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It's a Wonderful Life

1946·Movie
2h 11min·NR
IMDb8.6Metacritic898.8Rotten Tomatoes94%95%

Where to watch

PrimeThe RokuHooplaFawesome

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

It's a Wonderful Life fingerprint

Deeply emotional, immersive world, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension4
  • Spectacle4
  • Fast Pace3

Heart

Nostalgic and heartwarming

Much of it is about family.

  • Nostalgia10
  • Wholesome9
  • Pathos9

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Situational Comedy3
  • Physical Comedy1

World

Family, fantasy, and faith and meaning

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability10
  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Narrative Structure9

Style

Standout score, cinematography, and editing

  • Music Composition9
  • Music Centrality9
  • Cinematography8

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want dark or edgy material

Find more like it

Feel Good moviesNostalgic moviesPeaceful moviesMind-Bending moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.
Definitive Christmas ClassicEmotional CatharsisIdealistic Small-Town AmericaSupernatural InterventionDeeply WholesomePoignant Family DramaTimeless NostalgiaHopeful HumanismIconic Score and Imagery

Crew

Directed by:
Frank Capra, Arthur S. Black Jr.
Written by:
Frank Capra, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
Produced by:
Frank Capra
Composed by:
Dimitri Tiomkin, Richard Van Hessen, Clem Portman

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about It's a Wonderful Life

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream It's a Wonderful Life legally?

PrimeThe RokuHooplaFawesome

It's a Wonderful Life is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is It's a Wonderful Life worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90/100 (IMDb 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes 94%, and Metacritic 89). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is It's a Wonderful Life rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How long is It's a Wonderful Life?

2 h 11 min

It's a Wonderful Life runs 2 h 11 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on It's a Wonderful Life?

Critics92
Audiences90

Yes. Critics average 92 and audiences 90 out of 100, so both groups see It's a Wonderful Life much the same way.

Was It's a Wonderful Life a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$10 million

Yes. It cost about $3 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 3.0 times its budget.

What language is It's a Wonderful Life in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch It's a Wonderful Life?

136ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+122

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for It's a Wonderful Life in 136 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does It's a Wonderful Life use?

Gender-Equal EnsembleDrama-Preserving HandicapChekhov's ArmoryIgnored EpiphanyWham ShotYet Another Christmas CarolDudley Do-Right Stops to HelpAdaptation Name ChangeVinyl ShattersHappily Failed SuicideWretched HiveEstablishing Character Momentand 320 more

TV Tropes lists 332 storytelling tropes for It's a Wonderful Life, including Gender-Equal Ensemble, Drama-Preserving Handicap, Chekhov's Armory.