The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) is a gritty, heartfelt drama based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a determined salesman in early-1980s San Francisco who risks everything to build a better life for himself and his young son. After investing his savings in expensive bone-density scanners that won’t sell, Gardner’s marriage collapses and he and his five-year-old are plunged into homelessness. Desperate but undeterred, Chris lands a highly competitive — and unpaid — six-month internship at a brokerage firm, where only one of twenty trainees will be hired. He must juggle relentless pressure, the need to sell remaining scanners, and the daily struggle to care for his child while keeping his dreams alive. Watching the film, you’ll experience a raw emotional journey: moments of quiet tenderness between father and son, tense scenes of financial strain and humiliation, and pulse-quickening sequences where Chris’s grit and ingenuity are put to the test. The movie balances bleak, realistic hardship with uplifting, inspirational beats, building to a hopeful, emotionally satisfying climax without feeling saccharine. Themes of perseverance, parental love, dignity, and the American dream are front and center, carried by powerful performances and a grounded, authentic depiction of hardship. If you watch it, expect to be moved — at times saddened and frustrated by the obstacles Chris faces, but ultimately inspired by his resilience and the bond he shares with his son.

Actors: Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith

Director: Gabriele Muccino

Runtime: 117 min

Genres: Biography, Drama

7.4 /10 64 /100 8.0 /10 7.3 /10