IMDb > The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
The Pursuit of Happyness
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The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 94 | slideshow) Videos (see all 18 NEW)
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- A struggling salesman (Will Smith) takes custody of his son (Jaden Smith) as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- Clip: You got a dream...you got to protect it
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- Interview: Will & Jaden Smith "On Will Always Being in Character"
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- A struggling salesman (Will Smith) takes custody of his son (Jaden Smith) as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) -- A struggling salesman (Will Smith) takes custody of his son (Jaden Smith) as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   67,497 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Gabriele Muccino
Writer (WGA):
Steve Conrad (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Pursuit of Happyness on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 December 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama more
Plot:
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 9 wins & 17 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(68 articles)
Will Smith Gets Flowers
 (From Screenrush. 11 November 2009, 3:00 AM, PST)

Will Smith to Bring ‘Flowers for Algernon’
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 10 November 2009, 5:07 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Entertainment galore, plus inspiration for families, for entrepreneurs and for social action more (505 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Will Smith ... Chris Gardner

Jaden Smith ... Christopher (as Jaden Christopher Syre Smith)

Thandie Newton ... Linda

Brian Howe ... Jay Twistle

James Karen ... Martin Frohm

Dan Castellaneta ... Alan Frakesh
Kurt Fuller ... Walter Ribbon

Takayo Fischer ... Mrs. Chu

Kevin West ... World's Greatest Dad

George Cheung ... Chinese Maintenance Worker (as George K. Cheung)
David Michael Silverman ... Doctor at First Hospital

Domenic Bove ... Tim Ribbon

Geoff Callan ... Ferrari Owner

Joyful Raven ... Hippie Girl

Scott Klace ... Tim Brophy
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Pursuit of Happiness (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Untitled Chris Gardner Project (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some language.
Runtime:
117 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Sweden:7 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42013) | Italy:T | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | France:U | Argentina:13 | Finland:S | Brazil:Livre | Hong Kong:IIA | South Korea:All | Malaysia:U
Filming Locations:
Alameda, California, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Speedcubing champions Tyson Mao and Toby Mao and Lars Petrus were hired to coach Will Smith to solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: In one scene, Chris enters the day care center to pick up his son, while the camera remains outside. The cameraman and camera are clearly visible in the window reflection. more
Quotes:
Christopher Gardner: You gotta trust me, all right?
Christopher: I trust you.
Christopher Gardner: 'Cause I'm getting a better job
more
Movie Connections:
References "Bonanza" (1959) more
Soundtrack:
When the Saints Go Marching In more

FAQ

Why is "happiness" spelled wrong in the title?
Is there a real Chris Gardner?
Who is the "Rich" in his later firm Gardner Rich?
more
163 out of 200 people found the following comment useful.
Entertainment galore, plus inspiration for families, for entrepreneurs and for social action, 15 December 2006
10/10
Author: Neil Carlson from Grand Rapids, Michigan

They just don't make many this good. The audience and I cried, laughed, cheered and applauded. The climactic scene is as powerful and cathartic as The Shawshank Redemption's golden moment. Will Smith is terrific, his son Jaden is just perfect, and Thandie Newton puts in a convincing supporting act. The movie's 1980s San Francisco is absorbing and authentic without stealing the show.

Best of all, if you are a thinker, this movie will challenge your visions of family, business and society. On one hand, the film reinforces the great American myth of the self-made man and equal opportunity. Myths are not necessarily false simply for being myths--we can make some of them true by choice, and our belief in this myth still helps make America great. Free-market capitalism is not the cure to all ills--surely it is the source of many ills--but it does open social doors that nothing else can even budge. On the other hand, if you can leave this movie without a burning indignation that any American child of any race should have to struggle just to have a place to sleep, you must be cynical indeed. This movie doesn't get on a soapbox, not even for a second--it just tells a real-life story that owns you before you know it.

I hope a few of us will let our motivations own us for years instead of hours after the movie's over.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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