Fresh
It's a Wonderful Life is a wonderful title for a motion picture about which practically everyone who sees it will agree that it's wonderful entertainment.
Jack D. Grant, Hollywood Reporter
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!
1946 · 2h 10m · PG
Drama, Family, Fantasy
Directed by
Frank Capra
Overview
A holiday favourite for generations... 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.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
94%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The most well-loved of all Christmas movies.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Fresh
It's a Wonderful Life is about hunger. It's about greed. It's about the many ways a good man is stymied. Finally, it's about George Bailey, whose decency prevents him even from killing himself.
Rich Cohen, Salon.com
Rotten
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.
Manny Farber, The New Republic
Fresh
The epiphany of movie sentiment and a transcendent experience.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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