Happiness (1998)

Happiness (1998) is a darkly comic ensemble drama that follows several lonely, flawed people in suburban America as their lives unexpectedly intersect. Through a mix of satirical humor and bleak realism, the film examines longing, isolation, and the destructive ways people seek intimacy. The characters range from dissatisfied couples and awkward neighbors to office workers and therapists, each carrying secret desires, shame, or denial that drive them into morally troubling behavior. If you watch this film you should expect an unsettling, provocative experience rather than light entertainment. The tone shifts between cringe-inducing comedy and bleak, sometimes harrowing drama; the movie deliberately pushes boundaries to expose the underside of ordinary lives. It contains explicit adult themes and scenes that many viewers will find disturbing, including sexual deviance and exploitative behavior, as well as dark explorations of loneliness, guilt, and the craving for connection. Happiness is designed to provoke strong reactions — discomfort, anger, pity, and occasional reluctant laughter — and to challenge easy moral judgments. It’s best approached as a challenging, artful portrait of human brokenness rather than a feel‑good story; viewer discretion is advised.

Actors: Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Director: Todd Solondz

Runtime: 134 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama

7.4 /10 81 /100 7.7 /10 7.7 /10