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Prime Video Under Fire for Abridged ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ That Cuts a Pivotal Sequence

The issue traces to the film’s unusual rights, not a creative choice by Amazon.

Overview

  • Viewers found a shortened edition on Prime Video labeled as abridged, with reports putting its runtime 12–22 minutes under the 130-minute original.
  • The cut removes a late-film sequence widely regarded as central to the story, drawing sharp criticism from subscribers on social media.
  • Prime Video is reported to carry both full and abridged editions, though users describe confusing listings, while some playback screens do flag the shorter cut.
  • Legal analyses point to the film entering the public domain in 1974 while rights to the underlying short story and musical score continued, allowing rights-free edits that omit protected material.
  • Outlets say Amazon has not offered a public explanation, despite requests for comment as complaints continue.