The Pursuit of Happyness
Available to Stream
Watch Now
Subscription
Rent or Buy
Availability may vary by region.
Some streaming links are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, VidScio may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview
Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". He feels like he has it made selling these devices. However, they do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he lo...
Director / Creator
Gabriele Muccino
Writers
Steve Conrad
Top Cast
About The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Filmoverview · cast · reception · where to watch
Overview
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) is a Biography and Drama film from United States. the film was directed by Gabriele Muccino from a screenplay by Steve Conrad. It runs 1 hour and 57 minutes and was produced primarily in English and Cantonese.
What it's about
Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". He feels like he has it made selling these devices. However, they do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner continues to sell bone density scanners while concurrently taking on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position. Before he can receive pay, he needs to outshine the competition through 6 months of training, and to sell his devices to stay afloat.
Cast and crew
The film stars Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, and Jaden Smith in supporting roles. Writing credits go to Steve Conrad, whose work establishes the story structure and dialogue throughout.
Critical reception
On IMDb, The Pursuit of Happyness holds a rating of 8/10 based on 607,328 user votes. Rotten Tomatoes lists a critical score of 67%. Metacritic aggregates a score of 64/100 from professional reviewers. Notable recognition: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 12 wins & 26 nominations total. These numbers place The Pursuit of Happyness within the broader landscape of Biography and Drama cinema from 2006, giving viewers a benchmark before deciding to watch.
Where to watch
The Pursuit of Happyness is currently available to stream with a subscription on Spectrum On Demand. It can also be rented or purchased digitally through Fandango at Home, Amazon, and AppleTV. Free, ad-supported viewing options are available on Pluto TV. Streaming rights move between platforms regularly, so the providers shown above reflect current availability based on the most recent data we have on file.
Why The Pursuit of Happyness is worth knowing
If you enjoy Biography or Drama films, The Pursuit of Happyness offers a representative example of the genre's conventions and storytelling style. As a 2006 release, it sits within a specific moment in film history, making it a useful reference point for understanding how biography evolved during that period. Performances from Will Smith and Thandiwe Newton are central to the work, and tracking their broader filmographies can lead to other titles you may want to add to your watchlist. Use VidScio to identify scenes, find related movies, and keep The Pursuit of Happyness on your watchlist for later.
Identify a movie from a scene, plot, or URL
Discover details about The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). VidScio helps you identify movies from scenes, plots, or vague descriptions.