Let’s talk about a weird milestone. It’s 2026. And that terrifying clown? He’s now old enough to rent a car. Yes, It (the 2017 movie) is about to turn nine. But the real question is: how old is its rating?
The PG-13 that faked its age
Here’s the funny part. The MPAA gave It a PG-13 rating in 2017. But that rating doesn’t have a birthday. It doesn’t age. A PG-13 in 2026 is exactly the same as a PG-13 in 1990. That’s right—the scary clown movie is rated the same as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
So in 2026, if you were a kid born in 2013, you’re now old enough to see It in a theater without a parent. Imagine that. You were a toddler when Pennywise first floated. Now you can legally buy a ticket. Crazy, right?
Must Read
What about the 1990 miniseries?
Let’s not forget the original. The 1990 TV version of It is even older. It’s a TV movie, so it has no official MPAA rating. But if it did, it’d probably be PG-13 too. By 2026, that version is 36 years old. Pennywise’s makeup looks like a museum piece. And the spider ending? Still hilariously bad.
Fun fact: In 2026, the 1990 It is officially old enough to be a grandparent. To the 2017 version. Think about that family reunion.
British Board of Film Classification – New Logos! – Let's Go To The Movies
The real aging trick
Here’s where it gets playful. The rating system itself is aging. The PG-13 rating was invented in 1984. In 2026, that rating turns 42. That’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything—according to Douglas Adams. So a PG-13 movie about a killer clown is exactly as old as the meaning of life. Coincidence? Probably.
But let’s push it further. In 2026, a teenager born in 2008 is 18. They can vote. They can join the army. And they can watch It without a parent. But the rating itself? Still a stuck-up 14-year-old rule, pretending it’s 1984. Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise is now almost a decade old. His makeup is still flawless, but his cultural impact is aging like fine wine.
Quirky math for your brain
Let’s do some 2026 math. The 2017 It is 9 years old. The 1990 It is 36. The PG-13 rating is 42. And the original Stephen King novel? Published in 1986. That’s 40 years old in 2026. So the book is older than the rating. The miniseries is younger than the book. The movie is the baby. None of this makes sense. That’s why it’s fun.
What Are Movie Ratings? Origins & History [Essential Guide
If you were born in 2017, you’re now 9. You can watch It on streaming. But your parents will probably say, “Nope, too scary.” Meanwhile, your grandpa watched the 1990 version on a CRT TV with rabbit ears. He still has nightmares about the sink scene.
Why this matters (sort of)
This topic isn’t serious. It’s a playground for your brain. The rating of It in 2026 is a time capsule. It reminds us that fear doesn’t age. The clown is still scary. The red balloon still floats. But the numbers around it? They’re just ticking clocks.
Movie Content Ratings Guide – Motion picture content rating system – FYCB
So next time you watch It in 2026, remember: You’re watching a movie that is legally allowed to vote in some countries. Its rating, though? Still a cranky teenager. And Pennywise? He’s timeless.
One last balloon joke
If the rating had a birthday party in 2026, it would blow out 42 candles. But the cake would say, “PG-13: You’re the meaning of life.” And Pennywise would pop out of the cake. Because of course he would. He’s always floating. He always returns. Even when you’re just talking about ratings.
So that’s it. The It movie rating in 2026 is 42 years old. The movie itself is 9. The miniseries is 36. And your curiosity? It’s immortal. Now go watch the movie. Or don’t. But don’t blame me if you hear a voice saying, “You’ll float too.”
