Hector and the Search for Happiness

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Hector and the Search for Happiness

R

2014

1h 54m

Comedy

Drama

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

38%

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86 Reviews

61%

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5,000+ Ratings

Disillusioned with the tedium of his existence, psychiatrist Hector confesses to his girlfriend that he feels he is a fraud for dispensing recommendations to patients who never seem to improve or get any happier. He considers breaking out of his lackluster routine. Summoning up some courage, Hector gives his starved curiosity free rein and embarks on an international quest to find the right formula to bring him joy and vitality.

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Critics Consensus

Simon Pegg remains as charming as ever, but Hector and the Search for Happiness drowns his appeal in schmaltz.

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Martin Tsai

Los Angeles Times

Hector may indeed learn that narcissism stands in the way of happiness, but he also walks away with his privileges intact and unchallenged.

Dec 23, 2014

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

Staggering out of Hector and The Search For Happiness, I had the impression of having witnessed an unequivocal fiasco, a film no human being would be likely to enjoy.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 24, 2014

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Think of EAT, PRAY, LOVE which has a similar sort of journey and this is so much better than that.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 17, 2014

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Kip Mooney

Central Track

Want to be happy? Don't waste your time or money on this movie.

Aug 10, 2021

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Feels like Michel Gondry Lite, but when it and Pegg let the whimsy go, it can be an affecting story.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 1, 2021

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Jamie Neish

CineVue

Doesn't seem to be in possession of any form of moral compass, and all traces of humanity have been sucked dry by a need to be whimsy for whimsy's sake.

Rated: 1/5

Aug 13, 2018

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Grace C

Middle aged white guy has a very mild existential crisis and makes it everyone else's problem to solve. The unnamed country broadly referred to as "Africa" is an espically hard bit of the film to watch due to unbearable levels of white egotistical cringe. Pegg's lowest point! But it makes sense when you see the director and writer's preceeding movie was The Hannah Montana Film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

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Michele M

I believe Simon Pegg a great actor with a subtle and refined sense of humour but also a great humanity and this movie totally reveals that! Cameos with great actors like Jean Reno, Stellan Statgard etc. also make the movie very enjoyable!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

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Dani G

Is is me, or this has a Walter Mitty like vibe?

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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Sandy H

I loved this movie. It was a well-told story mixing serious and light-hearted moments. I will remember it for a long time to come.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Jonathan E

The book is better BUT the producers chose to be true to the book as Simon Pegg is dragged all over earth. There's even a scene in Tibet!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

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John S

One of my many favourite movies of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

Full Review

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Peter Chelsom

Director

Simon Pegg

Hector

Toni Collette

Agnes

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Clara

Stellan Skarsgård

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Jean Reno

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Synopsis

Disillusioned with the tedium of his existence, psychiatrist Hector confesses to his girlfriend that he feels he is a fraud for dispensing recommendations to patients who never seem to improve or get any happier. He considers breaking out of his lackluster routine. Summoning up some courage, Hector gives his starved curiosity free rein and embarks on an international quest to find the right formula to bring him joy and vitality.

Director: Peter Chelsom
Producer: Christian Angermayer, Klaus Dohle, Trish Dolman, Christine Haebler, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Judy Tossell
Screenwriter: Maria von Heland, Peter Chelsom, Tinker Lindsay
Distributor: Relativity Media
Production Co: Egoli Tossell Film, Head Gear Films, Wild Bunch, Construction Film, Screen Siren Pictures, Erfttal Film
Rating: R (Some Brief Nudity|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 54m

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