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Trailer

It's a Wonderful Life

1946Movie2 h 11 minPG

DramaFamily
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.6Letterboxd4.5/5Metacritic898.8Rotten Tomatoes94%95%

A nostalgic, heartwarming drama movie about family and fantasy, with standout direction and performances.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for brutality, adrenaline or laughs.

Movies with

Story

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.

Feels like

  • Definitive Christmas Classic
  • Emotional Catharsis
  • Idealistic Small-Town America
  • Supernatural Intervention
  • Deeply Wholesome
  • Poignant Family Drama
  • Timeless Nostalgia
  • Hopeful Humanism
  • Iconic Score and Imagery

Cast

24 of 77

Crew

Directed by
Frank Capra
Written by
Frank Capra, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
Produced by
Frank Capra
Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 20, 1946 · 2 h 11 min · PG

Released
December 20, 1946
Runtime
2 h 11 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Drama, Family, Fantasy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$10 million
Available in
136 countries

Tropes

Gender-Equal Ensemble, Drama-Preserving Handicap, Chekhov's Armory +9

  • Gender-Equal Ensemble
  • Drama-Preserving Handicap
  • Chekhov's Armory
  • Ignored Epiphany
  • Wham Shot
  • Yet Another Christmas Carol
  • Dudley Do-Right Stops to Help
  • Adaptation Name Change
  • Vinyl Shatters
  • Happily Failed Suicide
  • Wretched Hive
  • Establishing Character Moment

12 of 332 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream It's a Wonderful Life?"

Questions about It's a Wonderful Life

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream It's a Wonderful Life?

PrimeParamount+The RokuHooplaPlexFawesomePeacock Premium+

In the United States, It's a Wonderful Life streams on Prime, Paramount+, and Peacock, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, JustWatch TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 77 other countries.

Is It's a Wonderful Life worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.6, Letterboxd 4.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 94%, and Metacritic 89).

Is It's a Wonderful Life okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Is It's a Wonderful Life plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is It's a Wonderful Life good for date night?

and 5 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 7 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

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 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 tropes for it, including Gender-Equal Ensemble, Drama-Preserving Handicap, and Chekhov's Armory.