20 best movies like The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

List of the best movies like The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): The Blind Side, Cinderella Man, Joy, Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, Gracie, The Audrey Hepburn Story, Resurrecting the Champ, Swimming Upstream, One Chance, Bang the Drum Slowly.

Tags: movies similar to The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) - full list

Markimdb: 7.6
Genredrama, biography, sport
CountryUSA
Duration02:09

    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.

    Markimdb: 8
    Genremelodrama, drama, biography, history, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:18

    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.

    Markimdb: 6.6
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:18

    A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.

    Markimdb: 7.2
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:44

    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.

    Markimdb: 6.1
    Genredrama, biography, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:35

    This is the story of a teenager named Gracie Bowen, who lives in South Orange, New Jersey, is crazy about soccer, as are her three brothers and former soccer star father. Although Gracie wants to join her brothers and father in the nightly practices, she is discouraged by everyone except her elder brother, Johnny. Her father does not believe that girls should play soccer and tells her that she is neither tough enough nor talented enough to play with the boys team. Undeterred, Gracie finds reserves of strength she never knew existed, and persists in changing everyone's beliefs in what she is capable of, including her own. She faces an uphill battle when she fights to give women the opportunity to play competitive soccer. But as the beautiful and strong person that she has always been but she also brings her family together in the face of their own tragedy.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryUSA, Canada
    Duration02:13

    The film spans from Hepburn's early childhood to the 1950s which details her life as a Dutch ballerina, coming to grips with her parents' divorce, and enduring life in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II. She then settles in the U.S. where she succeeds in making it big as a movie actress, in such movies as Breakfast at Tiffany's.

    Markimdb: 6.7
    Genredrama, biography, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:52

    Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genredrama, biography, sport
    CountryAustralia, USA
    Duration01:54

    A young man aspiring for recognition of his talents battles against his estranged father's sentiment towards him as the father deals with his own demons.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, biography
    CountryUnited Kingdom, USA
    Duration01:43

    This film follows the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genredrama, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:36

    The story of a New York pro baseball team and two of its players. Henry Wiggen is the star pitcher and Bruce Pearson is the normal, everyday catcher who is far from the star player on the team and friend to all of his teammates. During the off-season, Bruce learns that he is terminally ill, and Henry, his only true friend, is determined to be the one person there for him during his last season with the club. Throughout the course of the season, Henry and his teammates attempt to deal with Bruce's impending illness, all the while attempting to make his last year a memorable one.

    Markimdb: 7.2
    Genredrama, biography, history
    CountryUnited Kingdom, USA
    Duration02:31

      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.

      Markimdb: 7.1
      Genredrama, biography, history
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:18

      Charlton Heston stars as Renaissance artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), who begrudgingly paints the Sistine Chapel for imperious Pope Julius II in this epic adaptation of Irvine Stone's novel directed by Carol Reed. While the novel covers Michelangelo's life from birth to death, the film focuses on the battle of wills between the perfectionist artist and the impatient Pope who commissions (and eventually commands) him to paint the famed chapel.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genredrama, music, biography
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:07

      In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez, who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.

      Markimdb: 7.2
      Genredrama, biography, sport
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:58

      In 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship.

      Markimdb: 7.6
      Genredrama, biography
      CountryUSA, Canada
      Duration01:30

      Matthew Perry is real-life inspiration Ron Clark, a passionate and innovative teacher who leaves his small hometown to teach in one of Harlem's toughest schools. But to break through to this students, Clark must use unconventional methods, including his ground-breaking classroom rules, to drive them toward their potential.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genremelodrama, drama, music
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:56

      Noni Jean is a hot new rising star. But not all is what it seems, and the pressure causes Noni to nearly fall apart - until she meets Kaz Nicol, a promising young cop and aspiring politician who's been assigned to her detail. Can Kaz's love give Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be?

      Markimdb: 4.7
      Genredrama, crime, biography
      CountryCanada, USA
      Duration02:12

      John Gotti rises to the top of the New York underworld to become the boss of the Gambino crime family. His life takes a tumultuous turn as he faces tragedy, multiple trials and a prison sentence.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genredrama, biography, sport
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:35

      A young girl overcomes her disadvantaged upbringing in the slums of Uganda to become a Chess master.

      Markimdb: 7.5
      Genredrama, biography
      CountryUSA

      Mitch became caught up with his career as a sport commentator and journalist. He ignored his girlfriend and did not make time to do things in life that are of the most value to a human being. Morrie was one of Mitch's professors in college and a famous scholar. One day Mitch was watching television and saw Morrie giving an interview stating that he is dying of Lou Gehrig disease or ALS.

      Markimdb: 7.4
      Genremelodrama, drama, biography
      CountryUnited Kingdom, USA, Kenya, France

      The true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford.

