5. The Pursuit of Happyness
Probably the best film in the string of 'feel-good' Will Smith vehicles that came out around the late-ish 2000s, this could have been a pretty standard rag-to-riches tale. Two things elevate it above normal Hollywood fodder however. The first factor is the strength of the lead performance. Will Smith is excellent in his role as the struggling salesman turned stockbroker, managing to portray both a sense of quiet desperation and unwavering determination. Without exception you are rooting for Chris, which leads into the second point - Chris Gardner goes through absolute hell. It is one life-shattering blow after another, pounding the viewer into submission until we're left reeling from the pure sadism of it all. The now infamous low-point of Chris and his son having to stay the night in a public toilet goes beyond normal Hollywood down-then-up plot trajectories. This is dark stuff, the lowest of the low.
(SPOILER) So when at the end of the film we find out that Chris has got the coveted paid position, any notions of cynicism at typical Hollywood sentimentality are absent. Instead we are genuinely pleased for him. After all, isn't that the so-called American dream - work hard enough for long enough and you can achieve anything?