Jimmy brings attention to a lesser-known part of James Stewart’s life: his service as a combat pilot during World War II. The film centres on a period Stewart rarely discussed with his family, rather than following the usual cradle-to-grave format of a movie-star biopic, according to his daughter Kelly Stewart Harcourt, an executive producer.

Stewart was already a major Hollywood star when the United States entered the war. He had won the Best Actor Oscar for The Philadelphia Story in 1941, but enlisted after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite attempts to keep him from serving, he pushed to take on a military role beyond appearing in recruitment messages. In the film, he persuades Colonel Terrill to give him a chance, eventually commanding a fleet of aircraft and flying dangerous missions over Europe. He rose to the rank of colonel by the end of the war and later became a brigadier general.

Directed by Aaron Burns, Jimmy uses its aerial and combat sequences to depict an experience Stewart never fully explored as an actor. The story then turns to his return to Hollywood, where he doubts whether he can resume his career. Director Frank Capra encourages him to take on It’s a Wonderful Life, in which Stewart plays George Bailey, a man facing despair. The review describes these scenes as especially effective, drawing parallels between Bailey’s depression and Stewart’s struggles after the war, now understood as PTSD.

KJ Apa, known for Riverdale, is praised for capturing Stewart’s voice, manner and self-doubt in a performance described as nuanced rather than an imitation. The supporting cast includes Max Casella as Capra, Christopher McDonald as Lionel Barrymore, Neal McDonough as Stewart’s father, and Jason Alexander as MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer. Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu in It’s a Wonderful Life, also makes a cameo.

The film offers a fresh perspective on Stewart and the making of It’s a Wonderful Life, which was a box-office flop on its initial release despite receiving a Best Picture nomination and earning Stewart another Best Actor nomination. Jimmy is distributed by Fathom Entertainment, directed by Aaron Burns and written by Justin Strawhand. It is rated PG-13, runs two hours and is scheduled for release on November 6, 2026.

Sources: Deadline.