MOVIHERO
Home/Discover/The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness movie poster

MOVIE DECISION GUIDE

The Pursuit of Happyness

2006 · 1h 57m · Drama

MOVIHERO READ

Patiently paced drama that takes its time. Best if you want family relationships to matter as much as the story.

90/100
MUST WATCH

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.

Watch NowWatch trailer
90/100
MUST WATCH
MUST WATCHA struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.

MAKE THE CALL

Does this belong in your night?

A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.

BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY

Is The Pursuit of Happyness right for tonight?

Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.

How much time should I set aside?

The Pursuit of Happyness runs 1h 57m. Allow extra time for breaks.

Is it slow or fast?

The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 4/10: a more patient pace.

Is it a good choice when I am tired?

The attention estimate is 5/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.

How emotionally intense is it?

The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.

CHANGE ONE THING

Like this, but...

These share a listed genre with The Pursuit of Happyness. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.

But less emotionally intenseThe Passion of the Christ2004 · 2h 7m

Estimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 7/10. Shared genre: drama.

WHY THIS MIGHT BE FOR YOU

01The setup points to a story driven by family relationships and their consequences
02A fuller 117-minute runtime and a more measured watch than a pure momentum movie define the practical movie-night fit
03Its 7.9/10 TMDB audience score across 10,861 votes gives the recommendation a meaningful crowd signal

QUICK DECISION GUIDE

Know the watch before you press play.

A fast read on the experience, then the reasons this movie may or may not fit your night.

01Pacing4/10
02Emotional Impact7/10
03Mind-Bending2/10
04Scary1/10
05Violence2/10
06Rewatchability6/10

PERFECT IF

01you want the relationships inside a family to matter as much as the plot
02you are in the mood for a more measured watch than a pure momentum movie
03you are open to a movie with real emotional weight

THINK TWICE IF

01family conflict is not the kind of emotional material you want tonight
02you are impatient with measured or slow-building movies
03you are not looking for a relationship-centered movie

MOVIHERO AUDIENCE VERDICT

Was it worth your time?

Real votes from MoviHero viewers. No imported ratings.

MOVIHERO EDITORIAL

Should you watch The Pursuit of Happyness?

The Pursuit of Happyness belongs in your night if you want the relationships inside a family to matter as much as the plot. It is a more measured watch than a pure momentum movie, with a fuller 117-minute runtime, and the Watch Profile puts attention at 5/10 and emotional impact at 7/10. The signals are strong enough to make this one of the easier calls in the queue.

WATCH NOW

Watch The Pursuit of Happyness

Compare reported U.S. streaming, free, rental and purchase options in one place.

United States

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Prime trial offer is for eligible customers. Amazon terms and pricing can change; confirm the current offer before starting a trial.

Availability by JustWatch.

WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE

Watch Profile

Seven signals for the experience itself — from the pace of the night to how much attention it asks from you.

Pacing4/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence2/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required5/10
The Pursuit of Happyness still

WATCH A PREVIEW

Trailer

A CLOSER LOOK

Stay with the image.

The Pursuit of Happyness still 1The Pursuit of Happyness still 2The Pursuit of Happyness still 3The Pursuit of Happyness still 4The Pursuit of Happyness still 5

CAST & CREW

The people who make it land.

Gabriele Muccino portrait
Gabriele MuccinoDirector
Will Smith portrait
Will SmithChris Gardner
Jaden Smith portrait
Jaden SmithChristopher
Thandiwe Newton portrait
Thandiwe NewtonLinda
Brian Howe portrait
Brian HoweJay Twistle
James Karen portrait
James KarenMartin Frohm
Dan Castellaneta portrait
Dan CastellanetaAlan Frakesh
Kurt Fuller portrait
Kurt FullerWalter Ribbon
Takayo Fischer portrait
Takayo FischerMrs. Chu
Kevin West portrait
Kevin WestWorld's Greatest Dad