Best movies like The Pursuit of Happyness
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 549000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: inspirational, emotional, sentimental, uplifting, motivational, dramatic, heartbreaking, tear jerker, touching, sincere
Best tv shows and movies like The Pursuit of Happyness (2006):
Similar in 88%
King Richard (2021)
Plot Summary:
The story of how Richard Williams served as a coach to his daughters Venus and Serena, who will soon become two of the most legendary tennis players in history.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 130000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 144 min
Plot tags: motivational, inspirational, sentimental, thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional, disturbing, exciting, historical drama
Similar in 80%
Angela's Ashes (1999)
Plot Summary:
Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family in Brooklyn, but following the death of one of Frankie's siblings, they return home, only to find the situation there even worse. Prejudice against Frankie's Northern Irish father makes his search for employment in the Republic difficult despite his having fought for the IRA, and when he does find money, he spends the money on drink.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, UK, Ireland
Duration: 145 min
Plot tags: emotional, touching, depressing, sad, compassionate, serious, melancholic, sincere, gothic, epic
Similar in 81%
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009)
Plot Summary:
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a movie based on the life story of world-renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson from 1961 to 1987.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: uplifting, emotional, sincere, inspirational, realistic, christian film, factual, captivating, touching, spiritual
Similar in 76%
Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story. Liz Murray is a young girl who is taken care of by her loving, but drug-addicted parents. Liz becomes homeless at 15 and after a tragedy comes upon her, she begins her work to finish high school.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: emotional, sincere, touching, serious, captivating, realistic, inspirational, sad, teen, crying
Similar in 81%
Lion (2016)
Plot Summary:
A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 247000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, UK, USA, India
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: emotional, touching, motivational, sentimental, inspirational, dramatic, feel good, heartbreaking, suspense, compassionate
Similar in 75%
Joy (2015)
Plot Summary:
A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 143000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: inspirational, stylized, emotional, sentimental, intense, serious, realistic, feel good, motivational, clever
Similar in 75%
The Billionaire (2011)
Plot Summary:
The Billionaire tells the story of Aitthipat Kulapongvanich and how he, at the age of nineteen, dropped out from university to launch a packaged fried seaweed business that is now Taokaenoi Food & Marketing and became one of Thailand's youngest (baht) billionaires.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Thailand
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: inspirational, motivational, realistic, captivating, thought provoking, uplifting
Similar in 90%
Moneyball (2011)
Plot Summary:
The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 455000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: inspirational, feel good, realistic, captivating, motivational, clever, serious, suspense, intelligent, witty
Similar in 85%
Remember the Titans (2000)
Plot Summary:
After leading his football team to 15 winning seasons, coach Bill Yoast is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone – tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. The two men learn to overcome their differences and turn a group of hostile young men into champions.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 228000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sentimental, touching, uplifting, feel good, emotional, motivational, factual, sincere, sad
Similar in 82%
Men of Honor (2000)
Plot Summary:
Against formidable odds -- and an old-school diving instructor embittered by the U.S. Navy's new, less prejudicial policies -- Carl Brashear sets his sights on becoming the Navy's first African-American master diver in this uplifting true story. Their relationship starts out on the rocks, but fate ultimately conspires to bring the men together into a setting of mutual respect, triumph and honor.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 124000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: inspirational, motivational, touching, emotional, sincere, tear jerker, factual, sentimental, rough, realistic
Similar in 89%
Steve Jobs (2015)
Plot Summary:
Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 177000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: realistic, cerebral, factual, thought provoking, melancholic, talky, serious, sincere, captivating, emotional
Similar in 76%
October Sky (1999)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 97000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, realistic, feel good, sentimental, emotional, uplifting, period piece, exciting, motivational
Similar in 78%
The Founder (2016)
Plot Summary:
The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 171000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Greece
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: inspirational, motivational, realistic, factual, cerebral, dramatic, uplifting, clever, thought provoking, entertaining
Similar in 89%
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Plot Summary:
Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 511000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: psychological, heartbreaking, compassionate, depressing, motivational, inspirational, clever, emotional, dramatic, cerebral
Similar in 90%
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Plot Summary:
Jamal Malik is an impoverished Indian teen who becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ but, after he wins, he is suspected of cheating.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 869000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: touching, uplifting, realistic, motivational, feel good, heartbreaking, inspirational, emotional, serious, harsh
