Alone on Christmas Day? 10 movies to watch plus their perfect snack pairings

It’s A Wonderful Life  so let’s eat our favorite comfort food

If you’ve ever felt that maybe you weren’t really making a difference in the world, or regretted having dreams for your life that you had to release, It’s A Wonderful Life belongs on your must-view movie list for Christmas alone.

The inimitable Frank Capra produced and directed the movie, with the equally inimitable James Stewart playing the lead role of George Bailey. Will George end on his life on Christmas Eve? Not if his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, can prevent it.

Through the years, It’s a Wonderful Life has remained a classic. In addition to earning five Academy Award nominations, the movie ranked number one on the American Film Institute’s list of the most inspirational American films of all time.

The cast includes some of Hollywood’s most talented performers at the time, including Donna Reed as Mary Hatch, Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter, and Henry Travers as the sweet angel. As for why It’s A Wonderful Life has meant so much to so many viewers, Biography reports that Frank Captra reflected on what his favorite movie meant to him.

“No man is a failure and every man has something to do with his life,” said Capra of the theme. “If he is born, he is born to do something.”

Although James Stewart gets most of the acclaim when movie critics discuss the classic, Donna Reed delighted the cast as well as the crew when the cameras were turned off. Reed was raised as the oldest of five kids on a farm in Iowa. When Lionel Barrymore bet Reed to milk a cow on the set, she was a success. She took home $50 from the famous actor.

When you’re choosing a snack to enjoy while you watch It’s A Wonderful Life, we recommend your favorite comfort food. Grilled cheese and soup? A baked potato loaded with butter? A plate of crackers topped with peanut butter?