It's a Wonderful Life

Year

1946

Duration

130 minutes

Genres

Drama, Family, Romance

Language

English (English subtitles)

What is an Into Film Club?

Synopsis

A much-loved family classic, this endearing story introduces to us George Bailey, who one Christmas Eve decides that his life is a failure - he faces bankruptcy, arrest and imprisonment. George, however, has spent a lifetime putting others first, and before he takes any rash action, angel Clarence is sent down to earth to show him how his good deeds have done so much for others - and how much worse the world would be had George never lived.

Director/s

Frank Capra

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to It's a Wonderful Life (1946) to use in your teaching

What is an Into Film Club?

Classification

Contains no material likely to offend or harm

Find out more on the BBFC website

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to It's a Wonderful Life (1946) to use in your teaching

Resources To Use With This Film

Into Film Festive Quiz 2021

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

Our annual festive quiz is back with a brand new set of questions on a range of seasonal classics and feel-good...

Suitable for 5–11

2 ppt

2 pdf

View resource

Into Film's Christmas Quiz 2020

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

After a long year, enjoy watching some festive classics and have fun testing your club members with our Christmas Quiz!

Suitable for All ages

8 ppt

8 pdf

View resource

Resource

Into Film's Festive Quiz 2022

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

Enjoy a brand new edition of the annual Into Film Festive Quiz to round off another busy school term!

Suitable for All ages

2 ppt

2 pdf

View resource

It's a Wonderful Life: Film Guide

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

A film guide that looks at It's a Wonderful Life (1946), exploring its key topics and themes through informal...

Suitable for 11–14

1 ppt

View resource

Related Films

A Matter Of Life And Death(1946)

A gorgeous Technicolor fantasy - in a WWII setting - that puts the emphasis on celebrating life over fearing death.

451 Reviews

Certificate

11+ years 100 mins

Scrooge(1951)

Spooky version of the classic Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, in which a tightfisted boss is shown Christmas Eve visions to make him change his ways.

201 Reviews

Certificate

11–16 years 82 mins

An Inspector Calls(1954)

Stream on Into Film+

Alastair Sim is perfect as the all-knowing visitor in this adaptation of JB Priestley's most famous play.

8 Reviews

Certificate

11–16 years 80 mins

Groundhog Day(1993)

How many of us wish we had the chance to re-live a day all over again? In this classic comedy, that's exactly what TV weatherman Phil Connors gets.

508 Reviews

Certificate

11+ years 97 mins

Rate this film

Club Leaders can rate films! Help other club leaders decide if this film is suitable for use in their film club by giving it a rating.

Rate this film

Your rating

Click a star to rate this film

Ratings guide

Worked brilliantly
Went down well
Had some value
Did not enjoy it
Would not use again

Member rating

833 Reviews

Members rating breakdown

5 Star

288

4 Star

202

3 Star

167

2 Star

1 Star

View all reviews

Leader rating

This film has not been rated by a club leader yet. Be the first to rate this film.

Start an Into Film Club or Log in to rate this film

Sort reviews by

Viewing 0 of 0 Reviews found.

Into Film Clubs

Into Film Clubs provide opportunities to watch, review and make films.

Start an Into Film Club

Do I Need a Licence?

Information on which licences you need to show films in your education setting.

Find out more

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Find out more about what's involved in running your very own Into Film Club.

Find out more

Training

Learn to use film to raise literacy attainment and engage students.

Members of Harlaw Academy Into Film Club hosting a stall to promote club

A library-set Into Film Club that engages with films from all eras

14 Dec 2018 in Into Film Club of the Month

From Marvel to the Marx Brothers, Into Film Club leader Alison Ustun explains how showing films from all eras has proved a big hit with her club members.

Reading time 6 mins

View Article

Enter our Festive Review 500 Competition

30 Nov 2021

We're running a special festive edition of our ongoing Review 500 competition. Encourage young people to review one of the festive films on Into Film+ to win.

Reading time 3 mins

View Article

Junior Into Film Club at St Ninian's, Scotland

How Into Film Clubs can get young people writing

15 Jan 2019 in Into Film Club of the Month

Our latest Into Film Club of the Month is a double-header from St Ninian’s High School, Scotland, which boasts both a Junior and Senior Into Film Club.

Reading time 5 mins

View Article

How to keep a superhero story fresh with 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

11 Jul 2017 BY Joe Ursell in Film Features

We explore the clever ways Spider-Man: Homecoming keeps Peter Parker's story fresh and brings everyone's favourite web-slinger back into the Marvel fold.

Reading time 8 mins

View Article

Marvel gets metaphysical with 'Doctor Strange'

28 Oct 2016 BY Joe Ursell in Film Features

We take a look at the lofty ideas and incredible production design that make Doctor Strange Marvel's most adventurous movie to date.

Reading time 7 mins

View Article

Our Festive Film Favourites

29 Nov 2016 in Film Features

Christmas classics, lesser-known gems, and a somewhat terrifying side of Santa - enjoy our Programming team's festive film favourites for Primary and Secondary.

Reading time 7 mins

View Article

<p>This playlist features highlights from the films <em>A Christmas Carol</

Stream Festive Favourites with Into Film+

05 Dec 2023 in Into Film+

Bring the holiday spirit into your classroom by streaming some festive favourites with Into Film+. Plus, refer a friend to Into Film+ and enter our prize draw!

Reading time 8 mins

View Article

Into Film Club of the Month Feb 2018 - Llanharan Primary School, Wales

The importance of getting young people into the cinema

12 Feb 2018 in Into Film Club of the Month

We spoke to Rhys Roberts, leader of our Into Film Club of the Month February 2018, who explains why getting children in to cinemas is such a rich experience.

Reading time 5 mins

View Article

Christmas on Film

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

A list of Christmas themed films on Into Film+ and Into Film+ Premium for primary and secondary students to get into the festive spirit.

Suitable forAll ages

No. of films18

View film list

Viewing 0 of 0 related items.

It's a Wonderful Life

Film Details

Year

Duration

Genres

Language

Synopsis

Director/s

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Additional details

Classification

Engaging for ages

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Resources To Use With This Film

Into Film Festive Quiz 2021

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

Into Film's Christmas Quiz 2020

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

Into Film's Festive Quiz 2022

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

It's a Wonderful Life: Film Guide

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

Related Films

A Matter Of Life And Death(1946)

A Matter Of Life And Death(1946)

Scrooge(1951)

Scrooge(1951)

An Inspector Calls(1954)

An Inspector Calls(1954)

Groundhog Day(1993)

Groundhog Day(1993)

Rate this film

Your rating

Member rating

Leader rating

Reviews (832)

Into Film Clubs

Do I Need a Licence?

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Training

You may also be interested in...

A library-set Into Film Club that engages with films from all eras

Enter our Festive Review 500 Competition

How Into Film Clubs can get young people writing

How to keep a superhero story fresh with 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

Marvel gets metaphysical with 'Doctor Strange'

Our Festive Film Favourites

Stream Festive Favourites with Into Film+

The importance of getting young people into the cinema

Christmas on Film

Christmas Day, 25 Dec

What our educators say