The Pursuit of Happyness

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The Pursuit of Happyness

PG-13

Released Dec 15, 2006

1h 56m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

67%

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175 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.

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Critics Consensus

Will Smith's heartfelt performance elevates The Pursuit of Happyness above mere melodrama.

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

In an effort to make a crowd-pleasing film, the horrors that Gardner must have experienced on the streets feel glossed over by the Hollywood machine.

Mar 24, 2007

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

We may wonder if happiness can be bought this way, and whether the film being sold to us isn't a slightly suspect package, but Smith, sublime and moving, sells it regardless.

Jan 17, 2007

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Paul Arendt

BBC.com

Deserves kudos for avoiding saccharine sentiment, but its relentless emphasis on money as the cure for all ills is depressing. They might as well have called it The Pursuit of Richyness.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 14, 2007

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Nicholas Oon

Maximum Hype (YouTube)

It is Will Smith's lead performance in this that really stole the show and won me over. It really elevated this movie.

Rated: 7.5/10

Sep 4, 2021

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The Pursuit of Happyness reveals the soul-wasting nature of poverty and the lack of prospects for those condemned to economic oblivion.

Sep 2, 2020

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

Will Smith can carry a film. And carry it he does, because without him, Happyness would founder in its own schmaltz.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 6, 2019

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Stachu K

I will just say it. This is absolute cinema. My favorite scene is on the train station. Its just the acting in the best version.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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Jean M

This movie absolutely moved me and my perception of poverty. Will Smith's performance is fantastic, elevated the movie so much. One of my favorite ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

Full Review

Serhii H

I don't want to give the movie less than five stars. Feels wrong Anyway the movie is a true story drama I could feel the emotions from the screen Over all the movie is Great I think they could have showed more in the finale But so far so good!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Angel C

a movie that tells the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who goes through very tough times to build a better life for himself and his son.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

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Benjamin H

An emotionally powerful and insighftul biographical drama film heightened by Will Smith's touching performance as Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness does occasionally drag, but this is a movie that works so well because it not only shows Gardner's "pursuit of happyness" in terms of work, but also his relationship with his son and how they experience personal growth with one another.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

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jess w

Felt somewhat immersed in the story despite its dragging.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

Full Review

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Gabriele Muccino

Director

Will Smith

Chris Gardner

Jaden Smith

Christopher

Thandiwe Newton

Linda

Brian Howe

Jay Twistle

James Karen

Martin Frohm

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - Basketball and Dreams

1:46

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - Final Scene: Chris is Hired

2:11

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - The Time Machine

2:13

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - Rubik's Cube

2:13

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - First Impression

2:05

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - Cold Calling

1:57

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - Running

1:59

The Pursuit of Happyness: Official Clip - No Y in Happiness

1:15

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Synopsis

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, James Lassiter, Will Smith
Screenwriter: Steve Conrad
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Escape Artists, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Overbrook Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $162.6M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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