The Pursuit of Happyness poster

The Pursuit of Happyness

2006 · Drama · Gabriele Muccino

At 37% across 41 head-to-head matchups, The Pursuit of Happyness is still building its BingeBracket record. 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. At 1.2s average, voters make up their minds quickly — a gut preference rather than a weighed comparison.

Synopsis

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.

Round 1
42.3%
Semifinals
36.4%
4/11
Finals
0%
The ceiling

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 City of God, The Pursuit of Happyness wins only 29%. Some matchups simply don't go your way.

Closest Rival
Kryptonite
BingeBracket Record
37%
Win Rate
#80 of 88 in Drama #36 of 41 from the 2000s
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

Featured in Movies That Changed You.

Cast your vote.

City of God #1
The Pursuit of Happyness #2
The Shawshank Redemption #3
It's a Wonderful Life #4
The Godfather #5
Schindler's List #6
Titanic #7
The Silence of the Lambs #8
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About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .