FILM · 1998 · USA
Happiness
- Directed by
- Todd Solondz
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Studio
- Good Machine, Killer Films
62 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
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.
62 Interesting Facts About Happiness
Interesting Facts (20)
- #001
Allen works as the doorman in Helen and Kristina's building.
- #002
The Sundance Film Festival refused to screen the film.
- #003
A scene in which Andy commits suicide was shot but deleted.
- #004
Eleven years after this film's release, in 2009, Todd Solondz wrote and directed Life During Wartime (2009), a sequel to this film. However, every character who returned in the sequel was played by a different actor.
- #005
This film ranked 19th on Premiere magazine's list of 'The 25 Most Dangerous Movies'.
- #006
Dylan Baker did not learn the film was titled 'Happiness' until it screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1998. He said it was known to him only as the 'Untitled Todd Solondz Project' and that he was shocked by the choice of title. However, he said that when he finally saw the finished film he understood, and that he said, 'What else could you call it but Happiness?'.
- #007
Todd Solondz said he did not instruct Rufus Read, who played Billy Maplewood, to cry in his final scene with Dylan Baker. Solondz said Read was emotionally very sensitive to what was happening and had formed a real bond with Baker, who played his father.
- #008
When the film was first submitted to the MPAA, it was given an NC-17 rating, which caused the original distributor, October Films, then owned by Universal Pictures, to sell it to the independent Good Machine Productions, which released the film unrated.
- #009
The original screenplay contains a scene in which Bill Maplewood enters the home of Ronald Farber, his son's school friend, who is watching television and eating chips. Bill drugs him with a handkerchief, and then the scene goes dark. It is unclear whether this scene was shot and later cut from the film, or whether Todd Solondz decided not to shoot it.
- #010
After the film was released, as a practical joke, Dylan Baker met Rufus Read at a school bus stop and told him to act normally while Baker stood beside him. Of course, an adult passing by recognized them from the film and shouted 'WHAT!?' to amuse Baker and Read.
- #011
The actor Joy's coworkers are trying to remember is Edward James Olmos.
- #012
Until its first premiere, none of the actors knew the film's title. Before that it was called only the 'Untitled Todd Solondz Project'.
- #013
It is included in '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die', edited by Steven Schneider.
- #014
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ben Gazzara appear in this film but do not share screen time. Both had appeared in The Big Lebowski (1998) earlier that year, where they also shared no time on screen.
- #015
Happiness is part of the Criterion Collection, spine number 1235.
- #016
Although Happiness was shot in the standard spherical format, its closing credits read "Filmed in Panavision." Panavision offers a wide range of lens packages for its cameras, from anamorphic to spherical.
- #017
The screenplay contained several scenes that did not appear in the final cut, but the film also included scenes that were not in the screenplay.
- #018
Dylan Baker and Gerry Becker both appeared in films in Sam Raimi's first "Spider-Man" trilogy. Becker played Maximilian Fargas in Spider-Man (2002), while Baker portrayed Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).
- #019
Dylan Baker, Gerry Becker and Douglas McGrath all appeared in Celebrity (1998).
- #020
Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim had previously appeared together in The Road to Wellville (1994).
Production Story (21)
- #021
A scene in which Andy commits suicide was shot but cut from the film.
- #022
In the original screenplay, after his family abandons him, Bill receives a package. The package is a bomb; it explodes and kills Bill. There is also a scene in which Bill Maplewood enters the home of his son's school friend Ronald Farber; while Ronald is watching television and eating chips, Bill knocks him out with a handkerchief and the scene fades to black. It is unclear whether this scene was shot or whether Todd Solondz decided not to shoot it.
- #023
In 2009, 11 years after the film's release, Todd Solondz wrote and directed Life During Wartime, a follow-up to this film. However, every character who returns in the sequel was played by a different actor.
- #024
Dylan Baker did not learn that the film was titled 'Happiness' until it was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1998. He said he knew the project only as 'The Todd Solondz Untitled Project' and was surprised by the choice of name. He nevertheless stated that when he watched the finished film he understood, and said, 'What else could you call it but Happiness?' None of the actors knew the film's title until its first screening; until then it was referred to only as 'Untitled Todd Solondz Project'.
- #025
When the film was first submitted to the MPAA, it received an NC-17 rating. Thereupon the original distributor October Films, which at the time belonged to Universal Pictures, sold the film to the independent Good Machine Productions, and the film was released unrated.
- #026
There were many scenes that appeared in the screenplay but did not make the final cut; on the other hand, the film also contains scenes that were not in the screenplay.
- #027
Dylan Baker said that during the filming of the scene in which Bill confesses his pedophilia to Billy, Rufus Read's parents were on set. According to Baker, Todd Solondz had Read's parents confirm that they had read the script and that Read knew his lines. The scene was shot without a single question or comment.
- #028
Although the film was shot in standard spherical format, the credits include the phrase "Filmed in Panavision." Panavision offers a wide range of lens packages for its cameras, from anamorphic to spherical.
- #029
More well-known actors were approached for the role of Bill, but they turned it down because they were afraid of playing a pedophile. Dylan Baker stated that after the film he moved on to other roles easily, with no negative effect on his career or image. When Baker considered talking to a real pedophile to prepare for the role, director Todd Solondz objected to the idea, saying that a convicted pedophile lives openly, whereas Bill is a closeted pedophile. This advice gave Baker important guidance on how to portray the character.
- #030
Todd Solondz said he did not instruct Rufus Read, who plays Billy Maplewood, to cry in his final scene with Dylan Baker. Solondz stated that Read "was so emotionally attuned to what was happening and formed a real bond with Baker."
