It's a Wonderful Life

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1:42

It's a Wonderful Life

PG

In Theaters Dec 18

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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In Theaters Dec 18

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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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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

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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elizabeth

Feb 20

My favorite Christmas movie. Such an interesting concept to consider in our own lives.

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Boon

Dec 27

A classic for a reason

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Ron B

Dec 26

Simply the best Christmas movie there is. Love seeing it in a theater. The intro was also great to get some history I wasnt previously aware of

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carlyn

Dec 26

A great classic movie!! Loved it on the big screen!!!!

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Michael M

Dec 26

A+++++ Classic Great heart warming film

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Marleen L

Dec 25

A wonderful movie to see on actual Christmas in the theater!

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Know Your Critic: Alonso Duralde, Film Reviews Editor at TheWrap

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It's a Wonderful Life: Trailer 1

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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, 2026
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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