The Pursuit of Happyness
The front-runner pattern fits The Pursuit of Happyness: strong in the opening rounds, shakier as the field thins. The 38% overall rate reflects a film that capitalizes on soft draws. Will Smith at his most earnest, delivering emotional beats that land with mechanical precision. In brackets, the predictability that critics flagged becomes a liability — voters can admire the performance while sensing the film never risks anything. Voters pick in 2.0s on average — well under the 3.5s platform norm.
Synopsis
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
First impressions do the heavy lifting. 43% in the opening round is where The Pursuit of Happyness is most convincing — by the final at 0%, the field has thinned to the films it can't outrun.
The Silence of the Lambs is the nearest thing to a true rival at 47%. The margin is slim and the outcome still feels unsettled. Against The Shawshank Redemption, The Pursuit of Happyness wins only 20%. Some matchups simply don't go your way.
Featured in Movies That Changed You.
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