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It's a Wonderful Life

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    This classic delivers warmth all year long.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship, loss
updated 11.10.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The movie conveys an important message about the value of an individual life and how one person's actions affect all those around him. It's 1946, and George's younger brother chases their black maid, trying to grab her butt. While she is treated warmly by the family, it is clear she is a servant and a subordinate.
  • Role models:

    An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman, George Bailey, by showing what life would had been like if he never existed. It's a classic for good reason.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Gunshots. A short fist fight. For a brief moment, George knocks over the furniture and loses his temper. It's a tough scene when George is slapped by Mr. Bower.
  • Sex:

    A naked woman in a shrubbery. Nothing is seen and it's very funny.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of It's a Wonderful Life was written by Randy White

Parents need to know that this classic is both sweet and knowing. Teens will love it as an engaging story that takes on the human condition in all its complexity. It features a witty screenplay and a grand old score. See it in its original, glorious black and white. Younger kids may be drawn in by George as a youth.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the film's more disturbing aspects. For instance, George contemplates suicide because he thinks he failed in his life.
  • Families may want to talk about how each family member enhances each person's life and discuss how to show that every day.
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More on It's a Wonderful Life

What’s the Story?

Frank Capra's bittersweet, heartwarming movie about a man who comes to realize the value of his own life has been a Christmas favorite for years. At the story's center is George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a man with big plans whose even bigger heart keeps him from leaving his hometown. When George wishes he were never born, an angel shows him the tremendous impact he has had on his community.

Is It Any Good?

No matter how often you see this perennial Christmas favorite, you will be entranced. Flawless. Indeed, it has become such a familiar part of the holiday landscape that those who have never seen it might dismiss it as "Capra-corn," sentimental and syrupy. In fact, the movie's vision is that of a dark-edged world in which heroes are necessary. George discovers that his existence has saved his community from the cruelty of robber barons and, more importantly, from its own greed and shortsightedness.

Made just after the war, this movie was a favorite for both leading man Jimmy Stewart and director Frank Capra. And it's easy to see why. There's a delightful song and dance sequence, visually witty moments like the dance floor that converts into a swimming pool during a feverish Charleston competition, and sophisticated dialogue. Stewart gives the performance of a lifetime. Alternately affable and bitter, he is the movie's little-man hero. And if the movie is about broken dreams, it's conclusion is that these broken dreams can turn out to be a blessing.

Movie Details

Studio: RKO, Director: Frank Capra
Run time: 125 minutes
DVD release: 9/19/1995
MPAA Rating: NR

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    It's a OK.

    When I watched it's a Wonderful Life. I got quite interested. This isn't the best movie to watch thought if your looking for a appropriate movie. It is a little iffy but it does show what it was like in the 1900's.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    Kids ages: 12
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Reassure first-time viewers

    We thought our 11-yr-old was ready for it, but he questioned the suicide theme, and the scene where George gets hit and his ear bleeds. He liked it in the end, but was disturbed several times at our choice! As adults, we tend to wrap it in the good feelings from the end of the movie, but a first-time young viewer may need reassurance.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    Kids ages: 11
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    It's a Wonderful Life

    A classic movie the whole family can watch and charish together. 5 stars for sure.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Cool but what

    I liked this movie! For some reason, his bleeding lip bothered me. IDK why.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    Kids ages: 7, 10
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    A true classic!

    We absolutely love this movie in my house. Well, I do! My 9 year old watched it with me all the way through the other night...a little hard for her attention span, but she loved the ending. It has a great message to send to all ages!

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