It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!
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.
Rent on Prime Video $3.99 (opens in a new tab) Buy on Prime Video $5.99 (opens in a new tab)
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 20 December 1946 |
| Genre | Drama, Family, Fantasy |
| Director | Frank Capra |
| Starring | James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore |
| Runtime | 131 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 9/10 · Metacritic 89/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 94% · IMDb 8.6/10 · TMDB users 8.3/10 |
| Budget | $3 million |
Where to watch It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is streaming on Prime Video ($13.98 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Prime Video is $13.98 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 31 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent It's a Wonderful Life on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and JustWatch TV Store. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch It's a Wonderful Life in 8 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Australia | Binge $19.00 AUD |
| Belgium | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Canada | Paramount+ |
| Cuba | Prime Video |
| Japan | Prime Video ¥600 JPY, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Netherlands | Prime Video €4.99 |
| South Korea | Watcha |
| Spain | Filmin €9.99 |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Frank Capra directed this 131-minute drama, blending family warmth with a fantasy twist. James Stewart plays a man who built a life around helping others, only to watch his savings vanish on Christmas Eve. The film leans into the melancholy of that loss before pivoting to a redemption arc. It is a story about how much one person’s quiet persistence can hold back a tide of greed. The tagline promises a laugh and a love. It delivers both, though the laughter often arrives with a tear.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 94% as of January 2026. Metacritic scores it 89 out of 100. Time called it a pretty wonderful movie with only one formidable rival. That is high praise, though perhaps a bit warm for a film that premiered to mixed reviews. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times found the sentimentality illusory, noting the characters resemble theatrical attitudes rather than average realities. James Agee of The Nation called it efficient but noted it insults the cooler parts of the mind. The consensus is solid, even if the initial reception was cooler.
How it did with audiences
It cost $3 million and grossed $6 million worldwide, with a later figure of $8 million. In box office terms, that is a modest return. On TMDB, users rate it 8.3 out of 10. IMDb shows an 8.6/10 score as of May 2026. Audiences have always known what the accountants were still calculating.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched It's a Wonderful Life.
Sources
- It's a Wonderful Life on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q204191 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “It's a Wonderful Life” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add It's a Wonderful Life to your list