Why It’s the Best
Once the movie was given to the public for at-home viewing, it became a sensation. It allowed for broadcasting without royalty fees and the bureaucracy of licensing. The movie is recognized as one of the 100 Best American Films ever made by the American Film Institute.
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Every Christmas, director Capra would screen the movie for his family. He considered it among his favorites ever made. “It’s a Wonderful Life” was also added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990 because of its historical and cultural significance. It was honored with five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.