25 Great Movies That Flopped
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
That’s why once upon a time during Christmas, it was shown about a billion times. Not a single broadcaster had to pay for the rights to screen it.
Not only did the movie lose the studio a great deal of money, it wasn’t a hit with critics at the time of its original release. Many notable critics panned it for being too sappy and overly sentimental.
The critical re-evaluation that has happened in recent decades is a world away from the initial negative reaction. The reaction was so negative that it is almost shocking it became an undisputed Christmas classic.
James Stewart plays the character of George Bailey, a troubled man on the brink of suicide after a series of tragic life events. After driving to a bridge with the intention of ending it all, George is shocked to see another man dive into the water before him.
After rescuing the man, George discovers that it is in fact his guardian angel that has come to show him what the world would be like if he had never been born.
