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It's a Wonderful Life

  • 1946
  • PG
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
501K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,669
23
James Stewart and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Home Video Trailer from Artisan
Play trailer1:00
14 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaFamilyFantasy

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Frances Goodrich
    • Albert Hackett
    • Frank Capra
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Donna Reed
    • Lionel Barrymore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    501K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,669
    23
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Frances Goodrich
      • Albert Hackett
      • Frank Capra
    • Stars
      • James Stewart
      • Donna Reed
      • Lionel Barrymore
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 175Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #21
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos14

    It's a Wonderful Life
    Trailer 1:00
    Watch It's a Wonderful Life
    10 Top-Rated Holiday Classics to Stream Now
    Clip 2:12
    Watch 10 Top-Rated Holiday Classics to Stream Now
    Holiday Movie or Not?
    Clip 3:12
    Watch Holiday Movie or Not?
    Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman Find Hope in Powerful, Eclectic Films
    Clip 8:43
    Watch Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman Find Hope in Powerful, Eclectic Films
    What to Watch: Holiday Movies on Prime Video for the Whole Family
    Clip 2:09
    Watch What to Watch: Holiday Movies on Prime Video for the Whole Family
    Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    Clip 2:06
    Watch Holiday Movies and TV Specials That Get You in the Spirit
    It's a Wonderful Life
    Clip 0:37
    Watch It's a Wonderful Life
    It's a Wonderful Life
    Clip 0:46
    Watch It's a Wonderful Life
    It's a Wonderful Life
    Clip 1:07
    Watch It's a Wonderful Life
    It's a Wonderful Life
    Clip 0:55
    Watch It's a Wonderful Life
    It's A Wonderful Life: Every Time A Bell Rings
    Clip 4:22
    Watch It's A Wonderful Life: Every Time A Bell Rings
    It's A Wonderful Life
    Clip 3:03
    Watch It's A Wonderful Life

    Photos205

    Frank Capra and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, Jimmy Hawkins, and Larry Simms in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Jimmy Hawkins, and Larry Simms in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Thomas Mitchell, Mary Treen, and Charles Williams in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Ernie Adams, Ellen Corby, and Jimmy the Crow in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart and Henry Travers in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and Jimmy Hawkins in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Ward Bond, Donna Reed, Gloria Grahame, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Todd Karns, Thomas Mitchell, Lillian Randolph, H.B. Warner, and Charles Williams in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart and Karolyn Grimes in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, Jimmy Hawkins, and Larry Simms in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

    Cast99+

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • George Bailey
    Donna Reed
    Donna Reed
    • Mary Hatch
    Lionel Barrymore
    Lionel Barrymore
    • Mr. Potter
    Thomas Mitchell
    Thomas Mitchell
    • Uncle Billy
    Henry Travers
    Henry Travers
    • Clarence
    Beulah Bondi
    Beulah Bondi
    • Mrs. Bailey
    Frank Faylen
    Frank Faylen
    • Ernie
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Bert
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Violet
    H.B. Warner
    H.B. Warner
    • Mr. Gower
    Frank Albertson
    Frank Albertson
    • Sam Wainwright
    Todd Karns
    Todd Karns
    • Harry Bailey
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • Pa Bailey
    Mary Treen
    Mary Treen
    • Cousin Tilly
    Virginia Patton
    Virginia Patton
    • Ruth Dakin
    Charles Williams
    • Cousin Eustace
    Sarah Edwards
    Sarah Edwards
    • Mrs. Hatch
    • (as Sara Edwards)
    William Edmunds
    • Mr. Martini
    • (as Bill Edmunds)
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Frances Goodrich
      • Albert Hackett
      • Frank Capra
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the scene that required Donna Reed to throw a rock through the window of the Granville house, director Frank Capra hired a marksman to shoot it out on cue. To everyone's amazement, Reed broke the window by herself. She had played baseball in high school and had a strong throwing arm.
    • Goofs
      At one point George (James Stewart) calls Violet (Gloria Grahame), Gloria.
    • Quotes

      Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

    • Crazy credits
      A ringing facsimile of the Liberty Bell (without the crack) forms the backdrop for the studio logo, which is Liberty Films, and the opening credits are in a scrapbook with Christmas decorations. The bell reappears before the end credits, and the end credits have a Christmas card picture as a backdrop.
    • Alternate versions
      Pre-2006 home entertainment releases and NBC broadcasts had the 1994 version of Republic Pictures logo (in color) at the start.
    • Connections
      Edited into Have Rocket -- Will Travel (1959)
    • Soundtracks
      Buffalo Gal (Won't You Come Out Tonight)
      (uncredited)
      Written by William Cool White

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Sheer brilliance!
    After strong performances in films such as "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" and "The Philadelphia Story", James Stewart confirmed his status as one of the greats with his performance as George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life". This movie is, without a doubt, the best of all time.

    "It's a Wonderful Life" is a movie that you can watch over and over again. It's movie that makes you think, about life in general and how each person makes a difference, and about how great life can be (hence the title "It's a Wonderful Life). Whilst making you think, it also entertains with many light hearted moments, particularly towards the end of the film.

    The direction, sound and casting in "It's a Wonderful Life" are second to none. Yet it is the fact that almost any person can watch this movie and come away feeling inspired that makes it easily the best movie of all time!

    A 10/10 without a doubt!
    helpful•220
    43
    • bradman2000
    • Apr 17, 2000

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    FAQ30

    • How long is It's a Wonderful Life?Powered by Alexa
    • Assuming Harry followed George to the hill. If George was never born, then why would Harry be sledding on that hill?
    • Why would the board members side with Potter if George refused to take over the Building & Loan?
    • What if Uncle Billy was the one who wanted to commit suicide? Would Clarence have been like, "yeah, Bedford Falls would've been better off if you hadn't lost the $8,000?"

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
    • Filming locations
      • 4587 Viro Road, La Cañada Flintridge, California, USA(exterior of Martini's house)
    • Production company
      • Liberty Films (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,180,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,483,643
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $44,000
      • Dec 20, 2020
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,767,242
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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