Joe

R

Released Jul 15, 1970

1 hr. 47 min.

Drama

List

75%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When executive Bill Compton's (Dennis Patrick) daughter, Melissa (Susan Sarandon), overdoses at the house of her drug-dealer boyfriend, Compton flies into a rage and kills the dealer. He tries to make it look like a robbery gone wrong but, in a bar afterward, confesses his crime to a stranger named Joe (Peter Boyle). Joe is a hippie-hater and approves of Compton's actions. Moreover, when Melissa goes missing, he helps Compton track her down in the hope of killing a few hippies himself.

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Mark L

Although modern audiences may be uncomfortable with the overt bigotry of the titular Joe, Peter Boyle's performance as Joe Curran- a beat down, World War II veteran who despises the counterculture- makes this film noteworthy. Curran provides a window into the Silent Majority and average Joe of 1970. This glimpse is ugly, resentful, and self righteous. Touching on themes of class, race, and family, the film tackles the culture war of 50 years ago but may have something to say about today.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/26/23

Full Review

Michael M

The movie brings you thru drug abuse, a father's search for his daughter, and 'Joe', an opinionated and ignorant working class stiff. As thru history, under achievers like to hate others: blacks, immigrants, Jews, Liberals, the young, etc. Joe hates them all. And tho we can chuckle at times at his stupid comments and hypocrisy, the film is chilling, especially in the days of trump

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I suppose this will truly be eternally relevant, although its also worth remembering how the movie complicates its own narrative in ways that won't really satisfy either of the political extremes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

dave s

Simply put, there are really only a couple of reasons to spend any time watching Joe. First and foremost, Peter Boyle gives an absolutely incendiary performance as Joe, a racist right-winger who feeds off of the hatred he feels for anyone who doesn't think or look like him. Second reason: the film features the debut of Susan Sarandon in the role of a young New York hippie whose father kills her boyfriend, setting off a chain of events that will lead to a horrific conclusion. Beyond that, there's not much to see here as the film's noble attempts at social commentary are undermined by some horrifically wooden acting, poorly written dialogue (stunning that the screenplay was nominated for an Oscar) and laughable visual effects during the murder of Sarandon's character's boyfriend.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really good film. A right wing executive and a racist hippie-hater become friends and spin violently out of control. Susan Sarandon's first appearance. Worth a watch!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

jon c

we keep America beautiful the only way we know how even if it's full of hippies and feel-good substances in the big city the movie starts off with a young couple; Mike and Melissa played by a very young Susan Sarandon Melissa's boyfriend is a junkie, after a near-fatal overdose her father Bill played by Denis Patrick rushes in killing him the only thing he can do is ask assistance from a factory worker veteran named Joe who has a passionate hatred towards hippies Peter Boyle as Joe makes the killing look like a robbery gone wrong and wouldn't you know it actually approves of this man's actions a majority of the film itself is both of these men learning from one another about how they feel about the current generation of sex, drugs etc. and how it's desensitizing America's youth there's only so many young people these days that can easily be corrupted by such addictions and maybe they are the only two who want to take action it's a shame Susan Saradon isn't in the movie enough next to Joe himself, I was a bit let down the good stuff doesn't happen until the last 20 minutes still this movie presents a big concern about the American hippie culture and what it's full of beyond our control maybe it's up to us to do something or not, the junkies pile themselves on us or many others if we let them slide by, becoming a vigilante to wipe clean the dirty perhaps isn't the solution Even one small killing can lead to a more giant bloodbath Boyle is really good here next to Patrick even if the rest of the film slogs in many spots

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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John G. Avildsen

Director

Peter Boyle

Joe Curran

Dennis Patrick

Bill Compton

Susan Sarandon

Melissa Compton

Patrick McDermott

Frank Russo

Tim Lewis

Kid in Soda Shop

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Penelope Gilliatt

New Yorker

Obviously, the premise of two socially alienated men uneasily conjoined is an interesting one, and it could have prospered if film makers gifted with greater lucidity and a more charitable sense of character had done it.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Margaret Hinxman

Daily Telegraph (UK)

A raw, tough movie of enormous power, with a riveting performance from Peter Boyle as the avenging devil.

Jun 8, 2020

Full Review

Sean Mulvihill

FanboyNation.com

Joe clearly illustrates in its own dramatic way how this seemingly disparate forms of political identity can form under one umbrella.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2018

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

a fascinating and frustrating cinematic experience ... a mishmash of incongruities, confusion, and cynicism

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 4, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

well acted melodrama, directed by Joe Avildsen before he made the Rocky movies, starring Peter Boyle as a racist and Susan Sarandon in her very first film.

Rated: B-

Feb 25, 2012

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Film4

Starting with a murder and ending with a massacre, this bleak portrait of America shows a dream turned sour and a country at odds with itself.

Jan 5, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

When executive Bill Compton's (Dennis Patrick) daughter, Melissa (Susan Sarandon), overdoses at the house of her drug-dealer boyfriend, Compton flies into a rage and kills the dealer. He tries to make it look like a robbery gone wrong but, in a bar afterward, confesses his crime to a stranger named Joe (Peter Boyle). Joe is a hippie-hater and approves of Compton's actions. Moreover, when Melissa goes missing, he helps Compton track her down in the hope of killing a few hippies himself.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Distributor: Cannon Films
Production Co: Cannon Films, Warner Home Video, MGM/UA Television
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 1970, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2018

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