It's a Wonderful Life | Rotten Tomatoes

It's a Wonderful Life

PG

Now Playing

2 hr. 9 min.

Holiday

Comedy

Drama

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List

94%

97 Reviews

Tomatometer

95%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Watch It's a Wonderful Life with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Apple TV.

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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Stephen

Great to see it on the big screen on Christmas Eve! Aside from for the first time that we noticed 2 "connected" characters are named "Ernie" and "Bert" (!) we're not going to add anything - it's all been said before. Enjoy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

MJ

Great oldie but goodie movie. The movie started late as there was a power shortage but all went well throughout the movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Martin

It was so great to see this classic in the theater! You can also see details that you dont notice on the small screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Pdp

Timeless classic! Always awesome!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

Mrs. Wihl

Just a wonderful movie in so many different ways!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

tyryl2

Holiday masterpiece. If possible to watch it on the big screen at least once it is recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

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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

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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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Irena's Vow

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I Think I Do

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The Hopeful

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Exhibition on Screen: John Singer Sargent - Fashion & Swagger

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Ameena

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Chicago & Friends in Concert

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Abigail

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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

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Spy x Family Code: White

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It's a Wonderful Life: Trailer 1

1:42

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

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

Rated: A+

Jan 4, 2019

Full Review

Karen Krizanovich

Little White Lies

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

Rated: 5/5

Dec 14, 2018

Full Review

Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 19, 2016

Full Review

Raquel Stecher

The Movie Palace Podcast

"an enduring classic... timeless"

Dec 18, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

...earned their climactic waterfall of happy tears...

Dec 15, 2023

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

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.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2023

Full Review

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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
Screenwriter: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Philip Van Doren Stern, Jo Swerling
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc., Liberty Films
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
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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