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DramaFamilyFantasy Editor's Pick

It's a Wonderful Life Review (1946) — 85% Celluloid Score

Directed by Frank Capra · 1946 ·

Short answer

Is It's a Wonderful Life worth watching?

Yes. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

88% Editorial Rating
90% Audience snapshot · excluded
82 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
8.6 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 11m
Age rating
PG (US) · U (UK) · G (Australia) · 14A (Canada) · G (Japan)
Cast
James Stewart , Donna Reed , Lionel Barrymore , Thomas Mitchell , Henry Travers , Beulah Bondi , Frank Faylen , Ward Bond , Gloria Grahame , H.B. Warner
Streaming
Prime Video
Language
English

Also known as ¡Qué Bello es Vivir! La vie est belle Ist das Leben nicht schön? A Felicidade Não Se Compra 素晴らしき哉、人生！ 멋진 인생 生活多美好 風雲人物

Where to watch

  • Prime Video

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch It's a Wonderful Life by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Prime Video, U-NEXT
United States Prime Video

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (88/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (90%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.6/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, family, fantasy pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is It's a Wonderful Life worth watching?

    Yes — It's a Wonderful Life earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, family, fantasy pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #21 (8.6/10) — It's a Wonderful Life remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is It's a Wonderful Life about?

    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.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English It's a Wonderful Life

    It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Review: Darker Than Its Legend

    It's a Wonderful Life is Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic, and beneath the holiday glow it is a surprisingly raw drama about disappointment, duty and despair.

    Yes. It remains one of the great American films, rewarding for first-timers and holiday rewatchers alike, provided you can accept open-hearted sentiment.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    It's a Wonderful Life stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    It's a Wonderful Life production still 1
    It's a Wonderful Life production still 2
    It's a Wonderful Life production still 3
    It's a Wonderful Life production still 4
    It's a Wonderful Life production still 5
    It's a Wonderful Life production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    It's a Wonderful Life: frequently asked questions

    Is It's a Wonderful Life worth watching?

    Yes. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch It's a Wonderful Life?

    In the United States, It's a Wonderful Life streams on Prime Video with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Prime Video, U-NEXT in Japan. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is It's a Wonderful Life?

    It's a Wonderful Life runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).

    What is It's a Wonderful Life rated?

    It's a Wonderful Life is rated PG in the United States, U in the UK, G in Australia, 14A in Canada and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in It's a Wonderful Life?

    It's a Wonderful Life is directed by Frank Capra and stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers.

    What is the Metascore for It's a Wonderful Life?

    Metacritic's Metascore for It's a Wonderful Life is 82 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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