Perspectives

Reception and criticism

The film The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) directed by Gabriele Muccino came out in 2006. It debuted first at the box office on the first weekend of its release, earning 27 million dollars in the United States of America. The audience reviews are generally favorable, with several praising it as inspirational. A mayor from a town in Tennessee organized a viewing of the film for the homeless, hoping it would inspire them to improve their situation. The film is rated 8.0/10 on the Internet Movie Database, and the audience rating summary by Google users is 4.9.

Reviews by film critics are mixed. The film’s approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes is 67% which is considered a little over medium. While San Francisco Chronicle praised the film as realistic, The New York Times questioned its ability to persuade viewers that success is really the result of hard work. Other magazines and newspapers, such as Variety and Los Angeles Times called the film inspirational and feel-good entertainment, but also argued that it lacked depth and creativity. The actors’ performances were praised unanimously, with several critics naming them the strong points of the film. In particular, Will Smith’s performance as Chris Gardner ea...