the pursuit of happyness movie review

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review | 'The Pursuit of Happyness'

Climbing Out of the Gutter With a 5-Year-Old in Tow

By Manohla Dargis

• Dec. 15, 2006

A fairy tale in realist drag, “The Pursuit of Happyness” is the kind of entertainment that goes down smoothly until it gets stuck in your craw. Inspired by a true story, as they like to say in Hollywood, the film traces the fleeting ups and frightening downs of Chris Gardner, whose efforts to keep his family from sinking into poverty evolve into a life-and-death struggle of social Darwinian proportions. It’s the early 1980s, and while Ronald Reagan is delivering the bad economic news on television, Chris is about to prove you don’t need an army to fight the war on poverty, just big smiles and smarts, and really sturdy shoes. (It also helps that the star playing him is as innately sympathetic as Will Smith.)

Given how often Chris breaks into a run on the streets of San Francisco, it’s a good thing his shoes are well built; his lungs, too. Written by Steven Conrad and directed by Gabriele Muccino, “The Pursuit of Happyness” recounts how Chris, plagued by some bad luck, a few stupid moves and a shrew for a wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), loses his apartment and, with his 5-year-old, Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Mr. Smith’s own beautiful son), joins the ranks of the homeless, if not the hopeless. Evicted from the mainstream and bounced from shelter to shelter, Chris holds firm to his dignity, resolve, faith, love and independence. His optimism sweeps through the film like a searchlight, scattering clouds and dark thoughts to the wind.

It’s the same old bootstraps story, an American dream artfully told, skillfully sold. To that calculated end, the filmmaking is seamless, unadorned, transparent, the better to serve Mr. Smith’s warm expressiveness. That warmth feels truthful, as does the walk-up apartment Chris’s family lives in at the start of the film, which looks like the real paycheck-to-paycheck deal. As does the day care center, which is so crummy it can’t even get happiness right (hence the title).

This is no small thing, considering the film industry’s usual skewed sense of economic class, a perspective encapsulated by the insider who described the middle-class family in “Little Miss Sunshine” to me as working class, perhaps because the mother drives a gently distressed Miata rather than next year’s Mercedes.

Money matters in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” as it does in life. But it matters more openly in this film than it does in most Hollywood stories that set their sights on the poor, largely because Chris’s pursuit of happiness eventually becomes interchangeable with his pursuit of money. He doesn’t want just a better, more secure life for himself and his child; either by scripted design or by the example of the real Chris Gardner, he seems to yearn for a life of luxury, stadium box seats and the kind of sports car he stops to admire in one scene. His desires aren’t just upwardly mobile; they’re materialistically unbound. Instead of a nice starter home, he (and the filmmakers) ogles mansions. It’s no wonder he hopes to become a stockbroker.

That may sound like a punch line, at least to some ears, but it’s the holy grail in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” A self-starter, Chris has sunk all of the family’s money into costly medical scanners that he tries to sell to doctors and hospitals. But the machines are overpriced, and the sure thing he banked on has landed them in debt. Forced to work two shifts at a dead-end job, Linda angrily smolders and then rages at Chris, which seems reasonable since he has gambled all of their savings on an exceptionally foolish enterprise. (And, unlike her, he hasn’t signed up for overtime.) But this is a film about father love, not mother love, and Linda soon leaves the picture in a cloud of cigarette smoke and a storm of tears.

Chris and the filmmakers seem happy to see her go, but life only gets tougher once she and her paychecks disappear. Much of the film involves Chris’s subsequent efforts to keep himself and his child housed and fed while he is enrolled in an unpaid internship program at a powerful stock brokerage firm. Bright and ferociously determined, Chris easily slides into this fantastical world of shouting men, ringing phones, gleaming surfaces and benevolent bosses. He goes along to get along, and when one of his bosses asks for money to pay for a cab, he quickly opens his wallet. Chris himself stiffs another working man for some money because that wallet is so light. But this is a film about him, not the other guy.

How you respond to this man’s moving story may depend on whether you find Mr. Smith’s and his son’s performances so overwhelmingly winning that you buy the idea that poverty is a function of bad luck and bad choices, and success the result of heroic toil and dreams. Both performances are certainly likable in the extreme, though Mr. Smith shined brighter and was given much more to do when he played the title character in Michael Mann’s underrated “Ali.” That film proves an interesting comparison with this one, not in filmmaking terms, but in its vision of what it means to be a black man struggling in America. In one, a black man fights his way to the top with his fists; in the other, he gets there with a smile.

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It includes mild adult language and some parental fighting.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Opens today nationwide.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino; written by Steven Conrad; director of photography, Phedon Papamichael; edited by Hughes Winborne; music by Andrea Guerra; production designer, J. Michael Riva; produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch James Lassiter and Will Smith; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 117 minutes.

WITH: Will Smith (Chris Gardner), Thandie Newton (Linda) and Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (Christopher).

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Help Kids Build Character Strengths with Quality Media

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

The pursuit of happyness.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 16 Reviews
• Kids Say 50 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Cynthia Fuchs , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Inspirational but often emotionally wrenching story.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Will Smith will draw kids to this movie. But it's not an action flick or slapstick comedy -- it's an inspirational and often emotionally wrenching story. It includes some very sad scenes between family members, as well as a couple of emotionally scary ones. The mother becomes so frustrated…

Why Age 12+?

"F--k" written as graffiti on wall, noted and spoken by father and son; several

Mom smokes cigarettes several times.

Parents' loud argument worries their son; Chris is hit by a car, leaving his fac

Most products are used to mark the year (1981): A Rubik's cube figures prominent

Mother appears briefly in her bra and panties while changing into her work unifo

Any Positive Content?

Strong messages about the importance of persistence, hard work, believing in you

Noble father dotes on son and is dedicated to taking care of him through thick a

"F--k" written as graffiti on wall, noted and spoken by father and son; several uses of "damn," "hell," "s--t," "ass," and "a--hole." "You suck" written on wall.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Parents' loud argument worries their son; Chris is hit by a car, leaving his face bruised and clothes bedraggled; father yells at son for crying, frightening him into obedience; Chris starts to fight a man in line at a shelter, frightening his son, who cries.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Most products are used to mark the year (1981): A Rubik's cube figures prominently in the plot; Members Only jacket; Raging Bull movie poster; Magic Johnson poster, Captain America action figure. Chris goes to work for the Dean Witter brokerage.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Mother appears briefly in her bra and panties while changing into her work uniform.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Strong messages about the importance of persistence, hard work, believing in yourself, and being there for each other. The heart of the movie is the strong father-son bond between the two main characters.