Similar in 86%
Seven Pounds (2008)
Plot Summary:
An IRS agent with a fateful secret embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 313000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: touching, sad, emotional, depressing, inspirational, sentimental, tear jerker, psychological, compassionate, heartbreaking
Similar in 89%
Something the Lord Made (2004)
Plot Summary:
A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: emotional, sincere, uplifting, inspirational, serious, realistic, motivational, thought provoking, feel good, spiritual
Similar in 79%
Jobs (2013)
Plot Summary:
The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 102000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA, Switzerland
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, factual, realistic, intense, romantic, captivating, motivational, educational, cyber
Similar in 78%
The Blind Side (2009)
Plot Summary:
Oversized African-American, Michael Oher, the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 355000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, emotional, sentimental, motivational, uplifting, realistic, feel good, captivating, christian film
Similar in 86%
Flash of Genius (2008)
Plot Summary:
In this David vs. Goliath drama based on a true story, college professor Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) goes up against the giants of the auto industry when they fail to give him credit for inventing intermittent windshield wipers. Kearns doggedly pursues recognition for his invention, as well as the much-deserved financial rewards for the sake of his wife (Lauren Graham) and six kids.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: inspirational, thought provoking, sentimental, sincere, serious, depressing, sad, realistic, motivational, exciting
Similar in 76%
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
Plot Summary:
Growing up poor in Madras, India, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G.H. Hardy.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 61000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, India
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: philosophical, intellectual, inspirational, motivational, clever, touching, educational, unusual plot structure, thought provoking, sexy
Similar in 76%
I Am Sam (2001)
Plot Summary:
Sam has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. He has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam shames high-priced lawyer Rita into taking his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 154000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: inspirational, emotional, touching, tear jerker, sad, sentimental, sincere, serious, heartbreaking, sweet
Similar in 80%
Pay It Forward (2000)
Plot Summary:
Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 123000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, inspirational, motivational, sentimental, sincere, uplifting, tear jerker, sad, thought provoking
Similar in 77%
Freedom Writers (2007)
Plot Summary:
A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 84000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: inspirational, feel good, touching, sentimental, rough, motivational, hood, emotional, educational, spiritual
Similar in 79%
Cinderella Man (2005)
Plot Summary:
The true story of boxer, Jim Braddock who, in the 1920’s after his retirement, has a surprise comeback in order to get him and his family out of a socially poor state.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 196000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, motivational, uplifting, sentimental, sincere, emotional, period piece, compassionate, feel good
Similar in 90%
Patch Adams (1998)
Plot Summary:
Meet Patch Adams, a doctor who doesn't look, act or think like any doctor you've met before. For Patch, humor is the best medicine, and he's willing to do just anything to make his patients laugh - even if it means risking his own career.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 121000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, emotional, uplifting, compassionate, sad, feel good, tragicomedy, dramatic, realistic
Similar in 84%
The Intouchables (2011)
Plot Summary:
A true story of two men who should never have met – a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 909000
Genere: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: inspirational, feel good, touching, emotional, motivational, uplifting, sincere, realistic, dramatic, thought provoking
Similar in 84%
Forrest Gump (1994)
Plot Summary:
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events - in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. Yet, despite all the things he has attained, his one true love eludes him. 'Forrest Gump' is the story of a man who rose above his challenges, and who proved that determination, courage, and love are more important than ability.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 22000000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, feel good, sentimental, uplifting, dramatic, sincere, philosophical, epic, spiritual
Similar in 85%
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Plot Summary:
Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
IMDB Rating: 9.3
IMDB Votes: 28000000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min
Plot tags: clever, inspirational, touching, twist ending, sentimental, uplifting, emotional, philosophical, suspense, serious
Similar in 85%
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Plot Summary:
At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He finally makes a revolutionary breakthrough that will eventually earn him the Nobel Prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, becoming romantically involved with his student Alicia. Meanwhile the government asks his help with breaking Soviet codes, which soon gets him involved in a terrifying conspiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his entire world upside down. Now it is only with Alicia's help that he will be able to recover his mental strength and regain his status as the great mathematician we know him as today.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 972000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, cerebral, emotional, motivational, dramatic, intellectual, thought provoking, captivating, factual