The Pursuit of Happyness

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The Pursuit of Happyness

PG-13

2006

1h 56m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

67%

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174 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

03/24/2007

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.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

01/17/2007

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.

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Paul Arendt

BBC.com

01/14/2007

3/5

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.

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Nicholas Oon

Maximum Hype (YouTube)

09/04/2021

7.5/10

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

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

09/02/2020

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

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Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

06/06/2019

2.5/4

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

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Loice N

@RT68370812 1d

The Pursuit of Happyness is a deeply inspiring drama about a father struggling to care for his son while working toward a better future, and it really highlights themes of resilience, hope, and determination through hardship. I completed the video assignment and also posted my movie review,

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Judah S.

@Judah3963 Apr 26

The movie was solid, inspiring, and had some great moments but it wasn’t as put together as it could have been. A classic nonetheless.

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Garrett B

@gmoney637 Apr 26

Beautifully acted and deeply emotional, The Pursuit of Happyness is a visual treat that will touch your heart strings.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Apr 23

It was good I guess. I little overrated. Friend recommendation, whatever. It didn't touch me.

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Daniel L

@RT24087858 Apr 11

INCREDIBLE movie. Amazing story and arguably Will Smith's greatest performance.

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HilsonK T

@RT67422660 Mar 31

This is definitely ONE movie that always on Top of my favourite list. I watched the movie 2 different times in my life, always inspiring and motivated. From the beginning of the movie, all the story telling to the end was just meaningful and filled with 100% inspiration on how Will (aka Chris) persistence, positive mindset, no matter how hard the life was (as long as you're focusing on the NOW MOMENT) this actually meant everything. I strongly believe that when a person is in the situation like Chris in the movie, there are no motivation needed in his shoes nor discipline. But brutally honest because he was just thinking of surviving and not forgetting why he is working hard and continue chasing his dream. As well as protecting his son Christopher to provide everything he could in every moment The one last meaningful quote from Chris was "Don't ever let somebody tell you, you can't do something, you got a dream, you got to protect it" and "You want something go get it, PERIOD"

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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)