Positive Role Models

Noble father dotes on son and is dedicated to taking care of him through thick and thin. He takes his son along on job-related excursions and lies in front of him (the kid looks appropriately skeptical when he hears it). Chris also briefly discourages and yells at his son, after which he is immediately apologetic. Perpetually irritated mom abandons her son early in the movie.

Parents need to know that Will Smith will draw kids to this movie. But it's not an action flick or slapstick comedy -- it's an inspirational and often emotionally wrenching story. It includes some very sad scenes between family members, as well as a couple of emotionally scary ones. The mother becomes so frustrated with her husband's inability to make a living that she leaves him and their son. Later, the father yells at his son for a trivial reason and gets in a fight, scaring the boy and making him cry. If your child is in a clingy period with you, this might upset him or her. There's a very brief allusion to the mixed effects of classism and racism on the son. The father's frustration sometimes leads to tears and sometimes to angry language (mostly damn and "s--t"). A graffitied "f--k" leads to a brief discussion of the word, and the son says it out loud. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (16)
• Kids say (50)

Based on 16 parent reviews

that kid'll getcha

Real life issues - refreshing break from anthromorphism and fantasy, what's the story.

Based on a true story and set in 1981 San Francisco, Pursuit begins as Chris Gardner ( Will Smith ) and his wife, Linda ( Thandiwe Newton ), are having troubles. She works double shifts doing hotel laundry; he's trying to sell bone density scanners (i.e., specialty medical machines that, as Chris admits in voiceover, are too expensive for most doctors to buy). When Linda abandons the family, Chris remains determined. He spends six months working in an unpaid internship at Dean Witter, dead set on becoming a stock broker. He's smart enough and good with numbers, he figures, having proved that much by solving a Rubik's cube in front of a Dean Witter broker. As he studies and scrapes by, barely earning enough each week to pay for meals, Chris is sure he's going to make it.

Is It Any Good?

Jaden Smith is adorable; he delivers an endearing performance as Gardner's son, Christopher, in what turns out to be a simple, sentimental, but ultimately inspiring movie. The film deals with the American Dream from a particular perspective, focusing, as the title implies, on the constitutional right to "pursue" happiness, rather than the right to be happy. In this manner, the movie is able to avoid focusing much on institutional racism and how that factors into achieving the Dream. Instead, the relationship between father and son, through all the ups and downs of family strife and economic instability, take center stage, with lovely results.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the appeal of stories like Chris'. Why do people like rags-to-riches tales? Why are they considered good material for movies? How close do you think the movie version is to the true story?

Families can also talk about the risks that Chris takes to provide a "better life" for his son. How does the movie show that little Christopher is both scared of having no place to sleep, but also utterly trusting of his dad? Is it OK that Chris tells a white lie in front of his son to get a job?

How does the film portray the decision by Christopher's mother to leave him? From whose point of view do you see this choice?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 14, 2006
• On DVD or streaming : March 27, 2007
• Cast : Jaden Smith , Thandiwe Newton , Will Smith
• Director : Gabriele Muccino
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Columbia Tristar
• Genre : Drama
• Run time : 117 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : some language.
• Awards : Common Sense Media Award , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
• Last updated : August 8, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Fly Away Home

Instructions Not Included

Life Is Beautiful

After Earth

Tv dads we love.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 73% Blink Twice Link to Blink Twice
• 96% Strange Darling Link to Strange Darling
• 86% Between the Temples Link to Between the Temples

New TV Tonight

• 96% Only Murders in the Building: Season 4
• 86% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 95% Terminator Zero: Season 1
• 69% Kaos: Season 1
• 83% City of God: The Fight Rages On: Season 1
• -- Here Come the Irish: Season 1
• -- K-Pop Idols: Season 1
• -- Horror's Greatest: Season 1
• -- After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
• 92% Bad Monkey: Season 1
• 78% Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• 100% Pachinko: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 86% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2 Link to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

The Best Shows on Amazon Prime Video to Watch Right Now (August 2024)

100 Best Netflix Series To Watch Right Now (August 2024)

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

13 Must-Watch Films at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

TV Premiere Dates 2024

• Trending on RT
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Rings of Power S2 First Reviews
• Venice Film Festival
• Fall Horror Movie Preview

The Pursuit of Happyness Reviews

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

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Sep 4, 2021

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

Full Review | Sep 2, 2020

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

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 6, 2019

Director Gabriele Muccino has so overloaded the story with glib anecdotes that it's often depressing and, worse, monotonous. Everything that is admirable, and there is much, is down to Smith's verve.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 3, 2018

Save some of those Kleenex for The Pursuit of Happyness.

Full Review | Jan 5, 2018

The Pursuit of Happyness is a very Hollywood film, which could be good or bad depending on your point of view. It tries very hard to be profound and inspirational, but ultimately it's not up to the task.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 25, 2011

Counterfeit emotion and submerged racism

Full Review | Aug 28, 2009

Sap, sentiment, and hokey plot devices bog down an otherwise down to earth story.

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

Smith turns in a career-capping performance, and director Gabriele Muccino ingeniously turns the material inward, cautioning us all to be grateful for what we have, for we're closer to the edge than we think.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 23, 2009

Will Smith is getting all the awards buzz, but it's his real-life son, Jaden, who transcends all expectations in Happyness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: C | Oct 18, 2008

Even the glossiest of surfaces can't extinguish the genuine emotions running beneath them here.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 6, 2008

Few films so convincingly portray the titanic struggle that some people face day in and day out just to survive.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 28, 2008

This is Will Smith's movie from start to finish and he carries it wonderfully.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

[A] calculatedly emotional, sterilizingly cleancut drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 23, 2007

Hokey title, but sometimes movie is good.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | May 10, 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.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2007

The American Dream as white, rich and all male.

Full Review | Mar 21, 2007

Will Smith gives the performance of his career in a movie for which phrases like "heart-warming" and "life-affirming" were made.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 19, 2007

Sem jamais tratar o papel como uma simples oportunidade de mostrar seu alcance dramático, Will Smith comove justamente por demonstrar o esforço de seu personagem para se conter em momentos de grande emoção.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 3, 2007

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming

The Pursuit of Happyness

Content caution.

