The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGabriele Muccino
Screenplay bySteven Conrad
Based onThe Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
Quincy Troupe
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPhedon Papamichael
Edited byHughes Winborne
Music byAndrea Guerra
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • December 15, 2006 (2006-12-15)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$55 million[1]
Box office$307.1 million[1]

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. Smith's son Jaden Smith co-stars, making his film debut as Gardner's son, Christopher Jr. The screenplay by Steven Conrad is based on the best-selling 2006 memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. It is based on Gardner's nearly one-year struggle being homeless.[2] The unusual spelling of the film's title comes from a mural that Gardner sees on the wall outside the daycare facility his son attended. The movie is set in San Francisco in 1981.

The film was released on December 15, 2006, by Columbia Pictures, and received positive reviews, with Smith's performance and the emotional weight of the story garnering acclaim. Smith was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.[3]

  1. ^ a b "The Pursuit of Happyness". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Pfeiffer, Antonia (2018). "The Pursuit of Happyness" – A Hollywood Interpretation Of How To Achieve The American Dream. p. 7.
  3. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (January 21, 2016). "Will Smith Says He Won't Attend Oscars". Variety. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.