Pennywise the Dancing Clown isn’t just another horror villain—he’s a shapeshifting embodiment of fear itself. Originating from Stephen King’s 1986 novel IT and brought to life in both the 1990 miniseries and the blockbuster films of 2017 and 2019, Pennywise has haunted generations. Whether it’s his gleaming yellow eyes, his twisted grin, or his ability to unearth a person’s deepest anxieties, Pennywise doesn’t just scare—he unsettles. He lingers. With each encounter, he chips away at reality and replaces it with something far more terrifying. This list ranks the top 10 scariest Pennywise moments that left us clutching the blankets, flipping on the lights, and swearing off red balloons for good.
#10: Georgie Denbrough
No moment in the IT franchise is more instantly recognizable—or more deeply traumatizing—than the death of Georgie Denbrough. This opening scene in both the novel and the 2017 film adaptation doesn’t just kick off the horror—it defines it. On a rainy day in Derry, young Georgie chases a paper boat through the flooded streets, giggling with innocent joy. The boat slips into a storm drain, and when Georgie peeks inside, he meets a smiling face with glowing eyes and a voice that coos, “Hiya, Georgie.”
What follows is one of the most disturbing exchanges in horror. Pennywise tempts Georgie with popcorn, friendship, and his lost boat, speaking in a lilting tone that dances between charming and creepy. The conversation is loaded with tension, and the longer it goes, the more you feel the pit in your stomach grow. It’s a masterclass in suspense—because you know something awful is coming, but the way it builds is almost unbearable.
Then, in a horrifying flash, Pennywise’s face morphs into a monstrous maw, and he bites off Georgie’s arm. The boy screams and attempts to crawl away, only to be dragged screaming into the drain. The sequence is brutal, swift, and deeply unsettling, especially because it shatters one of horror’s taboos: killing a child so graphically in the opening minutes. It tells the audience immediately—no one is safe, not even the most innocent.
Behind the scenes, this scene required careful direction and a powerful performance from Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. His ability to shift from playful to predator in a single breath is what sells the moment. Jackson Robert Scott, who played Georgie, was reportedly kept separate from seeing Skarsgård in full makeup until filming, so his fear was genuine when they shot the scene.
Georgie’s death also sets the emotional tone for the rest of the story. His disappearance haunts his brother Bill and becomes the catalyst for the Losers’ Club to confront their fears and return to Derry. But more than anything, Georgie’s scene stays with viewers because it taps into something primal—the idea that monsters wear smiles, that trust can kill, and that horror often begins in the most ordinary moments. It’s not just a scary scene—it’s a cultural imprint of terror.
#9: The Slide Projector Scene
In IT (2017), the Losers’ Club gathers in Bill’s garage to look at slides from his family’s collection, hoping to find a clue that will lead them to the monster haunting Derry. What begins as a routine and even lighthearted scene quickly spirals into one of the most frightening, reality-bending sequences in the film. As the slides click by, one photo seems off—a family portrait that suddenly zooms in on the mother’s face, revealing something deeply wrong. Her expression shifts. Her hair moves on its own. Then, without warning, Pennywise reveals himself in the image, his eyes glowing from within the projector slide.
The fear ramps up when the projector begins flipping through slides uncontrollably, revealing a horrifying sequence of Pennywise images that become more aggressive, distorted, and animated. The lights in the garage begin to flicker as Pennywise, impossibly, bursts out of the screen—now gigantic, monstrous, and all too real. His looming figure fills the small space as he lunges at the children, sending them into a panic.
This moment plays on multiple fears at once: the fear of the familiar turning sinister, the fear of losing control, and the fear of technology itself becoming possessed. The setting is claustrophobic, and the scare works so well because of how quickly it escalates from a quiet family moment to full-blown supernatural assault.
Director Andy Muschietti expertly builds tension, letting the audience feel safe in a mundane setting before twisting it. The slide projector—a relic of harmless nostalgia—becomes a vessel of horror. It’s a reminder that Pennywise doesn’t need to wait for the night or an isolated street corner. He can enter any space, twist any object, and shatter any sense of safety.