In Theaters

• Will Smith as Chris Gardner; Jaden Christopher Syre Smith as Christopher; Thandie Newton as Linda; Brian Howe as Jay Twistle; Dan Castellaneta as Alan Frakesh; Kurt Fuller as Walter Ribbon

Home Release Date

• Gabriele Muccino

Distributor

• Sony Pictures

Movie Review

“I met my father for the first time when I was 28 years old. When I had children, my children were going to know who their father was.” So vows Chris Gardner, an earnest salesman and father desperately struggling to make ends meet on the hard streets of San Francisco in the early 1980s. But his chosen vocation, peddling expensive bone-density scanners that most physicians don’t want, has left him and those he loves hovering on the brink of disaster.

Day after unsuccessful day, Chris comes home to his dispirited girlfriend, Linda, and their 5-year-old son, Christopher. Linda pulls double shifts to stay within striking distance of solvency, all the while chastising Chris for his failure to provide. Predictably, she doesn’t think much of his latest brainstorm: securing an internship at the stock brokerage firm Dean Witter. Linda’s bitterness and negativity may wear on Chris, but they can’t dampen the weary salesman’s delight in his son. Christopher is the apple of Daddy’s eye.

Then Linda leaves Chris (and their son) for a job in New York. She’s barely out the door when Chris learns he’s been offered the coveted internship. The catch? It’s unpaid. Despite the financial risk, Chris decides to go for it, frantically juggling his schedule to get Christopher to and from day care each day. But dwindling savings quickly result in an eviction from their apartment. And then another from a motel. Soon, father and son are homeless, staying in city shelters on good nights and in public restrooms on the worst.

As his desperation mounts, Chris clings tenaciously to the hope that his hard work will eventually pay off. And his dogged pursuit of a better life forges a powerful father-son bond that no misfortune can destroy.

Positive Elements

“You’re a good papa.” Those tenderhearted words from Christopher to his father as they spend the night in a homeless shelter poignantly capture the essence of The Pursuit of Happyness . Chris isn’t perfect, but one emotional scene after another clearly demonstrate his drive to protect and provide for his son.

Physical affection (hugs and kisses) and heartfelt moments mark their relationship. Chris repeatedly asks Christopher to trust him, and Dad proves that he’s worthy of that trust. When Linda threatens to leave, Chris demands that their son stay with him. He knows he’ll be a better parent than she would be—a reality to which Linda grudgingly acquiesces. Later, Christopher asks his dad, “Did mom leave because of me?” Chris responds, “Mom left because of mom. And you didn’t have anything to do with that.”

Actively concerned about his son’s education and mental development, Chris gets upset when he learns that Christopher’s day care provider, Mrs. Chew, lets the kids watch Bonanza and Love Boat . Chris teaches his son word meanings, such as the difference between probably and possibly , and the fact that happiness is misspelled on his day care’s sign. (It’s mistakenly spelled with a “y”; the film’s title intentionally follows suit.)

Chris encourages his boy to make a birthday wish-list, then gets him a basketball as a present. And one of the film’s most powerful scenes comes when Christopher is trying to shoot hoops with his new ball. After a strong-but-errant shot, Dad critically informs him, “You’ll excel at a lot of things, but not [basketball],” perhaps projecting his own experience onto his son. Christopher immediately lives down to Dad’s low expectations and takes a weak shot. Noticing his son’s downcast countenance, Chris realizes his error and rectifies the situation, saying, “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

A harrowing night of homelessness finds the pair killing time at a deserted Bay Area Rapid Transit stop. Father and son imagine that Dad’s bone-density machine is actually a time-travel device that takes them back to the time of the dinosaurs. Christopher gleefully joins in the make-believe game as they flee from a T-Rex into a “cave”—a public restroom where they spend the night. Dad holds the door shut with his foot, and tears stream down his face as he watches his innocent son sleep on his lap.

In addition to such a strong father-son relationship, The Pursuit of Happyness also presents the American Dream as an achievable reality. It begins when Chris asks a Dean Witter broker (who he sees getting out of a bright-red Ferrari) what’s needed to do the job. The answer he gets back is this: “You’ve got to be good with numbers and good with people.” Chris believes he has those skills and aggressively pursues executives at Dean Witter once he discovers internships are available.

He hounds his first contact, Jay Twistle, until the man pays attention to him. Several other people at Dean Witter give Chris chances to prove himself, though they aren’t really duty-bound to do so. And even though he’s virtually broke, Chris gives $5 to one of his rich superiors so he can pay for cab fare. Later, Chris misses an appointment with an executive (for reasons beyond his control), and goes to the man’s house to apologize. The exec, Walter Ribbon, in turn, kindly invites Chris and Christopher to share his skybox at a 49ers game.

A “live” TV clip of President Ronald Reagan includes the exhortation, “We’ve got to face the truth, and we’ve got to work to turn things around.” Chris does that, and much, much more.

Spiritual Elements

Chris and his son stay at a shelter that offers a gospel-oriented church service. A choir sings, “You promised you’d meet me at the altar of prayer/… Lord, please move that mountain.” Other lyrics insist, “I won’t give up,” and include the line, “Hello, Jesus.”

Christopher tells his dad a joke about a drowning man who kept praying for God to save him. The man refuses the help of two boats that come by, insisting that God will answer his prayer. After he dies and asks God why He didn’t save him, God tells him, “I sent you two big boats, you dummy.”

Sexual & romantic Content

We see Linda in a bra and slip as she gets dressed for work. She’s also seen in a camisole. Two scenes show Chris and Linda (who are unmarried but living together) in bed (without any sexual activity). A brief shower shot shows Chris’ shoulders.

Violent Content

Sprinting across a busy San Francisco street, Chris gets hit by a car. He breaks the windshield then is thrown roughly to the concrete (yet avoids major injury). Linda hits Chris several times in anger; he in turn grabs her arm firmly. Twice, Chris shakes his son in moments of extreme frustration, but manages to exercise enough restraint not to hurt Christopher. Chris gets into a scuffle with another homeless guy who cut in front of him at the shelter. (Their conflict is broken up before it can turn into a full-on fight.)

Crude or Profane Language

A spray-painted f-word mars the slogan of Christopher’s day care (“Joy. Fun. Happyness”). As Chris explains the misspelling of happiness , Christopher asks, “Is f— spelled right?” Chris tells his son that’s not a word he’s supposed to learn, and that it’s not part of the school’s motto. Other profanity includes two-and-a-half s-words and a handful each of the words “h—,” “d–n,” “a–” and “b–ch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Linda smokes cigarettes.

