10 Classic Films Critics Originally Hated

10. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Many critics believed Hollywood titan Frank Capra had lost his mojo with this Christmas extravaganza. Released shortly after the end of World War II, It's A Wonderful Life was intended as an uplifting, life-affirming drama. Instead, it was widely dismissed as saccharine and cheesy with many struggling to take its sentimentality seriously.

Even the FBI got their digs in thanks to Lionel Barrymore's villainous, Scrooge-incarnate performance as the banker Mr Potter. With the Cold War gearing up already, the Bureau claimed that the Potter character was an example of Communist propaganda designed to incite distrust and even hatred towards the upper class.

The poor reviews added to the film's box office setbacks, with it not even approaching breaking even. Despite several Academy Award nominations, the film ultimately fell by the wayside for many years until its entry into the public domain. With its broadcast unencumbered by royalties and licensing, it reached a wide audience on the small screen from 1976 onwards.

With the benefit of hindsight, Capra's personal favourite effort was reappraised as arguably the greatest and most important holiday film out there.