The technical execution of this scene is also worth noting. The transitions from slide to live action are seamless, and the design of Giant Pennywise, with his grotesque proportions and flickering movements, is nightmare-inducing. Bill Skarsgård once again transforms from almost-human clown to ancient cosmic terror with a flick of the eye and a toothy grin.
The slide projector scene ranks so high because it symbolizes just how invasive and unpredictable Pennywise can be. There are no rules in his world—only fear. And in that garage, surrounded by friends and family history, the Losers learn that even together, they aren’t immune to his reach. It’s a moment that leaves you checking every shadow, every flickering light, and every innocuous piece of equipment that suddenly feels a little too quiet.
#8: Beverly’s Blood-Soaked Bathroom
In IT (2017), Beverly Marsh experiences a deeply disturbing solo encounter that taps into fear, trauma, and the grotesque. After hearing whispers from her bathroom sink drain, she cautiously peers inside. A tape measure, her tool of investigation, is swallowed into the pipe. When she tugs it back, a geyser of thick, red blood explodes into the room, coating everything—walls, mirror, ceiling, and Beverly herself. And from within the crimson flood emerges Pennywise’s voice, mocking her with chilling laughter.
This scene is terrifying on multiple levels. It’s visually jarring, yes, but it also symbolizes the unwanted onset of womanhood, isolation, and abuse—issues Beverly is already silently dealing with. The fact that only she can see the blood adds a layer of psychological horror. Her father enters moments later, blind to the massacre of color that surrounds them, reinforcing that Beverly is alone in more ways than one.
The production team used over 1,000 gallons of fake blood to film the scene, paying homage to Stephen King’s original description. It mirrors the infamous elevator blood flood from The Shining, but with an intensely personal twist. It’s one of the most memorable sequences in modern horror because it captures the helplessness of facing trauma while the world pretends nothing is wrong.
#7: The Headless Boy in the Library
While researching in the library in IT (2017), Ben Hanscom finds himself lured into a terrifying dream-like sequence. A series of clues leads him to a basement corridor, where he encounters the ghostly form of a headless boy—one of the Easter egg explosion victims from Derry’s dark past. The figure chases him through the stacks, shambling and jerking in unnatural ways. Then, just when Ben thinks he’s alone, Pennywise appears behind a column, waving a severed arm and smiling with blood-stained teeth.
This scene relies on disorientation and dread. It starts quietly—almost calmly—as Ben begins to connect the dots of Derry’s bloody history. But once the headless ghost appears, everything unravels. The subtle manipulation of space and gravity inside the library gives the whole moment a dreamlike terror, and the use of slow-motion, silence, and sudden motion adds to the effect.
It’s not just scary—it’s mythic. Pennywise isn’t just haunting kids—he’s haunting the town’s memory. The library, a place of learning and sanctuary, becomes a personal chamber of terror. And the horror doesn’t end when Ben escapes. Pennywise, in his infinite cruelty, leaves just enough doubt to make Ben question what’s real and what isn’t—something he’ll carry with him long after the books are closed.
#6: The Bleacher Scene (Vicky)
In IT: Chapter Two (2019), Vicky is a sweet, quiet little girl who’s lured under the bleachers by the seemingly gentle voice of Pennywise. He offers to play a game. He pretends to be lonely, crying softly and saying he has no friends. She’s cautious at first, but when he reacts with sadness and sympathy about her birthmark—something she’s clearly bullied over—she inches closer.
What happens next is swift and horrifying. Just when Vicky lets her guard down, Pennywise lunges and devours her, disappearing into darkness as the screen fades out. No over-the-top blood. No survivors. Just quiet horror and a child’s trust being manipulated and destroyed.
This moment is so chilling because it’s subdued. Pennywise doesn’t roar or cackle—he uses empathy as a weapon. He draws her in through connection, only to turn that vulnerability into a trap. It’s one of his most sinister moments because it feels so real. Monsters aren’t always loud. Sometimes, they whisper and pretend to understand.
#5: Richie’s Giant Paul Bunyan Attack
In IT: Chapter Two, Richie returns to Derry and finds himself reliving one of his childhood traumas in the town square. A Paul Bunyan statue looms over him—innocuous during the day but terrifying in memory. As Richie stands at its base, it suddenly comes to life in a surreal, CGI-heavy nightmare. The massive axe-wielding statue chases him, roaring with demonic fury. And in its shadow, Pennywise waits—emerging with glowing eyes and mocking laughter.
