The Pursuit of Happyness

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, The Pursuit of Happyness is available in Australia on Netflix and Stan, and in the UK on Netflix right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Will Smith leads a cast that never overplays its hand. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Pursuit of Happyness is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Pursuit of Happyness earns every emotional beat it goes for. A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career. Will Smith and Jaden Smith lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. It was released in 2006. The performances in The Pursuit of Happyness do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Pursuit of Happyness delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Will Smith anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.