelves at the video rental store. Imaginative, gory, experimental—but always entertaining—these hidden gems are ripe for rediscovery.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
My Amityville Horror (2013)
For the first time in 35 years, Daniel Lutz recounts his version of the infamous Amityville haunting that terrified his family in 1975. George and Kathleen Lutz's story went on to inspire a best-selling novel and the subsequent films have continued to fascinate audiences today. This documentary reveals the horror behind growing up as part of a world-famous haunting and while Daniel's facts may be others' fiction, the psychological scars he carries are indisputable. Documentary filmmaker Eric Walter has combined years of independent research into the Amityville case along with the perspectives of past investigative reporters and eyewitnesses, giving way to the most personal testimony of the subject to date.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Psycho Legacy (2010)
The cast and crew of all four Psycho films recall their time working on the influential horror series, and modern masters of horror reminisce on what the movies stirred in them.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2022)
Robert Englund has become one of the most revolutionary horror icons of our generation. This intimate portrait captures the man behind the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise and features interviews with Englund, Lin Shaye, Eli Roth, Tony Todd and more.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary
Haunters: The Art of the Scare (2017)
A heart-warming and heart-stopping documentary about people who sacrifice everything to create the most popular and polarizing haunted houses for Halloween - from boo-scare mazes to a controversial new subculture of extreme terror experiences.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999 (2025)
In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999 celebrates and explores the movies that defined the era: from Scream’s genre-shattering impact to J-Horror’s global emergence, from mind-bending twists to Y2K apocalyptic dread, and from blockbuster hits to straight-to-video gems.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary & horror
You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016)
An extensive look at the making of Fright Night (1985) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988) featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew members, rare photographs, behind-the-scenes footage and more.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both documentary
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
A non-stop roller coaster ride through the scariest moments of the greatest terror films of all time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror & documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMaternal Instinct (2026)
Police pull over a woman who claims she just gave birth. But the baby — and the blood — aren't hers. Twisted lies unravel in this true-crime documentary.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Decade Under the Influence (2003)
A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’?
The closest matches to Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ are Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003), Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective (2011) and Doc of Chucky (2024). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’?
People who watched Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ most often go on to Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003), Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective (2011) and Doc of Chucky (2024).
What is the newest movie like Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’?
Maternal Instinct (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’?
Yes: Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003), Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective (2011) and Doc of Chucky (2024).
How are movies similar to Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’ chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.