The Big Picture

  • It's a Wonderful Life was initially a box office bomb and lived in relative obscurity until a copyright error made it available for TV stations to broadcast, boosting its popularity greatly.
  • The film has since become a Christmas classic due to its Christmas Eve setting, themes of hope and gratitude, and its portrayal of the holiday season.
  • The public domain status of the film allowed it to be played on local TV stations all the time, leading to its iconic status and reminding audiences to appreciate what they have.