It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

All Critics (60) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (4) | DVD (32)

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.

December 4, 2012 Full Review

Rich Cohen

Salon.com

Top Critic

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.

August 31, 2012 Full Review

Manny Farber

The New Republic

Top Critic

It's a Wonderful Life is a pretty wonderful movie.

December 5, 2008 Full Review

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

The epiphany of movie sentiment and a transcendent experience.

June 26, 2007 Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The April-air wholesomeness and humanism of this natural bring back vividly the reminder that, essentially, the screen best offers unselfconscious, forthright entertainment.

June 26, 2007 Full Review

Bert Briller

Variety

Top Critic

Regardless of whether or not you believe in angels, it's a wonderful movie.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Top Critic

This is the all-time great, curl-up-on-the-sofa-with-a-cup-of-tea movie. Not only is it beautifully photographed, but it also contains enough emotional strength to hold your attention for all of its two-hour running time.

December 4, 2012 Full Review

Total Film

I wasn't able to get reasonably straight about it for quite a while. I still think it has a good deal of charm and quality, enough natural talent involved in it to make ten pictures ten times as good, and terrific vitality or, rather, vigor.

August 31, 2012 Full Review

James Agee

The Nation

Frank Capra's unlikely, uplifting paean to the pitfalls and pleasures of a simple, small-town existence remains a vital work and Paramount has done a respectable job transferring it to Blu-ray.

December 17, 2011 Full Review

Chris Cabin

Slant Magazine

This classic delivers warmth all year long.

January 2, 2011 Full Review

Randy White

Common Sense Media

Is the movie corny? Often. Is it moving in the most basic, moral way? Every year we watch it.

November 28, 2010 Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

One could use It's a Wonderful Life to teach their children values: compassion, selflessness, loyalty, and self-respect.

March 17, 2010 Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

A great American-ization of the classic Scrooge tale, told from the POV of Bob Cratchet.

December 21, 2009 Full Review

Dan Jardine

Apollo Guide

I understand the concern some people may have about buying a high-definition edition of an old B&W film. I can say without hesitation, I'd do it. (Blu-ray Collector's Edition)

November 5, 2009 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Raise your hand if you think 'It's A Wonderful Life' is mushy, sentimental, over-praised hokum. Now, go to your room. Both of you.

November 5, 2009 Full Review | Comment (1)

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

If you can separate - or rescue - It's a Wonderful Life from its niche as a Christmas classic, you might discover a film that swings wildly from noirlike starkness to saccharine bathos.

December 12, 2008 Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A genuine American classic.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian [UK]

You'd have to possess a very hard heart not to find something to love in this story.

November 27, 2007 Full Review

Fran Hortop

Film4

It ain't just hype; it really is a true holiday classic.

November 17, 2007 Full Review

Will Harris

Bullz-Eye.com

Capra's film should be freed from its syrupy holiday status, but, like Clarence the angel, this mostly recycled Collector's Set lacks wings.

November 16, 2007 Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

Without overlooking its lapses into populist bathos, it's necessary to rescue It's a Wonderful Life from its spot at the centerpiece of untouchable American "classics."

November 16, 2007 Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

George Bailey and Bedford Falls never looked so good!

November 6, 2007 Full Review

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

• 1. George Bailey: Am I talking too much?
  2. House Owner: Yes! Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?
  3. George Bailey: How's that?
  4. House Owner: I said why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?
  5. George Bailey: ...You want me to kiss her, huh?
  6. House Owner: Oh, youth is wasted on the wrong people!
  – Submitted by Sarah K (4 months ago)
• 1. George Bailey: I don't have your money. It's in Tom's house... and Fred's house.
  – Submitted by Aaron S (4 months ago)
• 1. Zuzu Bailey: Teacher says, 'Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.'
  – Submitted by Frances H (4 months ago)
• 1. Uncle Billy: They did it, they did it, George, they voted Potter down. And they only had one condition, and that's the best part. They want you to run the Building and Loan.
  2. George Bailey: No, no, this is my last chance to get away from here. Harry Bailey is your man, he will run the Building and Loan.
  3. Uncle Billy: But George, they'll vote with Potter otherwise...
  – Submitted by Stan D (5 months ago)
• 1. George Bailey: My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleedin'!
  – Submitted by Nik M (8 months ago)
• 1. Clarence: [to George] 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?
  – Submitted by Lauren V (9 months ago)