It's A Wonderful Life poster

It's A Wonderful Life

1946130 minutesPG
5.4
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.6IMDb
🍅 94%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 89/100Metacritic
🎬 8.3TMDb
📊 6.9Popularity
🏆Nominated for 5 Oscars. 11 wins & 7 nominations total
Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Directed by: Frank Capra
George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born.

Box Office

Budget:$3.2M
Revenue:$9.6M
Profit:$6.5M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision2.8/10
Emotional Arc Impact5.5/10
Thematic Consistency8/10
Overall Score5.4/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

It's A Wonderful Life Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
8 min
3
Set-Up
18 min
4
Catalyst
35 min
5
Debate
50 min
6
Break Into Two
65 min
7
B Story
75 min
8
Fun and Games
85 min
9
Midpoint
100 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
110 min
11
All Is Lost
120 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
125 min
13
Break Into Three
128 min
14
Finale
129 min
15
Final Image
130 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Bedford Falls, Christmas Eve. George Bailey dreaming of adventure. Cozy small town established.

#2

Theme Stated

8 min

George: "I wish I had never been born." Theme of purpose, value of life, and community impact.

#3

Set-Up

18 min

George grows up, runs family business, helps townspeople, but frustrated with dreams unfulfilled. Relationships and small-town life established.

#4

Catalyst

35 min

George faces financial ruin due to uncle’s mismanagement. Crisis threatens family and town.

#5

Debate

50 min

George considers giving up. Contemplates suicide. Struggles with sense of failure and regret.

#6

Break Into Two

65 min

Angel Clarence intervenes. George experiences alternate reality. Sees consequences of life without him. New perspective.

#7

B Story

75 min

George sees his relationships’ impact on friends, family, and community. Emotional heart of story.

#8

Fun and Games

85 min

George witnesses town without him. Discovering hidden influence and importance. Learning and emotional exploration.

#9

Midpoint

100 min

George desperate to fix mistakes. Realization that he is valued. Emotional turning point.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

110 min

Town facing financial ruin. George struggles against external pressures. Personal doubts intensify.

#11

All Is Lost

120 min

George feels hopeless. Contemplation of life without him. Lowest point.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

125 min

Clarity emerges. George realizes impact on others. Emotional insight.

#13

Break Into Three

128 min

George returns home. Works to save family and community. Synthesis: understanding self-worth and community ties.

#14

Finale

129 min

Town rallies to save George. Crisis resolved. George embraced by friends and family. Lessons learned.

#15

Final Image

130 min

Christmas morning joy. George happy. Bedford Falls thrives. Life celebrated. Complete emotional resolution.