The scene is loud, fast, and wildly disorienting. It showcases Pennywise’s ability to weaponize local landmarks and personal memories. Richie’s fear isn’t just about a statue—it’s about identity, shame, and secrets. Pennywise taps into all of it, mixing psychological horror with blockbuster chaos.
Though some fans were split on the CGI, the metaphor lands powerfully. Pennywise doesn’t need to bite to terrify—sometimes he just needs to remind you of what you’ve tried to forget. And Richie, usually the wisecracker, is left shaken and exposed.
#4: The Hall of Mirrors
Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking moments in IT: Chapter Two, the hall of mirrors scene sees Bill Haddon trying to save a young boy trapped in a carnival’s glass maze. As Bill pounds on the glass, trying to break through, the boy panics. Just when it seems he might escape, Pennywise appears behind the child, smiling with hunger. Bill screams, smashing his fists on the glass—but it’s too late.
In one swift, brutal motion, Pennywise slams his head into the boy, devouring him in front of a helpless Bill. Blood splatters. Silence follows. Bill is left broken, staring at his own reflection powerless.
This scene hits hard because of its simplicity and emotional weight. It doesn’t rely on jump scares. It relies on dread and the agonizing reality that sometimes, you just can’t save them. Pennywise wins in the most personal way possible—by forcing Bill to watch another child die, mirroring his brother Georgie’s fate.
#3: The Fridge Contortion
In IT (2017), Eddie Kaspbrak explores the decrepit Neibolt house alone and finds a refrigerator strangely placed in the corner. It creaks open and out unfolds Pennywise—literally. His limbs bend unnaturally, cracking and twisting as he emerges upside down, crawling like an insect. His eyes slowly align with Eddie’s, his body snapping back into place. Then comes the slow, methodical crawl and the infamous tongue-flicking snarl.
This scene is pure nightmare fuel. Pennywise isn’t in a rush—he’s savoring Eddie’s fear. The body horror, the contorted movements, and the grotesque pacing make this one of the most skin-crawling moments in the film.
Bill Skarsgård reportedly performed much of the contortion himself, with minimal CGI. The slow pacing and invasive physicality turn this into a living nightmare. It’s a clear statement: Pennywise isn’t bound by our reality or our rules. He exists on a level where bodies and space bend to his will—and he enjoys every second.
#2: The Old Lady (Mrs. Kersh)
When adult Beverly returns to her old apartment in IT: Chapter Two, she’s greeted by Mrs. Kersh, a seemingly sweet old woman. But something is wrong. Too quiet. Too still. Mrs. Kersh begins twitching, lurking in the background naked, before bursting out of the shadows in full monstrous form—towering, deformed, and animalistic.
The scene plays out like an arthouse horror short. Subtle clues build until it explodes into chaos. The monster design is grotesque, but it’s the timing and eerie silence beforehand that truly sells the scare. Skarsgård’s performance slips in just enough charm to keep you on edge.
It’s one of the best examples of slow-burn terror in the series, taking the uncanny valley to an entirely new level. Mrs. Kersh is Pennywise at his most theatrical, blending the absurd with the horrific to create something unforgettable.
#1: Georgie Again—But This Time, It’s Not Him
The number one scariest Pennywise moment comes in IT: Chapter Two when Bill reenters the flooded basement of his old home. There, he finds Georgie again—just as he was before he died. He apologizes for not saving him. But then, Georgie’s face twists, and he begins to scream, rotting before Bill’s eyes. Pennywise rises from the water, dragging a puppet version of young Bill, who sobs and pleads, “You lied, and I died!”
This moment encapsulates everything that makes Pennywise terrifying: the manipulation, the guilt, the personalization of fear. He doesn’t just haunt Bill—he destroys him emotionally. It’s raw, grotesque, and brutally intimate.
More than jump scares or gore, this scene attacks the heart. Pennywise doesn’t just kill—he corrupts memory, weaponizes trauma, and forces his victims to relive their worst moments. That’s what makes it the ultimate scare: it’s not about teeth or claws. It’s about the soul. And no other scene captures that better.