Other noteworthy Elements

Chris is not by nature a deceptive person. But several times he lies in front of his son (who recognizes the deception) to keep others from realizing how desperate his situation really is. And when he’s unfairly left to pay a cab fare he doesn’t have the money for, he flees. (The infuriated cabby chases him, swearing and yelling threats.)

Chris’ lack of funds means he’s perpetually evading angry landlords who want back-rent from him. He always tells them he’ll get the money, but is never able to make good on that promise. Someone paints “Dear Chris, U suck” on the wall of his apartment. An internship administrator treats him like an on-call servant, asking him to do all kinds of favors (such as getting doughnuts, moving his car, etc.). After the IRS garnishes $600 in back taxes from his bank account, Chris loses his cool and angrily demands that a friend pay back $14 that he owes him (as his son looks on).

Christopher dances around in his underwear in two scenes.

Inspirational isn’t a word I would normally choose to describe a great movie, as it conjures up connotations of something sappy or overly sentimental. Nevertheless, I think that’s the word that best captures Will Smith’s powerful portrayal of real-life father and pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps worker Chris Gardner.

As a new father myself, I’m hard put to think of any movie I’ve ever seen that inspires me more to be a good dad than this one does. Days after seeing it, memories of certain scenes continue to challenge me in my own occasional moments of laziness or self-absorption. Suffice it to say that self-pity and lack of initiative are two character traits Mr. Gardner simply does not exhibit, no matter how bleak things get for him and his son. Instead, he elevates Christopher’s needs above his own over and over again. He can’t always change their awful circumstances, but Chris does everything within his power to meet his son’s physical and emotional needs, and to protect him. Nothing can deter this loving papa from lavishing affection and tenderness upon his son.

Director Gabriele Muccino says of this precious father-son relationship, “The movie plays like a love story. But in this case we don’t have a woman and a man meeting each other. Instead, we have a father and son walking together through life. Their relationship is very strong, very powerful. … Chris endures the unimaginable and still makes sure that not even the worst moments will have a bad effect on his son’s life.” The chemistry between the pair onscreen is no doubt enhanced by the fact that Will Smith’s son, Jaden, portrays Christopher.

Only a few negative elements (noted above) and the film’s occasional use of realistic, street-level vulgarities let it down. I’ve certainly seen PG-13 films with more language problems, but there’s still enough here (20-plus) to give discerning moviegoers pause. What won’t trip them up—and might even breathe new life into their own relationships—is Chris Gardner’s powerful, passionate pursuit of the best life possible for his little boy.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

Latest Reviews

City of Dreams

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

Want to stay Plugged In?

Our weekly newsletter will keep you in the loop on the biggest things happening in entertainment and technology. Sign up today, and we’ll send you a chapter from the new Plugged In book, Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family , that focuses on how to implement a “screentime reset” in your family!

The Pursuit Of Happyness Review

12 Jan 2007

117 minutes

Pursuit Of Happyness, The

Everybody reacts to disappointment in different ways. Some go out and get shit-faced. Others buy a pram, fill it with toys and start throwing. Will Smith, however, makes a series of empty, visually appealing action movies.

We should explain: the disappointment in this case is losing out on Oscar back in 2002. He’d been hotly tipped to scoop the little gold geezer for his turn in Ali, but then along came Denzel Washington’s Training Day and that was that. This glaring oversight on the Academy’s part seemed to crush his spirit — hence the autopilot likes of Bad Boys II; I, Robot; Hitch and Shark Tale. All charming in their own way, but as tests of his capabilities as an actor, a Fresh Prince movie might have been more of a stretch.

Now, though, he’s back on the ‘serious-actor’ horse in The Pursuit Of Happyness, a film that does allow him to grow. In fact, Smith’s Pursuit Of Oscar is a muted affair. There are no grandstanding moments of high emotion, no obvious award-show clips. Smith’s Chris Gardner gets angry, yes. He cries, yes. But the emphasis here is on restraint and interesting choices — in the movie’s climactic moments, when most other actors would holler and bawl for all they’re worth, Smith opts for an understated and virtually wordless reaction, tears tickling his eyes. It works beautifully.

Although the movie Gardner is a man almost entirely without flaws (Thandie Newton, in contrast, labours with a thin ‘bitch-wife’ role), it’s a dream of a part and a heck of a tale — and, albeit with the usual Hollywood liberties, it’s all true. Gardner and his son did sleep in a locked railway station toilet. They did line up at homeless shelters with down-and-outs, scrabbling for a bed for the night — and all while Gardner was working at his internship, with no income and little chance of a job at the end of it.

And all, it seems, because of a line in the Declaration Of Independence that grants every American the inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness (don’t worry, pedants, the misspelling of the title is explained early on). Today, Gardner is a multi-millionaire with a best-selling book, but, as the title indicates, this is about the pursuit, and there’s real drama as Gardner pushes himself to breaking point, trying never to let his son (played with no little charm by Smith’s own kid, Jaden) realise the dire extent of their situation.

It’s clear from the off that we’re in rags-to-riches, wish fulfilment territory here, but this doesn’t quite stir like a Capra, or even a modern-day equivalent like Jerry Maguire or Shawshank. That’s partly because director Gabriele Muccino — the Italian helmer of L’Ultimo Bacio (the original version of The Last Kiss) — lends the film a muted autumnal palette which, sadly, dampens emotional engagement, while too much emphasis is placed on an unnecessary voiceover.

Yet, despite its flaws, the movie still warms the heart thanks to Smith, whose natural, irrepressible likeability carries the movie through its more formulaic moments. And if he should wind up on the podium at the Kodak Theatre next year, well… how’s that for an American Dream?

Related Articles

Movies | 09 01 2007

• Become a Critical Movie Critic
• Movie Review Archives

Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

• General Disdain
• Movie Reviews
• 4 responses
• --> December 24, 2006

Come Christmas time, or should I say Holiday time (for all the politically correct douchebags out there), Hollywood without question drops the old rags-to-riches, feel good movies into our laps. So it is no surprise that The Pursuit of Happyness shows up just in time for the gift exchange.

Even though most folks who know me (and many who don’t) call me a cynical asshole, and in a general sense I agree with them, I am still a sucker for these cream-puff movies. Perhaps it is my own misgivings or inner demons that cause me to be transfixed by these melodramatic offerings. Or perhaps it is because I can always expect to see a roomful of girls with tears in their eyes — easing pickings for a predator. I prefer the latter explanation.

Now on to the movie — Will Smith plays Chris Gardner a man down on his luck (fucked up job, fucked up wife, etc.), who decides he needs to make a life altering change to raise himself and his child above the chaos and poverty that is their current existence. To do this he decides to become a stock broker at one of the largest firms in the country — without knowing a damn thing about stocks or bonds. Quite a feat, and one that proves the axiom “you can do anything if you put your mind to it”. Why? Because, The Pursuit of Happyness is a true story.

But beyond the typical take a look in the mirror and decide if you like what you see plot, the movie offers insights into the homeless and society as whole. The underlying racism is used as a backdrop, but given enough light for the viewers to take notice of it. This movie also shows how truly fucked up things are, when a man and his 5 year-old child have to sleep in a subway bathroom or on a bus. All the while people around them pay little to no attention to them and continue on with their own petty lives. Other movies have had similar themes, but it really strikes home when a small child is involved. Never, ever should a child be homeless.

And even though, I’m not the biggest fan of Will Smith, I must say, he carried the role well. The cockiness that he normally oozes out of his skin is nowhere to be found and I found myself actually feeling sorry for his character’s situation and applauding him for trying like hell to make something better. If only every man in the world had this mans’ convictions. A more pleasant surprise is the acting of Jaden Smith. Jaden portrays the son, and from what I can tell this is his first real acting experience. The sky is the limit with this kid, as he does an excellent job of capturing the hope and fear that this boy feels. As for the rest of the supporting cast — they do their job well enough, not really adding much, mostly ensuring they aren’t fucking anything up.

So it comes a shock to me, as much as to you, that I actually think this is an Oscar winner for Will Smith. The Pursuit of Happyness has all the needed elements in place to make this a reasonable guess. Great acting, good theme, well received — and the biggest reason — it’s all about a black guy. What more could you fucking want?

If The Pursuit of Happyness can’t get you off of your fat, sweaty ass, you’re hopeless. And do the rest of us a favor and shut the fuck up.

Tagged: son , stock broker , true story

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.

Movie Review: Ghosted (2023) Movie Review: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) Movie Review: Fantasy Island (2020) Movie Review: Snatched (2017) Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) Movie Review: ABCs of Death 2 (2014) Movie Review: Life After Beth (2014)

'Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)' have 4 comments

March 23, 2007 @ 3:36 pm JerseyMike

You’ve got to be kidding me right? One dog pile? I’d give this a four big steamy piles.

This movie was the worst pile of garbage I’ve seen in quite some time. The movie had no real “meat” to the plot. Sure it tries to tug at your heart, but fails in a real big way. The editing and film shots were horrible, I think a High School student could have done better.

With all the hype to this movie, I want money back.

Log in to Reply

August 9, 2007 @ 1:55 pm Martha

This was a really heartwarming story. Will Smith was marvelous in it.

November 24, 2007 @ 9:52 am MrBlueCN

I was utterly disgusted with Will Smith’s character. The choices he made regarding his son were made completely selfishly, with no regard for the child’s best interest. Just as the most glaring one, the fact that if he had let his wife take the child, the child would not have had to sleep in a subway bathroom/homeless shelter, etc. Just because it all turned out in the end is not a reason a child should have to go through suffering of this sort to satisfy his father’s self-serving motions.

December 8, 2007 @ 1:56 pm General Disdain

MrBlueCN — I agree no child should ever have to go through something like this, but what do you think would have happened to the boy if his mother did get custody. As I recall she didn’t even want him with her when she left, so I suspect he may have ended up in a worse position.

Privacy Policy | About Us

 |  Log in

The Pursuit of Happyness

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

Will Smith is on the march toward Oscar. How can Academy voters resist Smith, with gray flecks in his hair, in a true story (well, inspired by a true story, meaning it’s been tightened and prettied up) about a homeless single dad and his son. Smith plays Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman trying to unload bulky bone scanners (don’t ask) while his depressed wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), works scut jobs. She splits for New York, leaving hubby and their five-year-old son, Christopher (cutie-patooty Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett), to fend for themselves. Rent is due, but Chris thinks he can pursue happyness (the misspelling is on a mural at the kid’s day-care center) by getting a stockbroker’s job at Dean Witter. The catch? It’s a training program that doesn’t pay until he gets hired, if he gets hired. Soon, father and son are scrounging for food and living in homeless shelters and train-station toilets. All this would cause projectile vomiting if both Smiths didn’t swim against the tearjerker tide in the script by Steven Conrad. Director Gabriele Muccino (the Italian, and better, version of The Last Kiss ) resists overkill until the final scenes. And Smith wins our hearts without losing his dignity, as Chris suits up for success by day and fights off despair by night. The role needs gravity, smarts, charm, humor and a soul that’s not synthetic. Smith brings it. He’s the real deal.

Drew Barrymore Says She Regrets Being an ‘Exhibitionist’ in Her Youth, 'Playboy' Cover

• Looking Back
• By Tomás Mier

Matthew Perry's Doctor 'Incredibly Remorseful' Over Role in Actor's Ketamine Death: Lawyer

• Accepts 'Responsibility'
• By Nancy Dillon

Charli XCX to Star in Erotic Thriller With Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman

• Movie Magic

Kathryn Hahn on the Return of Agatha and Her MCU Future: "Who Are You Calling a Side Character?"

• By Brian Hiatt

Drama at the Ranch: 'Yellowstone' Drops New Teaser for Final Episodes

• Cowboy Chaos
• By Jon Blistein

Most Popular

Winona ryder gets frustrated by her younger co-stars who 'are not interested in movies': 'the first thing they say' is 'how long is it', all about rfk jr.'s daughter kick kennedy amid rumors she's dating ben affleck, tim burton explains why alec baldwin and geena davis aren't in 'beetlejuice' sequel, mariah carey's mother and sister die the same day, singer confirms: "my heart is broken", you might also like, marco bellocchio’s ‘may i say chapter two’ debuts clip ahead of venice premiere (exclusive), miu miu women’s tales returns to film festival in venice, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, revisit midnight masterpiece ‘holy motors’: 2012 french arthouse ponders cinema and the self, disney, directv nfl fight faces sunday deadline.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Screen Rant

The pursuit of happyness.

117 Minutes

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Your Rating

Gabriele Muccino

Columbia Pictures Relativity Media Overbrook Entertainment Escape Artists

Reviews (2)

Probably Will Smith's best performances. Heck, it's probably Jaden Smith's best performance as well. This movie never fails to make me cry. The ending is cathartic seeing all his hard work pay off. The bathroom scene is heartbreaking.

