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 single father and his young son endure many hardships as the father strives to provide a better future for both of them.

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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

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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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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

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Audience Member

You just gotta keep doing the right thing, period.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

Full Review

Pip S

Such a beautiful and sad film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I was expecting more. Everyone says it’s such a good movie but to me, it’s not that good compared to the other movies i’ve watched. Towards the end it starts getting better. But it is slow at the beginning.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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 single father and his young son endure many hardships as the father strives to provide a better future for both of them.

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, James Lassiter, Will Smith
Screenwriter: Steve Conrad
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Overbrook Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Escape Artists
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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