- #031
After the film was released, Dylan Baker met Rufus Read at a school bus stop and played a joke by telling him to act naturally while standing next to him. Sure enough, an adult passing by recognized them from the film and shouted "WHAT!?", which greatly amused the two of them.
- #032
Although Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ben Gazzara both appear in this film, they never share a scene. The two had also appeared in The Big Lebowski earlier in 1998, and there too they shared no scenes.
- #033
The actor Joy's coworkers try to remember is Edward James Olmos.
- #034
At the time this film was released, Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim were appearing together on the television series The Practice.
- #035
Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim had also appeared together previously in The Road to Wellville.
- #036
The Sundance Film Festival refused to show the film.
- #037
In the original script, after his family leaves him, Bill receives a package. The package is a bomb; it explodes and kills Bill. There is also a scene in which Bill Maplewood enters the home of his son's schoolmate Ronald Farber; while Ronald is watching television and eating chips, Bill knocks him out with a handkerchief and the scene goes dark. It is unclear whether this scene was shot or whether Todd Solondz decided not to shoot it.
- #038
In 2009, 11 years after the film's release, Todd Solondz wrote and directed Life During Wartime, a follow-up to this film. However, every character who returned in the sequel was played by a different actor.
- #039
Dylan Baker did not learn that the film was called 'Happiness' until it was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1998. He said he knew the project only as 'The Todd Solondz Untitled Project' and was surprised by the choice of name. He nevertheless stated that when he watched the finished film he understood, and said, 'What else could it be called but Happiness?' None of the actors knew the film's title until its first screening; until then it was referred to only as 'Untitled Todd Solondz Project.'
- #040
There were many scenes in the script that did not make the final cut; on the other hand, the film also contains scenes that were not in the script.
- #041
The film, which forms spine number 1235 of the Criterion collection, stands out as an important part of cinematic art that must be preserved.
Behind the Scenes (3)
- #042
Dylan Baker claimed that Rufus Read's parents were on set during the filming of the scene in which Bill confesses his pedophilia to Billy. Baker claimed that Todd Solondz read the script with Read's parents and confirmed that Read knew his lines. The scene was then staged and filmed without any questions or comments.
- #043
Dylan Baker said that Rufus Read's parents were on set during the filming of the scene in which Bill confesses his pedophilia to Billy. According to Baker, Todd Solondz confirmed to Read's parents that they had read the script and that Read knew his lines. The scene was shot without a single question or comment.
- #044
Although the film was shot in the standard spherical format, the credits include the phrase "Filmed in Panavision." Panavision offers a wide range of lens packages for its cameras, from anamorphic to spherical.
Characters & Cast (15)
- #045
Dylan Baker was cast as Bill after more famous actors who were offered the role hesitated to play a pedophile. Baker claimed that after the film he moved easily into other roles with no negative effect on his image or career.
- #046
While researching the role, Dylan Baker asked Todd Solondz whether he needed to speak with a real pedophile. Solondz said no, because a convicted pedophile would live with his identity exposed, whereas Bill is secretly a pedophile. Baker said this advice gave him essential guidance on how to play the character.
- #047
Jack Black and Jon Lovitz were considered for the role of Allen. Lovitz ultimately took a much smaller role as Joy Jordan's ex-boyfriend Andy Kornbluth.
- #048
At the time this film was released, Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim were starring in the series The Practice (1997).
- #049
James Urbaniak auditioned for the role of Allen.
- #050
Allen appears as the doorman of the building where Helen and Kristina live.
- #051
More well-known actors were approached for the role of Bill, but they turned it down because they were afraid of playing a pedophile. Dylan Baker has said that after the film he moved on to other roles easily, with no negative effect on his career or image. When Baker considered talking to a real pedophile to prepare for the role, director Todd Solondz objected to the idea, saying that a convicted pedophile lives openly, whereas Bill is a closeted pedophile. This advice gave Baker important guidance on how to portray the character.
- #052
Todd Solondz has said that he did not instruct Rufus Read, who plays Billy Maplewood, to cry in his final scene with Dylan Baker. Solondz stated that Read "adapted emotionally to what was happening so well and formed a real bond with Baker."
- #053
After the film was released, Dylan Baker met Rufus Read at the school bus stop and played a joke on him, telling him to act naturally while standing next to him. Sure enough, an adult passing by recognized them from the film and shouted "WHAT!?", which the two found very amusing.
- #054
Jack Black and Jon Lovitz were considered for the role of Allen, but Lovitz ended up in a much smaller role as Joy Jordan's ex-boyfriend Andy Kornbluth. James Urbaniak auditioned for the role of Allen.
- #055
Although Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ben Gazzara appear in this film together, they never share a scene. The two had also appeared in The Big Lebowski earlier in 1998, and there too they shared no scenes.
- #056
At the time this film was released, Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim were appearing together in the television series The Practice.
- #057
Dylan Baker and Gerry Becker appeared in the films of Sam Raimi's first "Spider-Man" trilogy. Becker played Maximilian Fargas in Spider-Man, while Baker was Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3.
- #058
Dylan Baker, Gerry Becker and Douglas McGrath also appeared together in the film Celebrity.
- #059
Lara Flynn Boyle and Camryn Manheim had previously appeared together in the film The Road to Wellville.
Deeper Meaning (3)
- #060
Ranked 19th on Premiere magazine's list of the '25 Most Dangerous Films,' this production is regarded as one of cinema history's boundary-pushing examples.
- #061
Included in Steven Schneider's book '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die,' the work stands as an indispensable classic for cinephiles.
- #062
Forming spine number 1235 of the Criterion collection, the film stands out as an important part of cinematic art that must be preserved.
Sources & editorial notes
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