The movie is certainly well made and well acted, but it comes across as a movie made to give middle-class people warm fuzzy feelings that anyone can succeed if they just pull themselves up from their bootstraps and try hard enough. I understand that it's based on a true story, but the way that the script is written ignores all the systemic issues that prevent upward mobility.

Jason Blumenthal

James lassiter, steve tisch, devon franklin, seasons (4).

Season 1 (2016)

Season 2 (2018), season 3 (2022), season 4 (2026), users reviews (125).

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the review below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

Latest Stories

1 of will smith's best movies is secretly a remake of a 1948 italian classic, is the pursuit of happyness based on a true story where chris gardner is now, 10 tear-jerking movies with surprisingly happy endings, 10 best movies will smith produced, according to letterboxd, related titles.

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

BABY REINDEER

‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ Movie Review (2006)

By Laremy Legel

There are certain films that you could script all the way. You know where they’re going, you know when the montage will start, and you know you’ll feel your heart strings tugged at a bit. So then, for films like that, what do they need to do work as pieces of enjoyable entertainment? Well, the art has to come in the execution. The depth has to come from the actors. In the case of The Pursuit of Happyness , even though you’re led all the way (and you already know the route) it’s still kind of a comforting journey.

If you’ve seen the trailer you know the story. If you haven’t here goes: Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a down on his luck dad who pursues an internship at Dean Witter. To say he’s not catching many breaks would be an understatement. He’s poor, he’s got a rough relationship with his wife, a guy owes him $14 bucks he needs (remember, I said he was poor), and he’s also working a salesman job for a product no one wants. To make matters worse he keeps losing said product (a bone density scanner) and ends up having to chase people down in the streets of San Francisco an awful lot.

There’s your plot. As far as the cast goes, Jaden Smith, Will’s real life son, plays his movie son. Talk about typecasting! Seriously though, the kid is good here. Most kids are good, because it’s easy to be cute when you’re young, but in this case I think Jaden could have a future in the biz if he wants one. One negative thing, Thandie Newton was handed a disastrous role and really knocked it out of the nasty park. She’s was just about unwatchable. Sorry babe, but your uneven oddly edited portrayal of a completely unsupportive psychopath didn’t do much for the movie or her career.

The only other weakness in Happyness (besides the dumb name) is the overall inevitability attached to the entire work. I mentioned that in the first paragraph but I’ve that’s the reason I can’t give an A grade. The acting is good, the resolution is good, the movie overall is good. But it’s not great.

What really works is how positive this film is overall. There are many rough times for the father — son pairing but I for one never felt like Smith’s character was giving up. He worked diligently to make his son’s life better and that’s where the message of the film was for me. Yes, the underdog fight for your dreams element is present, but more interesting to me was the idea of “teaming up” against all odds to face the world. The relationship between Smith and his son carries the entire plot, and it does so in a respectable fashion.

So this a modest recommendation. It’s done well, especially given the holiday release schedule where more sentiment is allowed. You will feel entertained throughout, you’ll get some inspiration if you’re in that frame of mind and you’ll get to see Will Smith show off his acting chops. I’d call this a small victory for everyone involved with Pursuit of Happyness , and really aren’t small victories what life is all about?

Share article

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — In Pursuit of Happiness — Review of the Movie ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’

The Pursuit of Happyness: Movie Review and Analysis

• Categories: In Pursuit of Happiness Movie Review

About this sample

Words: 764 |

Published: Apr 8, 2022

Words: 764 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

• Baer, J. (2013). Coca-Cola's Content 2020 Advertising Strategy. Convince & Convert. https://www.convinceandconvert.com/content-marketing/coca-colas-content-2020-advertising-strategy/
• Bragesjö, F. (2011). Coca-Cola: History, Advertising and the American Dream. Culture Unbound, 3, 413-435. Crossland, K. (2019). The History of Advertising: A Comprehensive Timeline, From Print to Digital. Hubspot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/history-of-advertising
• Gaffney, J. (2019). How Coca-Cola Became the King of Advertising. HousingWire.
• Green, C. (2019). Coca-Cola's Evolution of Ads: From Polar Bears to Sustainable Development. Triple Pundit.
• Kleinberg, A. (2014). The Evolution of Advertising. Inc.
• Nudd, T. (2014). History of Advertising: How We Got Here. Adweek.
• Raye, A. (2015). A Brief History of Coca-Cola Advertising Slogans. The Daily Meal. https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/brief-history-coca-cola-advertising-slogans
• Sabatier, G. (2019). Digital Advertising: Past, Present, and Future. Millennial Money.
• Stanton, J. W. (2007). Coke's Recipe for Success. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 30-32.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Entertainment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1458 words

2 pages / 925 words

3 pages / 1292 words

3.5 pages / 1685 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on In Pursuit of Happiness

University of Zurich. (2019, March 18). People who feel fulfilled in their lives are happier. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190318093210.htmUniversity of Michigan. (2021). [...]

Released in 2006 and directed by Gabriele Muccino, "The Pursuit of Happyness" stands as an evocative representation of resilience and the unyielding pursuit of success despite towering adversities. Based on a true story, the [...]

The Pursuit of Happyness is a biographical movie that is based on Chris Gardner ‘s life in his dark time. This story tells about when he is a homeless and a single parent. The film was published in December 15th 2006 under [...]

The film “The Pursuit of Happyness”, directed by Gabrielle Muccino, tells the true-life experiences of Chris Gardner who faces many hard obstacles. He struggles to overcome these obstacles in order to create a better life for [...]

Life is a struggle for single father Chris Gardner in 1981, San Francisco. Evicted from their apartment, he and his young son find themselves with no place to go. Jumping around town, barely surviving by selling a 40-pound [...]

Rick, a kindhearted man with a strong moral compass, is far from the most detestable of the characters in Casablanca. While he demonstrates some qualities and actions that could lead to the assumption that he is loathsome, he is [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Enjoy this post? Rate it!

The Pursuit of Happyness review | An emotional rollercoaster

Movies have the power to make you laugh, become emotional, and even profoundly move you at the same time. the pursuit of happyness is an inspiring story for the audience. read on for the pursuit of happyness review ., table of contents, the journey of pursuit, the pursuit of happyness review, thoughts about the movie, key takeaways.

Many of us can relate to the struggle of deciding which movie to watch. The Pursuit of Happyness, unlike other films, emotionally moves the audience because it is based on a true story. It will give you the right inspiration to go forward and catch your dreams. If you are interested in a career in filmmaking, reading movie and book reviews can help you shape your ideas for your projects and give you an understanding of the viewer’s mindset, all the while keeping in mind what you should and shouldn’t do.

