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Happiness

Play trailer Poster for Happiness Released Oct 16, 1998 2h 19m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
This dark ensemble-comedy is centered on the three Jordan sisters. Joy (Jane Adams) moves through lackluster jobs with no sense of purpose. Now employed teaching adults, she is dating a student, Russian taxi-driver Vlad (Jared Harris). Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle) is an esteemed poet who becomes amused by her perverted neighbor, Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman). And eldest sister Trish (Cynthia Stevenson) is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a psychiatrist with a very disturbing secret life.
Happiness

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Happiness is far from a cheerful viewing experience, but its grimly humorous script and fearless performances produce a perversely moving search for humanity within everyday depravity.

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Critics Reviews

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Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine Happiness is a caustic, beautiful, funny, tiresome, and brilliant Molotov cocktail. Sep 27, 2024 Full Review Paul Tatara CNN.com As sharp as some of the writing is, Solondz is still not enough of a director to successfully negotiate this emotional minefield. Feb 7, 2018 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: A Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Joshua Ryan FandomWire The fact that Todd Solondz takes such a straightforward approach to telling such a taboo story is exactly why it works; however, its also exactly why its such a difficult film to watch. Rated: 9/10 Oct 1, 2024 Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk caustic to the point of being difficult to watch, but it is also undeniably infused with a sense of shared humanity and empathy for its characters, all of whom are struggling with their own demons Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 30, 2024 Full Review Rudie Obias Battleship Pretension It’s for those who have an open-mind to its themes and characters. Sep 28, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pam K Wonderfully funny while being quite sad in parts. The writing is great! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/10/25 Full Review john h A crudely funny experience contrasted with an in-depth speculation and representation of mental health. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/25 Full Review Mason M Happiness is a genuine masterpiece in its look at humanity and what makes someone human. I tend to really like films that try to let you into the mind and thoughts of people who are often considered terrible by society, and this is one of the best depictions of that I've ever seen. It's an epic of extreme mundanity in all of its equally entertaining plotlines and ensemble of great characters. Where Happiness really succeeds is in how it never mocks or makes fun of any of its characters. It's not a film that just says, "here's some terrible people, watch how terrible they are". Todd Solondz understands the people he's depicting and their desires. And instead of condemning them, he accepts their twisted sexual desires and struggles fitting in as what makes these people human. Other than that, this film is also perfectly paced, it's written to always remain entertaining, the music is great, and the ensemble cast is one of the best ensemble casts ever put to screen. Happiness is a beautiful commentary on society and what it really means to be happy Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/04/25 Full Review Kyle C It’s easy to see why this movie is divisive. I don’t have a problem with divisive movies, taboo themes, or morally questionable main characters. What I do have a problem with is boring-ass movies. This movie follows that weird 2000s trend of telling a bunch of loosely connected stories across a bunch of different characters. It’s never been a genre that made much sense to me; it feels more like padding of the runtime when the filmmakers know they don’t have enough solid material to tell one coherent story. It has its moments, especially in the first few minutes. That’s when most of the laughs are, though you’ll be hard-pressed to emit much more than a chuckle. As the themes get darker and the characters less sympathetic, you’ll find yourself wondering why you’re even watching this. There’s something to be said about a gleefully uncomfortable film, but this is not it. It’s just slow and pointless. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Audience Member Oh come on, disgustingly stupid movie. Not real people. Is everyone so consumed by sex and jerking off? Is sex really so important to you? Then you'll love this nonsense. Maybe it's me... ? Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/04/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o Filme tem um drama um pouco forte, que parece tem não tem muita relevância. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Happiness

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Movie Info

Synopsis This dark ensemble-comedy is centered on the three Jordan sisters. Joy (Jane Adams) moves through lackluster jobs with no sense of purpose. Now employed teaching adults, she is dating a student, Russian taxi-driver Vlad (Jared Harris). Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle) is an esteemed poet who becomes amused by her perverted neighbor, Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman). And eldest sister Trish (Cynthia Stevenson) is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a psychiatrist with a very disturbing secret life.
Director
Todd Solondz
Producer
Ted Hope, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter
Todd Solondz
Distributor
Good Machine International
Production Co
Good Machine, Killer Films
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.0M
Runtime
2h 19m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Surround