'It: Welcome to Derry' premiere on HBO Max leaves fans stunned with chilling opening scene

It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO Max on October 26  and started off strong with an opening episode that had fans raving about the show's wildest moments so far.

A prequel to It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), the new TV show premiered on Sunday on HBO Max and is based on Stephen King's 1986 novel, It, about an evil clown called Pennywise that terrorizes children.

As the episode begins, viewers are introduced to Matty (Miles Ekhardt), who hitchhikes to escape Derry, Maine, after being cast out of a movie theater for sneaking in.

A family picks him up in their car and things turn awry as the eldest sister starts touching a lid labeled "liver," the young son spells alarming words, and they drive back to Derry after initially saying they were heading to Portland.

As a graphic scene unfolds, viewers weighed in on the 'insane' opening to the new series on social media.

One said, "Welcome to Derry has one of the most insane cold opens I’ve ever seen." while another exclaimed, "Oh they went full insanity 10 minutes in?!??"

Others chimed in about how the unexpected "psychological torture" right at the beginning of the show left them "speechless".

It: Welcome to Derry was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs who also serves as a showrunner, alongside Brad Caleb Kane.

Set in 1962, the show tells the story of the Hanlons, who move to Derry and find themselves implicated in the town's dark secrets amid terrible events. At the same time, a group of kids is trying to unravel the mystery of Derry's missing children.

With executive producer Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise from the sequel films, It: Welcome to Derry stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Blake Cameron James, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Rudy Mancuso, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler.

King expressed excitement about the new show and the Muschietti siblings' role in its development.

"I'm excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara," The best-selling author stated. "Red balloons all around!"

New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry air weekly on Sundays on HBO and streams on HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Episode 2 will be released early on October 31, in time for Halloween.