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Meet Joe Black

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Meet Joe Black PG-13 1998 3h 0m Fantasy Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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Meet Joe Black

Meet Joe Black

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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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Critics Reviews

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Joe Clay The Times (UK) 03/28/2023
[A] glossy but overlong update of Mitchell Leisen’s 1934 comedy Death Takes a Holiday. Go to Full Review
Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader 10/26/2020
A savory, extralong feature whose obvious plotlines unfold with an almost painful slowness that somehow makes them deeper. Go to Full Review
Ann Hornaday Baltimore Sun 10/26/2020
1/4
To call the three-hour-long "Meet Joe Black" leaden would do an injustice to lead. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jun 9
3/5
...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... Go to Full Review
David Oppedisano Radio Times 06/07/2024
4/5
This is Hollywood at the crossroads of glossy and classy, with Hopkins at the peak of his powers and Pitt at his most transcendent. Go to Full Review
Brian Costello Common Sense Media 01/17/2024
A gimmicky premise is made even worse by iffy acting, hilariously bad dialogue, and a slow pace. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Samantha C @samanthac0_ 4d loved it so much it made my heart hurt. great film See more Phil D @phildub Dec 31 There’s a lot to rave about. Martin Brest only puts out bangers according to his IMDB. So much emotion and suspense. Mastery. See more Behroz S @Behrozsyed Dec 29 One of the best movies I've ever watched. I don't understand how this movie can have such a low rating. The performances are outstanding from all the leads, the writing is beautiful and touching. Loved the ending too. Definitely a must watch and I'd definitely be watching it again in a few years time See more Heath P @Heathcliff1485 Dec 19 Beautifully filmed. A delight to watch again and again. The script and its delivery is superfluous. Like such films as The Princess Bride it deserves many more accolades. In a world filled with meaningless offerings this movie just might please our maker. See more Scott A Dec 16 The straightforward innocence of Brad Pitt’s character Joe, is honest and refreshing. It’s a delightful story of love and life’s simple meaning. Anthony Hopkins delivers an amazing performance of his conflicted character, Bill. See more GatoNiel @GatoNiel Dec 13 Me encanto llore como un niño, junto con mi chica :D See more Read all reviews
Meet Joe Black

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Meet Joe Black

Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - I Like You So Much Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - I Like You So Much 3:00 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Lightning Could Strike Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Lightning Could Strike 2:58 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Mystery Man Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Mystery Man 2:30 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Joe Says Goodbye Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Joe Says Goodbye 2:51 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - That Was Wonderful Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - That Was Wonderful 3:00 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Peanut Butter Man Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Peanut Butter Man 2:23 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill Introduces Joe Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill Introduces Joe 1:53 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Am I Going to Die? Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Am I Going to Die? 2:34 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill's Birthday Speech Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Bill's Birthday Speech 1:35 Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Undressing Joe Black Meet Joe Black: Official Clip - Undressing Joe Black 2:35 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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