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What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) movie poster

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 biographical drama directed by Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton and Jaden Smith. It runs 1 hour 57 minutes and earned $307.1 million worldwide on a $55 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$307.1M
award nominations
6
Metascore
64
budget
$55M
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The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 57m (117 min)
Director
Gabriele Muccino
Genres
Biography , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$55M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Pursuit of Happyness About?

The premise of The Pursuit of Happyness without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Based on a true story, this biographical drama follows Chris Gardner, a man struggling with poverty and homelessness while raising his young son. Determined to build a better future for them, he takes on an unpaid internship at a prestigious brokerage firm, facing constant setbacks and uncertainty. The film portrays his unwavering resilience and the emotional challenges he overcomes while battling homelessness and striving for a stable career.

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Cast & crew

The Pursuit of Happyness Cast

Will Smith leads the cast, with Thandiwe Newton and Jaden Smith. Directed by Gabriele Muccino.

From the director

More from Gabriele Muccino

More films directed by Gabriele Muccino, best-rated first: The Best Years, Come te nessuno mai, Seven Pounds and One Last Kiss.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Pursuit of Happyness Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Pursuit of Happyness 64 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Pursuit of Happyness Plot Summary

What happens in The Pursuit of Happyness from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the year 1981, San Francisco salesman Chris Gardner takes a bold risk by investing his entire life savings into portable bone-density scanners, marketing them as a substantial advancement over conventional X-rays. The pressure mounts as Chris grapples with immense financial strain, which begins to take a toll on his marriage to Linda, who tirelessly works as a hotel maid. As they strive to support their young son, Christopher Jr., who is just months away from turning five, the family’s struggles become increasingly evident.

Full summary

The whole story of The Pursuit of Happyness, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Pursuit of Happyness Box Office & Budget

The Pursuit of Happyness grossed $307.1 million worldwide on a $55 million budget, 5.6 times what it cost. $163.6 million came from the US and Canada and $143.6 million (47%) from the rest of the world.

2006 box office

Worldwide gross

$307.1M

5.6× its budget

US & Canada
$163.6M
International
$143.6M
Budget
$55M
US & Canada 53% Rest of the world 47%
Awards

The Pursuit of Happyness Awards & Nominations

The Pursuit of Happyness was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 6 nominations come from 4 ceremonies.

6 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

The Pursuit of Happyness Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Pursuit of Happyness.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Official Trailer 1 - Will Smith Movie
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Pursuit of Happyness?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What did Chris Gardner invest his life savings in?

Cars

Cars in The Pursuit of Happyness

41 cars on screen, including the 1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic and the 1978 AMC Concord.

All 41 cars
  • 1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic in The Pursuit of Happyness 1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Important role
  • 1978 AMC Concord in The Pursuit of Happyness 1978 AMC Concord Minor role
  • 1973 AMC Hornet Sportabout in The Pursuit of Happyness 1973 AMC Hornet Sportabout Minor role
  • 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS in The Pursuit of Happyness 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS Minor role
Details

The Pursuit of Happyness Also Known As

45 alternative titles, including “En Busca de la Felicidad” and “Alla ricerca della felicità”.

Also known as
  • En Busca de la Felicidad
  • Alla ricerca della felicità
  • 幸福追击
  • The Pursuit of Happiness
  • У пошуках щастя
  • A la recherche du bonheur
  • В поисках счастья
  • В пошуках щастя
  • A Procura da Felicidade
  • به دنبال خوشبختی
  • W Pogoni za Szczęściem
  • Das Streben nach Glück
+33 more
  • La ricerca della felicità
  • В погоне за счастьем
  • Umudunu Kaybetme
  • À la recherche du bonheur
  • Em Busca da Felicidade
  • 当幸福来敲门
  • Jakten på lycka
  • Jagten på lykke
  • Štěstí na dosah
  • A boldogság nyomában
  • Šťastie na dosah
  • Το Κυνήγι της Ευτυχίας
  • המרדף לאושר
  • У гонитві за щастям
  • În căutarea fericirii
  • 행복을 찾아서
  • ยิ้มไว้ก่อนพ่อสอนไว้
  • البحث عن السعادة
  • À Procura da Felicidade
  • Преследване на щастието
  • La poursuite du bonheur
  • 當幸福來敲門
  • Ieškantys laimės
  • Mưu Cầu Hạnh Phúc
  • Onnen potkuja
  • 尋找快樂的故事
  • Jakten på lykke
  • U potrazi za srećom
  • 幸せのちから
  • V iskanju srece
  • La recerca de la felicitat
  • Tiesības uz laimi
  • در جستجوی خوشبختی

Seen The Pursuit of Happyness?

FAQ

The Pursuit of Happyness FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Pursuit of Happyness, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Pursuit of Happyness?

The Pursuit of Happyness runs 1 hour 57 minutes (117 minutes).

When was The Pursuit of Happyness released?

The Pursuit of Happyness was released on December 15, 2006.

Who directed The Pursuit of Happyness?

The Pursuit of Happyness was directed by Gabriele Muccino.

More films by Gabriele Muccino

Who is in the cast of The Pursuit of Happyness?

The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton and Jaden Smith.

How much did The Pursuit of Happyness make at the box office?

The Pursuit of Happyness grossed $307.1 million worldwide ($163.6 million domestic, $143.6 million international) on a budget of $55 million.

How is The Pursuit of Happyness rated?

The Pursuit of Happyness has 64 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.

Was The Pursuit of Happyness nominated for any awards?

The Pursuit of Happyness received 6 nominations across 4 ceremonies.

Does The Pursuit of Happyness have a post-credit scene?

No. The Pursuit of Happyness has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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