The ‘best Christmas movie – or any movie’ has arrived on Amazon Prime

It’s December, we’ve all officially shifted into festive mode – and a film widely considered the best Christmas movie of all time is now available to stream.

In fact, whether it’s Christmas or not, It’s A Wonderful Life is considered one of the greatest films ever committed to celluloid.

Anyone who missed its legendary cinematic charm can get their fix by watching it via Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

Its fans have hailed it as ‘a triumph’, ‘ahead of its time’ and ‘the absolute pinnacle of cinema’, while it has also been included in several lists of the best and greatest films, such as those by the American Film Institute (AFI) and the 2002 Channel 4 television special, ‘The 100 Greatest Films’, which airs annually.

Directed by legendary filmmaker Frank Capra, It’s A Wonderful Life was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1947 but initially received mixed reviews and failed to make a profit at the box office – or break even.

However, all that changed in the following 79 years with the film – which tells the story of George Bailey (James Stewart), an ambitious man trapped in a small town who wishes he had never been born and is shown that version of reality – consistently being showered with praise.

It’s A Wonderful Life also stars Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi and Gloria Grahame, and is based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s self-published 1943 short story The Greatest Gift – inspired by Charles Dickens’ seasonal favorite, A Christmas Carol.

We are introduced to George through the prayers of his worried family and friends on Christmas Eve 1945 at the start of the film.

Contemplating suicide after years of putting the needs of others before realizing his personal dreams, a guardian angel in training, Clarence Odbody (Mitchell), is tasked with saving George and earning his wings by showing him what life would be like without him.

‘By far the most extraordinary film I have ever seen,’ enthused Thomas B in a five-star fan reaction on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, while Nathaniel P commented: ‘A holiday classic is an understatement, this is a truly life-changing film.’

Javier A said that he considered it a ‘cinematic miracle’ and Greg S added: ‘The best story ever written and the best film ever made. A masterpiece of cinema! I first watched it when I was 10 years old over half a century ago and it gets better every time I watch it.’

‘It captures something profound about what it means to live a good life and does so in a sweet, funny, and engaging way. This makes it a GREAT movie, and not just a Christmas movie,’ argued Daniel J.

Meanwhile Cade H admitted that the move is ‘considered by many to be the absolute pinnacle of cinema, and makes perfect sense’, adding: ‘It’s not a question of whether you should watch it, but how many times you will end up watching it.’

But It’s A Wonderful Life devotees should beware as last year Amazon Prime came under fire for only offering an ‘abridged’ version of the film that cut out a key 23-minute section, known as the Pottersville scene, in which George and Clarence talk about suicidal thoughts before an angel shows him how bleak life would be if he wasn’t around.

Luckily this time, that part – arguably the heart of the film – remains.

It’s A Wonderful Life currently holds a 94% rating from critics on the platform from 97 reviews, which is a remarkable consensus considering films often see their scores drop as time goes on.

‘What’s remarkable about It’s a Wonderful Life is how well it has held up over the years; “it’s one of those ageless films, like Casablanca or The Third Man, that improves with age,” said critic Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times in 2000.

“It’s a gem for any time of year and, as such, is an essential part of any film fan’s collection,” added Liz Moody for Empire.

It’s A Wonderful Life was the third film Capra and lead actor Stewart collaborated on after 1938’s You Can’t Take It with You and 1939’s Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

It’s A Wonderful Life is streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.

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