It's a Wonderful Life

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1:42

It's a Wonderful Life

PG

1946

2h 9m

Holiday

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

97 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

After George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes he had never been born, an angel (Henry Travers) is sent to earth to make George's wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.

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Critics Consensus

The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, It's a Wonderful Life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

01/04/2019

A+

A movie people will have a good time watching with their families for enduring decades.

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Karen Krizanovich

Little White Lies

12/14/2018

5/5

There's sex and death here, elation and depression, hope and despair.

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Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

12/19/2016

3.5/4

While it isn't the best picture to come out of Hollywood this year, nor is it Capra's masterpiece, it tells a good story and its conclusion has a heart-warming effect on the audience.

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Simon Gallagher

Screen Rant

12/13/2024

10/10

Frank Capra's classic is a perfect movie, and almost 80 years on, Jimmy Stewart's masterpiece has lost absolutely none of its magic.

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Raquel Stecher

The Movie Palace Podcast

12/18/2023

"an enduring classic... timeless"

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

12/11/2023

4/5

This is movie that gives you a lot of hope and inspires you to get through the darkest of times. Very effective and such a "feel good" movie.

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Amanda

1d

Favorite classic Christmas movie.

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Sue

3d

great feel good movie that teaches you what is important in life

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Eileen

3d

It's a Wonderful Life is the most beautiful movie ever and I think everybody should see it, including young children. It's just a feel-good movie all around and it makes you smile very big! I enjoyed it beyond words...a true classic!

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Chris E

Dec 15

This is one of the best movies of all time!

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Lee M.

Dec 15

Best movie I have ever seen!!!

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Linda

Dec 11

Heartwarming true classic!

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Frank Capra

Director

James Stewart

George Bailey

Donna Reed

Mary Hatch Bailey

Lionel Barrymore

Mr. Henry F. Potter

Thomas Mitchell

William Bailey

Henry Travers

Clarence Oddbody

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Every Time a Bell Rings an Angel Gets His Wings

2:11

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Lasso the Moon

1:44

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Careful What You Wish For

0:46

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Back To Life, Back To Reality

1:20

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Mary The Old Maid

1:17

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Vanishing Act

1:07

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Angel Second Class

1:44

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - A Great Gift

1:30

It's a Wonderful Life: Official Clip - Pool Party

1:11

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It's a Wonderful Life: Trailer 1

1:42

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Synopsis

After George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes he had never been born, an angel (Henry Travers) is sent to earth to make George's wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.

Director: Frank Capra
Producer: Frank Capra
Screenwriter: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Philip Van Doren Stern, Jo Swerling
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: Liberty Films, RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Rating: PG (Some Violence|Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 7, 1946, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 2018
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.3M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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