It's a Wonderful Life
“It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Paramount Movies TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-12-10
Top Cast
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James Stewart
George Bailey
Donna Reed
Mary Hatch
Lionel Barrymore
Mr. Potter
Thomas Mitchell
Uncle Billy
Henry Travers
Clarence
Beulah Bondi
Mrs. Bailey
Frank Faylen
Ernie
Ward Bond
Bert
Gloria Grahame
Violet
H.B. Warner
Mr. Gower
Frank Albertson
Sam Wainwright
Todd Karns
Harry Bailey
Samuel S. Hinds
Pa Bailey
Mary Treen
Cousin Tilly
Virginia Patton
Ruth Dakin
Charles Williams
Cousin Eustace
Sarah Edwards
Mrs. Hatch
William Edmunds
Mr. Martini
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
December 20, 1946
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 13, 2013
VOD & Digital Platforms
October 29, 2019
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3.2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$9.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.03x
+$6.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Frank Capra
- Screenplay & Story
- Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
- Original Score
- Dimitri Tiomkin
- Original Title
- It's a Wonderful Life
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 11m
- Production Budget
- $3.2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $9.6M
- Production Studios
- Liberty Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Frank Capra
Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Philip Van Doren Stern
Dimitri Tiomkin
Joseph F. Biroc, Joseph Walker
William Hornbeck
Frank Capra
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Capra
Director
Frank Capra
Producer
Joseph F. Biroc
Director of Photography
Joseph Walker
Director of Photography
William Hornbeck
Editor
Frances Goodrich
Screenplay
Albert Hackett
Screenplay
Frank Capra
Screenplay
Dimitri Tiomkin
Original Music Composer
Edward Stevenson
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for It's a Wonderful Life.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring It's a Wonderful Life.
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Frequently Asked Questions About It's a Wonderful Life
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
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.
Who directed It's a Wonderful Life?
It's a Wonderful Life was directed by Frank Capra.
Who stars in It's a Wonderful Life?
The principal cast of It's a Wonderful Life includes James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers.
When was It's a Wonderful Life released and how long is it?
It's a Wonderful Life was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 2h 11m.
What was the box office and production budget of It's a Wonderful Life?
It's a Wonderful Life had a reported production budget of $3.2M and grossed $9.6M at the worldwide box office (3.03 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for It's a Wonderful Life?
The original motion picture soundtrack for It's a Wonderful Life was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin.
What is the age rating and content advisory for It's a Wonderful Life?
It's a Wonderful Life holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: 14A; DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).