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The Pursuit of Happyness
2006 117 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★8.0
Drama
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Trailers
Description
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Budget:
$55M
US Gross:
$163.57M
Worldwide:
$307.08M
Starring
Will Smith
Actor
Thandiwe Newton
Actor
Jaden Smith
Actor
Awards
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2007
— Breakthrough of the Year
Academy Awards 2007
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 2007
— Best Original Song
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2007
— Best Actor
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2007
— Best Actor or Actress
Golden Globe 2007
— Best Actor (Drama)
Key opinion
The Pursuit of Happyness is widely regarded as a deeply moving and inspirational biographical drama anchored by a career-defining performance from Will Smith. While some critics argue the screenplay relies on overly predictable tropes and sanitizes the true story, most audiences find its message of relentless perseverance in the face of adversity to be profoundly resonant.
| Acting | Will Smith delivers a powerful, empathetic dramatic performance that effectively anchors the emotional weight of the film | |
| Emotion | The father-son dynamic between Will and Jaden Smith feels authentic and serves as the primary emotional engine of the narrative | |
| Theme | The screenplay’s focus on themes of self-belief and persistent struggle provides strong, lasting inspiration for viewers | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the narrative structure are divided: some find the predictable plot and simplified "rags-to-riches" trajectory moving, while others view it as an overly polished, formulaic take on a more complex real-life story | |
| Pacing | The pacing is uneven for some, as the repetitive sequences of the protagonist's daily struggles can feel like the film is dragging |