Keep reading to see what The Pursuit of Happyness review has to offer.

‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ written by Steven Conrad and directed by Gabriele Muccino, is a moving story about fatherhood, poverty, and preserving childhood innocence. The film was moving and executed so that it inspires genuine emotion in its viewers throughout its nearly two-hour runtime. The film is a high-quality drama with a powerful message about society and the American dream .

The film’s strength stems from its expert portrayal of a man who finds hope at rock bottom and succeeds in keeping his son safe even when circumstances force them to live on the streets. Chris Gardener, played fabulously by Will Smith, barricades himself and his son Christopher inside a subway station bathroom so that his son can sleep throughout the night with some feeling of security and safety. It is the film’s most powerful scene. 

The genius of the scene and the film is that Chris keeps his son’s innocence intact by telling him they went back in time. He says that the subway bathroom is a cave and that they’re hiding from imaginative dinosaurs while hiding his tears and grief.

Another strong point is the film’s message, portrayed in an emotional monologue on a rooftop basketball court. “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something,” Chris tells his son and, by extension, the audience. “You’ve got a dream. You’ve got to protect it,” he says after inadvertently dampening Christopher’s dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. “You want something, go and get it.” 

It’s a message we’ve all heard before, but the conviction with which Smith delivers those lines, and the story, demonstrates the point so well breathes new life into the somewhat generic ‘follow your dreams’ speech.

The film reminds us how short life is not to be as happy and cheerful. We forget to be grateful in this fast-paced world, and this film reminds us of that. Reality can break you, but how you deal with it is entirely up to you. It reminds us to be grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the people we care about and spend time with them.

There are minor faults in the face of such incredible acting and beautifully emotional events. ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ remains an excellent film that uses emotion and childhood innocence to challenge viewers to respect and admire what they have while striving to achieve their dreams.

From The Pursuit of Happyness review, we learn that we often try to pursue happiness when we miss the smaller ‘happiness’ in our lives. This message in the film was exactly what everyone needed to hear.

• The Pursuit of Happyness takes us through an emotional ride and teaches valuable life lessons.
• The father-son bond is something you cannot give a miss.
• The movie tells its viewers to find real happiness and enjoy what they have while still chasing their dreams.

Explore the world of movies and the work that goes on behind the scenes. If you would like to know more or have any queries regarding filmmaking and pursuing it as a career, then please get in touch with us .

Liked this blog? Read next: Harry Potter book series | A magical adventure.

1. What is the main theme of “The Pursuit of Happyness” movie?

Answer: The main theme of “The Pursuit of Happyness” revolves around family, determination, and never giving up on one’s dreams despite facing extreme adversity. The film portrays the journey of a father, played by Will Smith, who finds hope and success even when living on the streets with his son, all while preserving his child’s innocence.

2. How does “The Pursuit of Happyness” inspire its viewers?

Answer: “The Pursuit of Happyness” inspires its viewers through the portrayal of a man who overcomes challenging circumstances and manages to keep his son’s innocence intact. The film delivers a powerful message about pursuing one’s dreams and not letting anyone deter you. It encourages the audience to protect their dreams and take action to achieve them, with an emotional monologue from Will Smith’s character serving as a memorable moment in the film.

3. What is the key takeaway from the movie, as mentioned in the blog?

Answer: The key takeaway is to appreciate the smaller moments of happiness in life, remain grateful, and pursue dreams with determination

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4 / 5. Vote count: 21

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

People also liked

Cost of living and studying in the USA | A guide for MS and MBA students

Study in Singapore | A comprehensive guide for Indian students

Top courses in 2024 to study abroad

Student life in Germany | Highest paying part-time jobs and more

Cost of studying in the Netherlands 2024 | A guide

Entrance exams to study abroad | A complete guide

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please enter an answer in digits: fourteen − 13 =

Start your journey with iSchoolConnect

Need help with your study abroad applications? Try iSchoolConnect for free!

• Study in USA
• Study in UK
• Study in Canada
• Study in Australia
• Study in France
• Study in Netherlands
• Study in Ireland
• Study in Germany
• Study in New Zealand
• GRE Exam 2024
• GMAT Exam 2024
• IELTS Exam 2024
• TOEFL Exam 2024
• SAT Exam 2024
• PTE Exam 2024
• Student visa for USA 2024
• Student visa for Canada 2024
• Student visa for UK 2024
• How to choose a university for study abroad
• How to choose a career?
• University interview tips
• How to apply?
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
• Essay and Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Study abroad Document checklist
• Finance documents for study abroad
• Cost of studying abroad
• How to apply for abroad scholarships
• Types of scholarships for study abroad
• Student loan for Study abroad
• Accommodation Abroad
• Part-time jobs in abroad
• Calculate your chances of studying abroad
• Calculate cost of studying abroad
• Which scholarship are you eligible for?

Where to Study?

Tests and Preparation

Visa Process

Programs and Universities

Application Process

Fees and Finances

Calculators

Will Smith: Ali And 4 Other Movie Performances That Deserved An Oscar

Before King Richard, these are some of the Will Smith performances that deserved an Oscar.

Will Smith has been a Hollywood player in music and movies for many decades now. The A-lister has given audiences multiple lauded roles throughout his long film career. During this time, Smith has proven himself as a versatile producer and performer, with multiple genres under his belt. He appeared in acclaimed films like  Where the Day Takes You , blockbusters like Independence Day and the Bad Boys franchise, and cult classics like  Hitch . 

The I, Robot star showed his capability by tackling varying characters. His versatile skills culminated in his Best Actor Oscar for the biopic, King Richard. That film wasn’t the only time Smith has given an Oscar-worthy performance in his decades-long movie career, and with that in mind, here are some Will Smith movies worthy of an Academy Award.

Six Degrees Of Separation (1993) 

A year after his film debut, Will Smith made a splash in the stage-to-screen adaptation Six Degrees of Separation . The actor took a significant step in his early career by playing cultured con-man and thief, Paul.

The rapper-turned-actor drew inspiration from real-life high society con-man David Hampton while taking his cues from the award-nominated stage play. He captured a distinct period in Hampton’s life by offering a peek into his misdeeds and schemes in New York high society. Smith transformed as he oozed charisma and personality during Paul’s interaction with the Kittredges (the family he cons). In his first significant movie role, he delivered a nuanced character study filled with emotion and intricacies.

