The lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts which society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection.
Where to Watch Happiness
- treespitSeptember 22, 2026When I watch films, I typically retain an expectation that the sensibilities of functional life can be retained, but not so in the case of Happiness. The thickness of the taboo and the overt demanded that I allow myself to consider the true, real-to-life consequences of every characters' foolishness. I cringed in disgust, I laughed with devil-may-care negligence, and I cried with truly stricken sadness through this exhibition of the spectrum of shame. I'm in disbelief at its early existence and happy with my mature discovery of it. Phillip was the man, but he was an acolyte of a movement of expression he would never see. Paul Thomas-Anderson and Charlie Kaufman were on the cusp of creating something like this, but even three decades later, they're somehow still playing it safe.
- David D DavidsonSeptember 11, 2026A tough watch, with a parade of deeply flawed characters all trying to get through life and feed their demons. Deeply funny, toe curlingly cringeworthy, and I think impressively bold, particularly for the era it came out in.
- SpanktacularJune 26, 2025This movie is like watching porno with your parents while eating a bag of lemons, rind and all. Weapons-grade distilled cringe, coupled with beautifully scored tension, and trauma-inducing levels of revulsion. I'm disgusted, amazed, laughing, and screaming, "No! Please god, stop!" every few minutes.
- cultfilmlikerFebruary 13, 2025Now that’s a BLACK comedy. Love the surrealism. Gorgeous color palette. “Scabs crossing picket line” scenes will never get old. Also, Lara Flynn Boyle is perfect casting for this lmao really the entire ensemble. Second watch: “I am NOT a scab. I AM a strikebreaker.” For something so uncomfortable, the film sure flies by! Almost forgot how beautiful the stillness of this film is. Incredible acting. The music is so good. And obviously the writing. Truly one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen. And so pretty!
- Antonio Ca' ZorziSeptember 22, 2025Not for everyone.
- DavidBunnyDadAugust 22, 2026Todd Solondz's 1996 debut ``Welcome to the Dollhouse'' quickly became a cult classic, while the writer/director's 1998 follow-up faded into obscurity, but ``Happiness'' is a far superior and more ambitious film. It's a near-magnum opus of dysfunction, dark humor and repression, filmed in the vibrant hues of a cereal commercial. Like most things from that era the title is ironic too: It's actually about the myriad ways in which people fail to find happiness. Multiple storylines revolve around three middle class sisters and the people who populate their lives. Joy, a slacker, is the least successful and most relatable; she's constantly patronized by Trish, a smug homemaker, and Helen, a stuck-up novelist, who spare no opportunity to trash her poor choices and lack of ambition behind her back. Supporting characters include Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Helen's incel neighbor, who's prone to obscene phone calls, a young Jared Harris as a thieving, wife-beating Russian immigrant, and Camryn Manheim as a sexually frustrated single woman with a literal skeleton in her closet. Solondz had a peculiar talent for presenting awful behavior without passing judgment, a gift that's put to the test with one particular storyline that probably accounts for any small notoriety this film does have. It's dark stuff and many viewers will find it in poor taste, but there was a time in American movies, between the prudishness of the Reagan era and the woke hysteria of our current times, when all sorts of risks could be taken in the name of art. That time was the 1990s.
- A3WMAugust 12, 2026Kirstina didn't like the wiener. but Pedro gave her his peener. she twisted his head chopped him up and kept him bagged in the freezer.
- none13August 5, 2026“Would you ever fuck me?” “No, I’d jerk off instead.” Masterpiece!
- fguerra024August 5, 2026My jaw was on the floor for most of the movie. The movie makes you so uncomfortable that it sort of turns into a horror at points. You find yourself at the edge of your seat hoping the character doesn't do what you think they are going to do.
- Tariq NimerMay 18, 2026Fuckin sick movie
- Daniel GustavssonOctober 11, 2024This could have (and should have) been so much better. I understand it's a black comedy, and I admit that it was very unsettling at times, but it's just so much of it in this that simply doesn't land.
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Happiness was released on October 16, 1998.
Happiness was directed by Todd Solondz.
Happiness has a runtime of 2h 20m.
Happiness was produced by Ted Hope, Christine Vachon.
The lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts which society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection.
The key characters in Happiness are Joy Jordan (Jane Adams), Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Bill Maplewood (Dylan Baker).
Happiness is rated NC-17.
Happiness is a Comedy, Drama film.
Happiness has an audience rating of 8.9 out of 10.
Happiness had a budget of $3M.
Happiness has made $2.8M at the box office.