IT: Welcome to Derry's Opening Credits Are Quietly Getting More Horrifying — And You Probably Didn't Notice
Welcome to Derry raises the stakes with a darker origin story, deeper mythology, and skin-crawling scares that promise the town’s worst nightmares are just waking up.
If episode 5 of It: Welcome to Derry felt like the show crawled under your skin and set up camp, you are not imagining it. The season just hit a terrifying high point, and the series has been quietly ratcheting up the dread in a place you probably did not think to check: the opening credits.
The credits have been changing, and not in a subtle way
From day one, the show has paired its candy-coated title sequence with the deceptively sweet 50s tune "A Smile and a Ribbon" by Patience & Prudence. It starts like a Norman Rockwell painting and then twists the knife: cheerful faces, neat lawns, and then... the rot underneath.
- A lobotomy underway at Juniper Hill Asylum
- A teacher smiling as a nuclear blast plays for a classroom of terrified kids
- Those glowing yellow eyes peering out from inside the house on Neibolt Street
All of that would be enough on its own. But fans with good ears noticed the credits themselves have been evolving week by week. Starting with episode 3, the show began layering in ambient noise under the song. Each new episode, a little more hiss, rumble, and menace. The vibe shifts from quaint to queasy before the first scene even starts.
A fan flagged the rolling change on Twitter on November 24, 2025, after others had already picked up on episode 3 sounding darker than episode 2 back on November 11. And this is not a coincidence or a trick of your soundbar.
"That"s all Andy"
That confirmation came straight from editor Matthew V. Colonna on Twitter, pointing to series creator Andy Muschietti as the mastermind behind the steadily creepier mix. It is a neat little flourish that doubles as a mood thermostat for the season.
Episode 5: Pennywise is back, and he is hungry
The big headline inside the episode itself is the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. The clown slithers back into the picture in the sewers and goes right for the kids. One close call later, he is stopped from making a meal out of Lily thanks to a dropped dagger that throws off the attack. It is the first real sign the group might have a shot at pushing back, at least for now.
On the theory front, there is chatter about Marge that has people worried Rich might be in serious trouble. Nothing concrete yet, but the fan math is not exactly optimistic for him.
What to watch for next
Keep an ear on those credits as the season rolls on; if the pattern holds, they will keep dialing up the unease. If you are tracking every episode, keep up with the It: Welcome to Derry release schedule, and if you need more to fill the gaps, there is a solid slate of the best shows on HBO Max and plenty of upcoming Stephen King movies and TV shows on the horizon.