The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
For his son, one man will reach for the impossible.
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 December 2006 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Gabriele Muccino |
| Starring | Will Smith, Jaden Smith and Thandiwe Newton |
| Runtime | 117 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.4/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 67% · Metacritic 64/100 · TMDB users 7.9/10 |
| Box office | $307 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Pursuit of Happyness
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Where to watch The Pursuit of Happyness in 34 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Antigua & Barbuda | Max |
| Argentina | Max $9590 ARS |
| Bahamas | Max |
| Barbados | Max |
| Belize | Max |
| Bolivia | Max |
| Brazil | Max R$34.90 |
| Chile | Max $9590 CLP |
| Colombia | Max $24900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Max |
| Dominican Republic | Max |
| Ecuador | Max $8.29 |
| El Salvador | Max |
| Guatemala | Max |
| Guyana | Max |
| Honduras | Max |
| Iceland | Netflix 1900 kr ISK |
| Ireland | Skygo |
| Italy | Skygo, Now TV |
| Jamaica | Max |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Mexico | Max $149 MXN |
| New Zealand | Netflix $25.99 NZD |
| Nicaragua | Max |
| Panama | Max $8.29 |
| Paraguay | Max |
| Peru | Max S/35.90 |
| South Korea | Watcha |
| St. Lucia | Max |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Max |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Max |
| United Kingdom | Skygo |
| Uruguay | Max $U399 |
| Venezuela | Max |
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What kind of watch this is
The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 drama directed by Gabriele Muccino. It runs 117 minutes and follows a struggling salesman taking custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career. The tone is relentless, focusing on the grind rather than the glamour. It is not a feel-good movie in the traditional sense; it is a survival story where the stakes are rent and dignity. Will Smith and Jaden Smith anchor the performance with a quiet, exhausted resilience. The film trusts the audience to sit with the discomfort of poverty without offering easy comfort. It is a slow burn that earns its payoff through sheer persistence. The ending feels less like a victory lap and more like catching a breath.
What the critics said
Critics generally warmed to the film, though the numbers suggest a comfortable majority rather than a standing ovation. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 67% approval rating as of July 2024, with an average score of 6.4/10. Metacritic’s 64/100 Metascore, reported in July 2025, lands in the "generally favorable" zone. The consensus leans heavily on Will Smith, whose performance many felt lifted the script. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle praised its "honesty," noting it feels real despite the success story trope. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times was less convinced, calling it "a fairy tale in realist drag." It is a movie that works best if you stop analyzing the bow on the present.
How it did with audiences
The film earned $307 million worldwide. It opened at number 1 in North America, taking in $27 million over its first weekend and outperforming Eragon and Charlotte's Web. On TMDB, users give it a 7.9 out of 10. The math worked out: people wanted to see the struggle, not just the success.
What came next for the cast
Will Smith moved from Men in Black and I, Robot to I Am Legend and Suicide Squad. Thandiwe Newton stepped away from Mission: Impossible II and Interview with the Vampire toward Westworld and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Brian Howe left Catch Me If You Can and K-PAX behind for Gran Torino and two Annabelle films. The timeline does not prove the film caused these shifts. It just marks where the road split.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Pursuit of Happyness.
Sources
- The Pursuit of Happyness on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q220515 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Pursuit of Happyness” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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