The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

PG-13
117 min
Biography
December 14, 2006

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Movie Details

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An uplifting movie that shows why you should never give up no matter how dark things seem.

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Rumors have the networks paying upwards of $30 million for the film.

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Sony to Release The Pursuit of Happyness On March 27

This inspiring story starring Will Smith is making it's way to both standard DVD and Blu-ray.

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Will Smith Is In The Pursuit of Happyness

Actor discusses the character, working with his son, and why he feels this film is his best work.

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Critics Score

67%

Release Date

December 14, 2006

Director

Gabriele Muccino

Writer

Steve Conrad

Cast

Official Website

sony.com

The Pursuit of Happyness Synopsis

"Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. ...You got a dream, you gotta protect it... If you want something, go get it. Period."

In Columbia Pictures' The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a bright and talented but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them.

Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his valiant attempts to help keep the family afloat, the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) is buckling under the constant strain of financial pressure. No longer able to cope, she reluctantly decides to leave.

Chris, now a single father, continues doggedly to pursue a better-paying job using every sales skill he knows. He lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, and although there is no salary, he accepts, hopeful he will end the program with a job and a promising future. Without a financial cushion, Chris and his son are soon evicted from their apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, bathrooms, or wherever they can find refuge for the night.

Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his commitment as a loving and caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to overcome the obstacles he faces.