Users

Now Playing

FA Rankings

All Rankings
N
Top 1000 FA

Sections

TV Series

TOPs

Awards | Festivals

Information

Click here to copy URL

It's a Wonderful Life

8.2

52,754

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

flatrate

rent

buy

Pro reviews

Links

2 Related Movies

Related Documentary:

Secrets from the Vault: It's A Wonderful Life (S)

Related to:

Clarence (TV)

Original title: It's a Wonderful Life
Year: 1946
Running time: 130 min.
Country: United States
Director: Frank Capra
Screenwriter: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography: Joseph Walker, Joseph F. Biroc (B&W)
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, Frank Albertson, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Mary Treen, Virginia Patton, Charles Williams, Argentina Brunetti, Karolyn GrimesSee 5 More
Producer: Liberty Films Inc. Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Genre: Drama. Fantasy | Family-friendly. Christmas. Comedy-Drama
Synopsis: A good but slightly ineffectual man tries to off himself after an error that really wasnt his fault. In Christmas carol fashion, his crusty-but-lovable guardian angel shows up to give him a tour of the world without his presence, and it isnt a pretty place. Moral courage, small-town American life, civic cooperation, and family love are glorified; corporate greed and self-involvement are vilified; at the climax, a blanket of snow like spun sugar makes everything pure and clean like redemption itself.

Rankings Position

#1 Best Fantasy Movies
#46 Best US Movies of all time
#55 Best Drama Movies
#73 Best Movies in the history of film

Awards: 1946: 5 Nominations for Oscar: Movie, Director, Actor (Stewart), Editing, Sound

1946: Golden Globes: Best Director

1946: New York Film Critics Circle: Nominated for Best Director

Critics' reviews

"What is remarkable about It's a Wonderful Life is how well it holds up over the years; it's one of those ageless movies, like Casablanca or The Third Man, that improves with age (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"The most well-loved of all Christmas movies"

Michael Wilmington: Chicago Tribune
"Stewart touches the thespic peak of his career (...) Capra brought back to 'Life' all his oldtime craft, delicate devotion to detail and character delineation as well as his sure-footed feeling for true dramatic impact"

Bert Briller: Variety
"Everyone who sees it will agree that it's wonderful entertainment (...) When Capra is at his best, no one can top him."

Jack D. Grant: The Hollywood Reporter
"The skilled balance of fantasy, sentimentality and quality made the movie stand out"

Lily Rothman: Time
"Uncritical reverence both inflates the film's magnitude and robs it of its most interesting elements (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Fernando F. Croce: Slant
"It’s frequently wrongheaded and desperately overlong (...) [It] isn’t the longest film ever made but it sometimes feels like it"

Andrew Gilchrist: The Guardian
Show 4 more reviews

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to info@filmaffinity.com

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org