SummaryAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Directed By:Frank Capra
It's a Wonderful Life
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
89
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.8
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
94% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
This sentimental perennial is a holiday chestnut.
100
The most well-loved of all Christmas movies.
User score
Universal Acclaim
93% Positive
232 Ratings
232 Ratings
6% Mixed
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
1% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Dec 26, 2025
10
A classic that only gets better the older you get and the more you watch it. "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." "All you can take with you is that which you've given away"
Dec 21, 2025
10
Heartfelt and uplifting, It’s a Wonderful Life is a beautiful story with lovable characters and a valuable lesson about the importance and value of life that is perfect for the holiday season. This one is a BIG ONE!
100
Few filmmakers have rivaled director Frank Capra when it comes to examining the human heart, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a masterfully crafted exercise in sentiment, augmented by Capra's undying faith in community. Reed and Barrymore give excellent performances, as does a superb cast of character players, but this is Stewart's film--heart-stirring as the dreamer who sacrifices all for his fellow man.
100
The film is gripping enough simply with the telling of George's lifestory. A genuine American classic.
90
Frank Capra and James Stewart, in returning to films after long years in uniform, endow the pic with its most telling contributions. Herewith, Stewart touches the thespic peak of his career. He hasn’t lost a whit of his erstwhile boyish personality (when called to turn it on) and further shows a maturity and depth he seems recently to have acquired.
88
The film is too sprawling in extent, too noisy as to background music and voices and much too obvious in the application of its social significance notes. But 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.
40
Capra is an old-time movie craftsman, the master of every trick in the bag, and in many ways he is more at home with the medium than any other Hollywood director. But all of his details give the impression of contrived effect...To make his points he always takes an easy, simple-minded path that doesn’t give much credit to the intelligence of the audience.
Aug 7, 2025
10
Every year, I always find something new to love about this film. And to think it was a flop when it came out the first time around.
Apr 30, 2023
10
Amazing movie, timeless, and wonderful. Definitely should get more popular with audiences.
Dec 25, 2020
10
Probably one of the best, if not the best, Christmas movies of all time. The heartwarming story of George Bailey and his selfless, Wonderful Life is a timeless, emotional-rollercoaster of a tale and a true American classic. It displays friendship better than any other movie I’ve ever seen, throughout a humorous, eventful, and lovely plot. Every character is incredibly human, and when George wishes to never be born, only to be placed in a reality by his guardian angel where he really wasn’t born, is genius stuff and is an unforgettable part of this story. Tears of joy will come to almost any human with emotions who watches this movie all the way through. The true spirit of Christmas, joy, is truly captured in this story, and I will love this movie when I’m old even more than when I’m young.
Dec 21, 2020
10
Probably the most celebrated and greatest Christmas film of all time. Try watching this movie and not crying. I can tell you it's a hard thing to do.
Nov 12, 2020
10
The film is simply sublime, the performances, the message it gives without a doubt is and will be the best Christmas film
Production Company:
- Liberty Films (II)
Release Date:Jan 7, 1947
Duration:2 h 10 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:Frank Capra's..."It's a Wonderful Life".
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 5 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Photoplay Awards
• 4 Wins & 5 Nominations
