10 Iconic Movies That Were Initially Critical Flops
3. It's A Wonderful Life
One of the most famously inspirational movies ever made, It's A Wonderful Life was directed by Frank Capra and is legitimately one of the most famous movies of all time. It is rightly considered a staple of Christmas culture and has seeped into wider culture thanks to the enormous affection its garnered.
But early reception for the movie was a mixed bag. While it was nominated for five Academy Awards - including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor - many critics weren't quick to lavish it with praise. One infamous review from The New Yorker was so strongly negative it might make you wince in pain.
It was a clerical error that put the film in the popular domain far earlier than it should have been that changed perception and cemented its legacy. Thanks to its rights lapsing, the film was syndicated heavily on TV in late 1970s, which kick-started appreciation for the classic.