      Markimdb: 5
      Genredrama, biography
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:31

      Chronicles Whitney Houston's rise to fame and turbulent relationship with husband Bobby Brown.

      Markimdb: 7.2
      Genredrama, biography, sport
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:27

      The life story of Brazilian football legend, Pele.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genremelodrama, drama, music, biography
      CountryAustralia
      Duration01:45

      Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, biography
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:55

      Patch Adams is a doctor who doesn't look, act or think like any doctor you've met before. For Patch, humour 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.

      Markimdb: 6.7
      Genredrama, music, biography
      CountryUnited Kingdom, France, USA
      Duration01:57

        A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.

        Markimdb: 7.7
        Genredrama, biography, history
        CountryUSA, Japan
        Duration03:22

        A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.

        Markimdb: 7.3
        Genredrama, biography
        CountryUSA
        Duration01:55

        In 1957, a son and mother flee the East and an abusive boyfriend to find a new life, and end up in Seattle, where the mother meets a polite garage mechanic. The boy continually gets into trouble by hanging out with the wrong crowd. The mom marries the mechanic, but they soon find out that he's an abusive and unreasoning alcoholic, and they struggle to maintain hope in an impossible situation as the boy grows up with plans to escape the small town by any means possible. Based on a true story by Tobias Wolff.

        Markimdb: 5.7
        Genreaction, drama, military, biography, history, sport
        CountryUSA

        Zamperini returns to California where he wound up marrying Cynthia Applewhite while wrestling with untreated PTSD, suffering constant nightmares, angry, bitter and deeply depressed, his wife convinces Zamperini to attend the 1949 Billy Graham Crusade.

        Markimdb: 7.5
        Genredrama, music, biography, history
        CountryUSA, United Kingdom, Australia
        Duration02:05

        Author P.L. Travers travels from London to Hollywood as Walt Disney Pictures adapts her novel Mary Poppins for the big screen.

        Markimdb: 7.2
        Genredrama, music, biography, history
        CountryUSA, Germany
        Duration02:45

        Biographical miniseries chronicling the rise of American music icon Elvis Presley from his high school years to his international superstardom.

        Markimdb: 6.6
        Genredrama, biography, history
        CountryGermany, USA, Czech Republic, Italy
        Duration02:03

        During the early 16th Century idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation.

        Markimdb: 7.5
        Genredrama, music, biography
        CountryUSA
        Duration02:04

        Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.

        Markimdb: 7.2
        Genredrama, family, biography, history, sport
        CountryUSA
        Duration01:56

          Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery - with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin - manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

          Markimdb: 7.6
          Genredrama, biography, sport
          CountryUSA
          Duration02:06

            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.

            Markimdb: 8
            Genremelodrama, drama
            CountryUSA
            Duration02:09

            In Brooklyn circa 1900, the Nolans manage to enjoy life on pennies despite great poverty and Papa's alcoholism. We come to know these people well through big and little troubles: Aunt Sissy's scandalous succession of "husbands"; the removal of the one tree visible from their tenement; and young Francie's desire to transfer to a better school...if irresponsible Papa can get his act together.

            Markimdb: 6.3
            Genredrama, music, biography
            CountryUSA
            Duration01:56

            In the mid-80s, three women (each with an attorney) arrive at the office of New York entertainment manager, Morris Levy. One is an L.A. singer, formerly of the Platters; one is a petty thief from Philly; one teaches school in a small Georgia town. Each claims to be the widow of long-dead doo-wop singer-songwriter Frankie Lyman, and each wants years of royalties due to his estate, money Levy has never shared. During an ensuing civil trial, flashbacks tell the story of each one's life with Lyman, a boyish, high-pitched, dynamic performer, lost to heroin. Slowly, the three wives establish their own bond.

            Markimdb: 7.8
            Genredrama, biography
            CountryUSA
            Duration02:01

            A high school student falls asleep while sitting in class. When he wakes up, all time is frozen, except for him.

            Markimdb: 5.9
            Genredrama, biography, sport
            CountryUSA
            Duration01:55

            A chronicle of Babe Ruth's phenomenal story--from his hard knock beginnings at a Baltimore orphanage, to his meteoric rise to baseball superstardom and his poignant retirement from the game. His amazing career included seven American League pennants, four World Series championships, two tempestuous marriages and a wild lifestyle that earned him numerous suspensions.

            Markimdb: 6.9
            Genredrama, biography, sport
            CountryUSA
            Duration01:48

            A coming of age drama following the life of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Wrestling Championship.

            Markimdb: 7.4
            Genredrama, biography
            CountryKenya, India, USA, Canada, South Africa
            Duration01:50

            A young refugee of the Sudanese Civil War who wins a lottery for relocation to the United States with three other lost boys. Encountering the modern world for the first time, they develop an unlikely friendship with a brash American woman assigned to help them, but the young man struggles to adjust to this new life and his feelings of guilt about the brother he left behind.

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