It's a Wonderful Life

Play trailer

1:42

It's a Wonderful Life

PG

In Theaters Dec 18

2h 9m

Holiday

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Coming Soon

In Theaters Dec 18

Buy Tickets

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Go to Full Review

Karen Krizanovich

Little White Lies

12/14/2018

5/5

There's sex and death here, elation and depression, hope and despair.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Raquel Stecher

The Movie Palace Podcast

12/18/2023

"an enduring classic... timeless"

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

elizabeth

Feb 20

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

See more

Boon

Dec 27

A classic for a reason

See more

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

See more

carlyn

Dec 26

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

See more

Michael M

Dec 26

A+++++ Classic Great heart warming film

See more

Marleen L

Dec 25

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

It's a Wonderful Life: Trailer 1

1:42

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Citizen Kane

99%

98%

Citizen Kane

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Citizen Kane

The Graduate

87%

90%

The Graduate

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Graduate

Christmas Eve

0%

51%

Christmas Eve

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Christmas Eve

Kotch

75%

68%

Kotch

Watchlist

Little Murders

71%

80%

Little Murders

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

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)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings