In the 90s and 2000s, Will Smith was one of the most sought-after actors of his time and brought one box office hit after another to the cinemas. Among them was a touching family drama that Smith still considers to be the best film of his entire career: The pursuit of happiness.
Today you have the opportunity to watch the film again – or for the first time – on TV.
Will Smith fights for his son’s future: This is what The Pursuit of Happyness is about
San Francisco, 1981: Chris Gardner (Smith) can barely support his family with his poorly paid job as a salesman. His wife Linda (Thandiwe Newton) can no longer stand the predicament and leaves Chris behind with their son Christopher (Jaden Smith). When the two then lose their apartment, the situation seems hopeless.
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Will Smith and Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness
However, Chris finds new hope in a career as a stockbroker, which, however, involves an unpaid internship. So the two have no choice but to spend months without income. on the streets of San Francisco Despite all the hurdles and difficulties, Chris firmly believes in a happy life, which he wants to make possible for his son at all costs.
The Pursuit of Happyness on TV: Touching true story with a strong Will Smith
The family drama by Gabriele Muccino (Seven Pounds) is based on the true story of former banker Chris Gardner, who lived with his child in a homeless shelter before becoming a millionaire as a stockbroker. Will Smith slipped into the role of the ambitious man who guided by hope and confidence makes the seemingly impossible possible and embodies this in a way that is as powerful as it is moving.
In the role of his son Christopher, Will Smith’s actual son Jaden Smith This is also his acting debut, which gives this father-son duo a touching and unshakable authenticity.
Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH
The pursuit of happiness
It’s no wonder, then, that Will Smith still considers The Pursuit of Happyness to be the best film of his career. In early June 2024, during an episode of First We Feast’s online format Hot Ones, he declared that for him the film even overshadows Men in Black:
I think, the best film of all I have ever madeis The Pursuit of Happyness. Directly behind it is the first Men in Black. The direction, the camera work, and music …
Smith also revealed that he actually didn’t want to do The Pursuit of Happyness. His business partner James Lassiter finally persuaded him to agree to the film:
At that time, the ten films I made at the peak of my career were selected by James Lassiter. He had a good eye. I didn’t want to do The Pursuit of Happyness. I didn’t want to do Ali. And James Lassiter chose Men in Black.
Today, not only Lassiter Smith, but also numerous fans are grateful for this good eye. The Moviepilot community also gives The Pursuit of Happyness an average score of strong 7.3 out of 10 points.
When will The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith be on TV?
The pursuit of happiness runs on the night from Saturday to Sunday, on 30 June 2024 at 0.40 am on Sat.1If you miss this late broadcast, you have the option of renting or buying the film as video-on-demand on Amazon, Sky, MagentaTV, Apple TV and Maxdome.