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The Pursuit of Happyness

  • 2006
  • PG-13
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
531K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,463
43
Will Smith, Brian Howe, Thandiwe Newton, and Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Trailer for The Pursuit of Happyness
Play trailer2:25
17 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDrama

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

  • Director
    • Gabriele Muccino
  • Writer
    • Steve Conrad
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • Thandiwe Newton
    • Jaden Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    531K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,463
    43
    • Director
      • Gabriele Muccino
    • Writer
      • Steve Conrad
    • Stars
      • Will Smith
      • Thandiwe Newton
      • Jaden Smith
    • 919User reviews
    • 195Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 12 wins & 26 nominations total

    Videos17

    The Pursuit of Happyness
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch The Pursuit of Happyness
    The Pursuit of Happyness
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch The Pursuit of Happyness
    The Rise of Will Smith
    Clip 3:44
    Watch The Rise of Will Smith
    Which Roles Did Will Smith Turn Down?
    Clip 2:27
    Watch Which Roles Did Will Smith Turn Down?
    The Pursuit of Happyness
    Clip 0:51
    Watch The Pursuit of Happyness
    The Pursuit of Happyness
    Clip 0:33
    Watch The Pursuit of Happyness
    The Pursuit Of Happyness: I'm Going To New York
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness: I'm Going To New York
    The Pursuit Of Happyness: Drowning In The Water
    Clip 0:35
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness: Drowning In The Water
    The Pursuit Of Happyness: Internship Interview
    Clip 1:23
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness: Internship Interview
    The Pursuit Of Happyness Scene: It's A Basketball
    Clip 0:17
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness Scene: It's A Basketball
    The Pursuit Of Happyness: Are We Going To The Game
    Clip 0:52
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness: Are We Going To The Game
    The Pursuit Of Happyness: You Got A Dream
    Clip 0:52
    Watch The Pursuit Of Happyness: You Got A Dream

    Photos166

    Will Smith and Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Thandiwe Newton in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Gabriele Muccino in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Gabriele Muccino in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Gabriele Muccino in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
    Will Smith and Gabriele Muccino in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Chris Gardner
    Thandiwe Newton
    Thandiwe Newton
    • Linda
    • (as Thandie Newton)
    Jaden Smith
    Jaden Smith
    • Christopher
    • (as Jaden Christopher Syre Smith)
    Brian Howe
    Brian Howe
    • Jay Twistle
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Martin Frohm
    Dan Castellaneta
    Dan Castellaneta
    • Alan Frakesh
    Kurt Fuller
    Kurt Fuller
    • Walter Ribbon
    Takayo Fischer
    Takayo Fischer
    • Mrs. Chu
    Kevin West
    Kevin West
    • World's Greatest Dad
    George Cheung
    George Cheung
    • Chinese Maintenance Worker
    • (as George K. Cheung)
    David Michael Silverman
    • Doctor at First Hospital
    Domenic Bove
    Domenic Bove
    • Tim Ribbon
    Geoff Callan
    Geoff Callan
    • Ferrari Owner
    Joyful Raven
    • Hippie Girl
    Scott Klace
    Scott Klace
    • Tim Brophy
    Rashida Clendening
    • Bus Driver
    Eric Schniewind
    • Doctors
    Peter Fitzsimmons
    Peter Fitzsimmons
    • Doctors
    • Director
      • Gabriele Muccino
    • Writer
      • Steve Conrad
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chris Gardner: At the end, the real Chris Gardner walks past Chris and Chris Jr.
    • Goofs
      In one scene, the train doors close on Chris Gardner's hand while he is holding a bone scanner. He doesn't let go, and the train departs with the doors partially open. That would never happen in real life; BART trains are designed not to move if the doors of any car are obstructed.
    • Quotes

      Christopher Gardner: [narrating, at a payphone, raining, after learning Linda is taking Christopher away from him] It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that?

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Dreamgirls/Charlotte's Web/The Holiday/Apocalypto/Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      When the Saints Go Marching In
      Traditional

    User reviews919

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Best movie ever. recommend 100%
    In this journey through the struggles and trials that single father, Chris Gardner, has to take, you see the real side of hardwork and integrity. Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, Is just trying to give his son a good home as he's on the pursuit of happiness. This movie doesn't only show the hard work of a single parent, but it shows that no matter how hard you get pushed down, you should always get up and keep going. I love the strong connection that the father and son roles have in this movie, it seems so real, and that's because it is! The father (Will smith) and son (Jaden Smith) are father and son outside the movie realm too. Actor, Will Smith, shows his true emotional side during this film, as if he was actually going through the situations occurring in the movie. There couldn't have been a better cast picked for this movie, the pain, struggle, love, and hope seem so real as if you're watching a documentary on someone's life. Smith, usually looked at as a comedic actor, shows what he can really do by jerking the tears from the audience's eyes.
    helpful•63
    15
    • MrHeraclius
    • Feb 23, 2020

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    FAQ7

    • Why was, Chris- you suck-' written on the wall when Will Smith was painting the apartment?
    • Is there a real Chris Gardner?
    • Are there any differences between the movie story and the real story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 2006 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Sony Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Chris Gardner Project
    • Filming locations
      • Candlestick Park - 602 Jamestown Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Relativity Media
      • Overbrook Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $163,566,459
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $26,541,709
      • Dec 17, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $307,127,625
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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