What age is The Pursuit of Happyness appropriate for?

The Pursuit of Happyness is rated PG-13 and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 10+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film includes a scene where Chris and Christopher are evicted with nowhere to sleep, a moment where Christopher asks his father if his mother left because of him, and one use of the word 'fuck' along with several instances of 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'ass.'

Can a 8 year old watch The Pursuit of Happyness?

PopcornCheck recommends The Pursuit of Happyness for ages 10+, so it may be too mature for a 8 year old. Despite being an inspiring, largely family-friendly drama, the film contains one use of 'fuck' and a scene where Chris and Christopher are evicted and left with nowhere to sleep — heavier content than the uplifting trailer might suggest.

Does The Pursuit of Happyness have swearing or bad language?

The Pursuit of Happyness has Moderate language. One use of the strong profanity 'fuck.'

Is The Pursuit of Happyness violent?

The Pursuit of Happyness has Mild violence. Chris gets hit by a car while running across the street and loses a shoe, a brief but startling moment of peril.

Is The Pursuit of Happyness scary for children?

The Pursuit of Happyness has Mild scary scenes. Chris realizes his bank account has only $21.33 left, a quietly devastating and tense financial crisis scene.

What is the parents guide for The Pursuit of Happyness?

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) is rated PG-13. PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 10+. Violence: Mild. Language: Moderate. Scary scenes: Mild. Romance: Mild. Substances: Very Mild. Watch recommendation: Watch together — Younger children (under 10) may need a parent present to process the eviction and homelessness scenes and the emotional moment when Christopher asks if his mother left because of him.

Is The Pursuit of Happyness OK for Kids?

Name: The Pursuit of Happyness
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Genre: Drama
Released: 2006
Duration: 117 min
Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Brian Howe, James Karen

Drama

10+

PG-13⭐ IMDb 8.0 / 102006 · 1h 57m

Gabriele Muccino● Script verified

See all movies for 10-year-olds

Where to Watch

United States

Rent

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Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Chris gets hit by a car while running across the street and loses a shoe, a brief but startling moment of peril.
A fight breaks out in line at the Glide Memorial shelter as people scramble over a spot to sleep, showing the desperation of homelessness.
Chris chases down a man who stole his bone-density scanner, a tense but non-graphic pursuit since the device is his livelihood.
A taxi driver tries to extract money from Chris after dropping him off, leading to a physical altercation.
Chris and Wayne argue aggressively over $14, with Chris becoming physically confrontational; overall violence in the film is grounded, brief, and never graphic — no weapons, blood, or deaths shown.

💬Language

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

One use of the strong profanity 'f**k.'
Moderate language includes 'da**' (x4), 'hell' (x3), 'a**' (x2), and 'bulls**t' (x1).
Mild language includes 's**t' used twice.
No slurs or extreme/repeated profanity are present — the strong language is limited to a single instance.

👻Scary Scenes

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

Chris realizes his bank account has only $21.33 left, a quietly devastating and tense financial crisis scene.
Chris and Christopher get evicted and have nowhere to sleep, creating sustained tension around their safety.
The internship competition, where only one of many interns will be hired, creates ongoing tense stakes throughout the film.
The car hitting Chris on the street is a brief, startling moment rather than a drawn-out scary sequence.
Christopher asks his father if his mother left because of him — an emotionally tense, not frightening, moment that is resolved with reassurance.
All tense moments are resolved through Chris's resilience and problem-solving rather than left unresolved or traumatic.

💕Romance

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

The only romantic content is Chris asking his partner Linda for a kiss before leaving for work.
Nothing sexual is implied or shown.
Romance is a minor, background element of the story, not a focus.

🍺Substances

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

There are references to alcohol/drinking culture in business settings, mentioned only in passing dialogue.
No characters are shown drinking, smoking, or using drugs on screen.
Substance use is not glorified or depicted negatively — it's simply referenced as part of the business social environment.

⚡Stimulation

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Fast-paced sequences of Chris making cold calls at Dean Witter create an energetic, high-pressure rhythm.
Chase scenes when Chris pursues the stolen bone-density scanner add sudden bursts of intensity.
The final day of the internship program is shown as a tense, rapid montage building to the job offer announcement.
The 49ers football game sequence at Candlestick Park is an exciting but lighter, upbeat scene by comparison.
Sensory-sensitive children may find the cold-call and chase sequences a bit overwhelming due to their pace, though nothing involves loud action violence.

Parents also checked

The Pursuit of Happyness — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being an inspiring, largely family-friendly drama, the film contains one use of 'f**k' and a scene where Chris and Christopher are evicted and left with nowhere to sleep — heavier content than the uplifting trailer might suggest.

About The Pursuit of Happyness

Based on a true story, this drama follows Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman in San Francisco who becomes homeless with his young son Christopher after a series of financial setbacks, and fights his way into a highly competitive stockbroker internship to build a better life. It's an emotional, inspiring story about perseverance, fatherhood, and the American Dream, with some tense and gritty moments depicting poverty and homelessness.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

Younger children (under 10) may need a parent present to process the eviction and homelessness scenes and the emotional moment when Christopher asks if his mother left because of him.

Family Takeaways from The Pursuit of Happyness

What it gets right

✓The film honestly portrays the emotional and practical toll of poverty and homelessness, as shown when Chris and Christopher are evicted and forced to adapt.
✓It shows a father actively protecting his child's emotional wellbeing during crisis, such as using the time machine game to comfort Christopher.

The Pursuit of Happyness Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion

●Christian themes

The film includes scenes set at the Glide Memorial church shelter involving faith and prayer as Chris and Christopher seek refuge and hope during homelessness.

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The story centers on Chris's dedication to fatherhood and providing for his son, emphasizing parental responsibility and perseverance as core family values.

Cast:Will SmithJaden SmithThandiwe NewtonBrian HoweJames Karen