TV FILMS of the week
1 IT Tonight, ITV2, 9pm
In June 1989, seven tormented pre-teens bond as the Losers’ Club, drawn together by mutual beatings at the hands of a sadistic 15-year-old. The leader of the Losers’ Club, Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher), bears the deepest and freshest wounds: his younger brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) was dragged into a storm drain by Pennywise the clown (Bill Skarsgard) the previous autumn. Bill seeks balm for his grief in the company of fellow misfits, but Pennywise intends to divide and conquer by feasting upon the children’s fears. It is a nerve-jangling adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel.
2 WIDOWS Tomorrow, Channel 4, 9pm
Criminal Harry Rawlins (Liam Neeson) and his team are killed during a job to steal $2m. After Harry’s funeral, a crime boss (Brian Tyree Henry) visits his wife Veronica (Viola Davis, left) claiming he’s owed the $2m and wants her to pay. She assembles a crew, including fellow widows Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki).
3 FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY Monday, Film4, 9pm
Stephen Merchant’s rousing comedy drama tells the rags-to-riches true story of Saraya “Paige” Bevis, a goth from Norwich who became an unlikely star of American wrestling. Florence Pugh, left, is the plucky outsider, holding us in a vice-like grip with her heart and humour. Nick Frost and Lena Headey also star.
4 HIS GIRL FRIDAY Tuesday, Film4, 11am
This screwball comedy, directed by Howard Hawks, stars Cary Grant as a newspaper editor who is shocked to discover his ace reporter – and ex-wife – Hildy (Rosalind Russell, left with Grant) – is planning to give up her career and re-marry. So, he tries to tempt her into staying with one last big story.
5 28 DAYS LATER Wednesday, 5STAR, 11pm
After a deadly virus is unleashed from a research facility, a small group of survivors (including Cillian Murphy, left) are caught in a struggle to protect themselves from an illness which turns its victims into homicidal maniacs. If you can cope with the blood and gore, Danny Boyle’s movie is one of the best horror films of modern times.
6 JACKIE Thursday, Film4, 9pm
Pablo Larrain’s lush and thoughtful biopic of Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman) explores the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of her husband, US President John F Kennedy, as she deals with her grief. This is a moving and insightful film, driven by Portman’s powerful performance.
7 THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR Friday, BBC1, 12.15am
This adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s 2016 Young Adult novel is strictly for the mushy of heart. Koreanamerican student Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) crosses paths with Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) who is due to be deported with her family. He offers a challenge, vowing he can make her fall in love with him by the end of the day.