Meet Joe Black

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2:26

Meet Joe Black

PG-13

1998

3h 0m

Fantasy

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), businessman and devoted family man, is about to celebrate his 65th birthday. However, before he reaches that landmark, he is visited by Death (Brad Pitt), who has taken human form as Joe Black, a young man who recently died. Joe and Bill make a deal: Bill will be given a few extra days of his life, and Joe will spend the same time getting to know what it's like to be human. It seems like a perfect arrangement, until Joe falls in love -- with Bill's daughter.

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Critics Consensus

Meet Joe Black is pretty to look at and benefits from an agreeable cast, but that isn't enough to offset this dawdling drama's punishing three-hour runtime.

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Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

[A] glossy but overlong update of Mitchell Leisen’s 1934 comedy Death Takes a Holiday.

Mar 28, 2023

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

A savory, extralong feature whose obvious plotlines unfold with an almost painful slowness that somehow makes them deeper.

Oct 26, 2020

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Ann Hornaday

Baltimore Sun

To call the three-hour-long "Meet Joe Black" leaden would do an injustice to lead.

Rated: 1/4

Oct 26, 2020

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...Meet Joe Black was savaged by critics at the time, but looks a more interesting prospect today, not least because we know how just how far outside his comfort zone Brad Pitt’s deeply strange, yet memorable performance is...

Rated: 3/5

Jun 9, 2025

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David Oppedisano

Radio Times

This is Hollywood at the crossroads of glossy and classy, with Hopkins at the peak of his powers and Pitt at his most transcendent.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 7, 2024

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

A gimmicky premise is made even worse by iffy acting, hilariously bad dialogue, and a slow pace.

Jan 17, 2024

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Marisa R

Early evidence of Brad Pitt’s unmistakable star quality. Anthony Hopkins being exceptional as usual. Claire Forlani was as believable as she was beautiful. Fantastic casting all around. Yes, it’s a 3 hour movie but to be honest, I relished getting to spend the extra time with these characters and this story. I may have a couple notes/thoughts on the ending but still altogether found it to be a memorable and special movie that will stay with me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/02/25

Full Review

Ralph B.

Amazing movie! So glad I allowed myself to rewatch a film I had first watched many years ago but had forgotten. What a special story about a good man and father and the love he had for his family! Watch it for the first time, watch it again or, like me, watch it again and again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

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Kalissa H.

I liked it. The acting was superb.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

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Jen N

This is Hollywood at the crossroads of glossy and classy, with Hopkins at the peak of his powers and Pitt at his most transcendent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

Full Review

Lucas V

Amazing movie. People who truly know how to love and appreciate life will enjoy this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Ti H.

Meet Joe Black is a charming fairy tale, and Brad Pitt is endearing and otherworldy as Death, who is captivated by the one thing he can never have but yearns to experience: Life. Pitt exudes innocence and true joie de vivre as he enjoys all the trappings of life such as peanut butter and falling in love, and Death returns this yearned-for Lost Love to Claire Forlani. This is worth every amazing, enchanting moment of three hours.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/25

Full Review

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Martin Brest

Director

Brad Pitt

Joe Black

Anthony Hopkins

William Parrish

Claire Forlani

Susan Parrish

Jake Weber

Drew

Marcia Gay Harden

Allison

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - I Like You So Much

3:00

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Lightning Could Strike

2:58

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Mystery Man

2:30

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Joe Says Goodbye

2:51

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - That Was Wonderful

3:00

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Peanut Butter Man

2:23

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill Introduces Joe

1:53

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Am I Going to Die?

2:34

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill's Birthday Speech

1:35

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Undressing Joe Black

2:35

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Meet Joe Black: Trailer 1

2:26

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Synopsis

Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), businessman and devoted family man, is about to celebrate his 65th birthday. However, before he reaches that landmark, he is visited by Death (Brad Pitt), who has taken human form as Joe Black, a young man who recently died. Joe and Bill make a deal: Bill will be given a few extra days of his life, and Joe will spend the same time getting to know what it's like to be human. It seems like a perfect arrangement, until Joe falls in love -- with Bill's daughter.

Director: Martin Brest
Producer: Martin Brest
Screenwriter: Ron Osborn, Jeff Reno, Bo Goldman
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures, City Lights Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.6M
Runtime: 3h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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