Classic 'It's A Wonderful Life' started as a box office flop that critics dismissed: 'Embarrassing'

"[Capra] is trying for the big, meaningful sentiments and as often as not falling into embarrassing theatrics," wrote Archer Winsten in The Post. "The weakness of this picture, from this reviewer's point of view, is the sentimentality of it," echoed Bosley Crowther in the Times.

Despite initially struggling at the box office, 'It's A Wonderful Life' became a beloved Christmas classic, showcasing the surprising endurance of art beyond its initial reception.

Though 'It's A Wonderful Life' grossed $3.3 million, it still fell short of breaking even due to its high production budget, leading to its initial poor reception.

After its challenging release in 1946 which resulted in it being overlooked, 'It's A Wonderful Life' took more than 30 years to gain recognition as a Christmas favorite.

Read at New York Post