The drama focused on Paul’s various interactions, but his scenes with the late Donald Sutherland and one-sided crush Stockard Channing stole the show. Smith had incredible moments with co-stars like Oz Perkins and Ian McKellen . Critics and moviegoers took notice of his performance as the Men in Black star received high praise. Unfortunately, the nominations and acclaim didn’t lead to Smith earning a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination.

You can watch the acclaimed stage-to-screen adaptation through an Amazon Prime Video subscription .

Ali (2001) 

Will Smith was finally an awards-season darling with the 2001 biopic, Ali, where Smith brought the life of iconic boxing champion Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) to the big screen.

The multi-Grammy winner drew influence and inspiration from Ali as he worked with the sports legend for a year. Of course, some liberties were taken while showing his transition from Cassius Clay to Ali, but he still showcased incredible athleticism . Smith portrayed the boxing legend’s turbulent celebrity life from his early days to the infamous Rumble in the Jungle. Doing so allowed the Hollywood A-lister to add layers and insight as audiences saw the larger-than-life figure’s vices and troubling relationships on display.

The sports biopic focused on Ali’s personal and professional life, including his relationships. Smith came alive because of his chemistry with screen partners like Jamie Foxx , Jada Pinkett Smith , Nona Gaye, Michael Michele, and Mario Van Peebles. Taking on the boxing icon’s story translated to ubiquitous acclaim from critics and audiences with Best Actor nominations from NAACP Image, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and Oscars. Unfortunately, the awards season didn’t translate into a much-touted Best Actor Oscar win, as he lost to Denzel Washington for Training Day . Smith’s first loss is still considered one of the Academy’s biggest slights.

Get a Netflix subscription to watch the beloved biopic.

The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)

Smith circled back for another award-season run with the real-life inspired The Pursuit of Happyness , where he took on the life of popular motivational speaker and powerbroker Chris Gardener.

The Hancock actor used his acting skills to capture a turbulent time in Gardener’s life. Starring alongside his son, Jaden , allowed Smith to explore the power of the father-son dynamic. Tackling a true story allowed the actor to deliver a nuanced performance as he explored Gardener’s life struggles (i.e., money troubles, single fatherhood, and career shift). 

The feel-good movie beautifully captured the power of the Black father/son dynamic, thanks to the real-life father-son duo of Will and Jaden Smith . However, their dynamic wasn’t the only one explored, as the elder Smith had tremendous chemistry with co-stars Thandiwe Newton and Brian Howe. Illustrating the businessman’s unhoused period brought the box office superstar unanimous critical and audience praise, translated to Best Actor nominations from SAG, NAACP Image, Golden Globes, and Oscars. Like his Ali awards run, the awards season didn’t pan out into a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar win, with him losing to Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland . 

You can watch the moving biopic by renting/buying it with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Emancipation (2022) 

Will Smith took on his harshest and most deeply dehumanizing role to date in the Apple TV+ period drama, Emancipation , and turned the real-life emancipated slave, Peter, into a figure for the big screen.

The talented star honed all his skills to bring Peter to life while helping to flesh out the story of the man made famous by the widely-circulated photo "Whipped Peter." Smith captured his life before and after the Emancipation Proclamation from every angle. Illustrating the former soldier’s life allowed him to dive deeper into the cruelty of slavery and war while he pursued family and freedom. Tackling these layers brought a new level to Smith’s acting.

Despite the film being a vehicle for Smith, he shined best with his onscreen wife, Charmaine Bingwa, and main antagonist, portrayed by Ben Foster , and proved himself to be a valuable screen partner for both actors. Bringing the historic picture to life worked well for the I Am Legend star as he garnered early Oscar buzz for the hard-hitting role. He scored an NAACP Image Award nomination. However, the buzz didn’t translate into a Best Actor Academy Award nomination. 

Stream the haunting pastiche through an Apple TV+ subscription .

Enemy Of The State (1998)

The music icon played an everyman for the first time in the thriller Enemy of the State . Smith became a lawyer on the run, Robert Dean, who joined forces with surveillance expert Edward "Brill" Lyle (played by Oscar winner Gene Hackman).

This superstar flexed his action star pedigree while playing against type with a mix of seriousness and fun. Viewers watch Dean's life spiral into an escalating world of political intrigue, where he became a fish out of water as his professional and home life intertwined. This scenario allowed Smith to shift Dean’s approach to getting out of trouble depending on the situation.

This film marked the first time the box office star faced an acting titan like Hackman. The two had outstanding chemistry despite the film being their first pairing. His onscreen chemistry filtered over to his other co-stars, like Regina King and Jon Voight. The thriller received positive reviews, with Smith receiving critical recognition. He scored an NAACP Image Award nomination. Unfortunately, the acclaim didn’t turn into a Best Actor Oscar nomination. 

You can watch the classic political thriller on streaming platforms, including with a Hulu subscription and on Amazon Prime Video.

The prior performances display Will Smith’s versatility, star power and ability to transform any role into one worthy of an Academy Award, despite not starring in any Best Picture winners . His win for King Richard marked a career filled with Oscar-worthy performances, with even more coming shortly, because Smith has multiple upcoming movies and shows . Confirmed projects include I Am Legend 2 with fellow A-lister Michael B. Jordan , Fast and Loose, and Resistor . Of course, moviegoers already saw Smith on the 2024 movie schedule via the box-office hit Bad Boys : Ride or Die, which you can stream now.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

A boy from Greenwood, South Carolina. CinemaBlend Contributor. An animation enthusiast (anime, US and international films, television). Freelance writer, designer and artist. Lover of music (US and international).

32 Sneaky Great Movies About Con Artists

Even The It Ends With Us Screenwriter Had No Idea Ryan Reynolds Had Tinkered With The Script. Truly.

After Sigourney Weaver's Alien Return Comments, I Think It's Time To Resurrect Neil Blomkamp's Awesome Sequel Idea

Most Popular

• 2 Mark Hamill Praises Carrie Fisher's Original Star Wars Performance: ‘She Made Us Look Like The Two Stooges
• 3 32 Sneaky Great Movies About Con Artists
• 4 As Michael Emerson Reflects On The End Of Evil, Here's Where You Can Find His 'Chilling And Fantastic' Work In A Totally Different Show
• 5 One Of Netflix’s Most Popular Shows Right Now Is 100% On Rotten Tomatoes, And It’s Worth A Watch

The Pursuit of Happyness (2024 Podcast Episode)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Recently Viewed