It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

1946Movie131 minEnglish

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.

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Insights

IMDb8.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic89
Google Users95%
Director: Frank CapraGenres: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

George Bailey, a man whose overwhelming business failures on Christmas Eve pushes him to consider suicide. An angel is dispatched to Earth to help him realize how many lives he has touched and how different the world would be if he had never been born. This intervention helps George find the strength to continue his life and face his troubles.

Critical Reception

Initially a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, 'It's a Wonderful Life' has since become one of the most beloved Christmas films, hailed for its heartwarming message, emotional depth, and timeless themes of hope and redemption. It is now considered a classic of American cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its powerful and moving story about the importance of individual lives.
  • Lauded for its exceptional performances, particularly from James Stewart.
  • Celebrated as a timeless holiday classic with enduring themes of hope and community.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly adore 'It's a Wonderful Life', frequently citing its emotional impact, inspirational message about valuing life, and its status as a perfect holiday tradition. Many find it deeply moving and a source of comfort and joy.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for James Stewart. It has won numerous retrospective awards and is frequently listed among the greatest films ever made.

Fun Fact

The film was initially a financial flop and almost bankrupted director Frank Capra. Its status as a beloved classic was largely cemented decades later through extensive television airings during the Christmas season, a result of its copyright expiring in 1974, making it public domain.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

6 reviews
aochin

aochin

It's a timeless and great film for everyone, straightforwardly telling us that life is worth living and a good deed is never lost. Frank Capra's films always remind me the world is not so bad. He shows us there is no need to beat or conv...
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

I am not one of those snobs that thinks Black and White is always better... but don't watch the colored version of it, there is something about it that just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the colors are off, maybe because I'm not a...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Every now and again you come across a film that just makes you think.... This is one of those. Recently upconverted to 4K and back on a big screen, it's quite simply a joy to watch. Jimmy Stewart is "George" - a man who has spent his adult ...
r96sk

r96sk

Lovely film. <em>'It’s a Wonderful Life'</em> is enjoyable, hearty and well crafted. It takes longer than I would've predicted to get to 'the event', but it's very much worth seeing the journey that comes before - as we see the arc of Ja...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

Oh my goodness, I am not going to spend much time describing this gold standard of Christmas movies. If you have seen it, you know what it is. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and watch it now. It is funny, tense, sentimental, roma...
barrymost

barrymost

It's practically an American tradition to watch this film with family at Christmas time each year. I just saw it for the first time myself a couple weeks before last Christmas, and I loved it. It's an uplifting, inspiring, dramatic, and a...