Meet Joe Black

Name: Meet Joe Black
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance
Released: November 13, 1998
Duration: 178 min
Rating: 43
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt

1998

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Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 149 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 149 Ratings

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Meet Joe Black

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 13, 1998 | PG-13

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt

Summary: Bill Parrish (Hopkins) has it all -- success, wealth, and power. Days before his 65th birthday he receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, Joe Black (Pitt), who soon reveals himself as Death. In exchange for extra time, Bill agrees to serve as Joe's earthly guide. But will he regret his choice when Joe unexpectedly falls in love withBill Parrish (Hopkins) has it all -- success, wealth, and power. Days before his 65th birthday he receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, Joe Black (Pitt), who soon reveals himself as Death. In exchange for extra time, Bill agrees to serve as Joe's earthly guide. But will he regret his choice when Joe unexpectedly falls in love with Bill's beautiful daughter Susan (Forlani). (Universal Studios)… Expand

Director: Martin Brest

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 178 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The movie contains elements that make it very good, and a lot of other elements besides. Less is more. Read full review

Rick Groen

Ultimately, the movie is a perfect mirror of its star -- looks great, seems empty. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

A businessman is visited by an otherworldly presence who has the nerve to fall in love with his daughter in this savory, extralong feature, whose obvious plotlines unfold with an almost painful slowness that somehow makes them deeper. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Meet Joe Black, with Brad Pitt, is a near-death experience: Time seems to stop as we stiffen in our seats and the actors all whisper as if they're at a wake. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Clocking in at a self-important two hours and 59 minutes, this elongated romantic fable is impossible to sustain at a running time better suited to the fall of the Roman empire. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Meet Joe Black has the dubious distinction of being the longest film to date of 1998. It is also one of the most tedious and bombastic. Read full review

Jack Kroll

Every once in a while a film comes along that's so inexplicably ghastly that there's just no point in making nice about it. Read full review

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User Reviews

sron1234

Feb 16, 2013

One of the best movies ever. However if you are an movie lover who needs violence with a lot of blood, sex and vulgar dialogs, do yourself a favor and do not waste your time.
Everyone else...enjoy!

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

ThomasT.

Mar 27, 2008

It's a movie-miracle!The plot is great and Anthony Hopkins is..fantastic!Brad Pitt is great too!In the end you will cry for much time..It's unbelievable!

3 of 4 users found this helpful

kilerkg

Sep 8, 2018

Very good movie, didn't realise how long it was until the I saw the time at the end but I wouldn't remove any scene. The only thing I wasn't much for was the ending, the last 1-2 minutes should have been omitted.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Jul 15, 2004

Exceptional acting. Every character is crucial to the script here. The script is truly rich for eevry character. Even Tambor's Quince, a truly minor character, is especially paramount to understanding this movie's characters. If you can accept the premise (and I don't see why Exceptional acting. Every character is crucial to the script here. The script is truly rich for eevry character. Even Tambor's Quince, a truly minor character, is especially paramount to understanding this movie's characters. If you can accept the premise (and I don't see why it is so hard for so many) then this movie is well worth your time. And to all those who say "less is more," maybe it is a bit too long, but no movie is perfect, and most all the dialogue and deliveries are amazing. And I sat through Braveheart the same as all of you and loved it. If a movie is interesting, I'll stay. It is smart dialogue with an excellent score, fantastic cinematography, superb direction, and a great cast. It's unfathomable that this man went on to direct the unintelligable Gigli.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

KelvinSelimor

Feb 15, 2022

Meet Joe Black. Taxes and death. Quite an unusual story and excellent acting. Brad Pitt and his character Joe Black deserve special praise, who often changes from a sweet and funny guy to a harsh, cold and insensitive person.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

eva3si0n

Jul 19, 2018

The excellent movie with great cast. The plot is simple and excessively romaticized. But as the game Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt is fine, only for the sake of it it is worth watching this movie.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

abelbezerra

Jun 5, 2021

I have a habit, which makes me waste a lot of time, I don't leave a movie unfinished, it can be the biggest crap, I must stay until the end. this was the case with this garbage I came across, unfortunately, today.
The film is so lame, it impressed me, I was laughing, it seems comedy, itI have a habit, which makes me waste a lot of time, I don't leave a movie unfinished, it can be the biggest crap, I must stay until the end. this was the case with this garbage I came across, unfortunately, today.
The film is so lame, it impressed me, I was laughing, it seems comedy, it actually seems ironic, how ridiculous it is.
but I'm not even going to devote much time to talking about the film, I'm just going to mention some of the countless nonsense. first, the old man to whom "death" ascribes some dignity, is simply a mediocre, idiot, stupid, unhappy old man. this old man is portrayed as a hero in the film, he is a "good man", who according to death goes to paradise, like a good Christian.
the most bizarre thing is that the moral of the movie is that money doesn't buy happiness, but the movie just preaches the values of luxury all the time, the hero is the old man who won in life and is **** rich, there is not a single black character, or poor, in the script.
another bizarre point is that the film preaches the lie all the time, note that no one (not even death) is able to tell the reality lol kkkkkk. each one is lying to the other, as if it were perfectly plausible.
I'm really going to think 20 times before I see an American movie again.
North American culture is the most despicable on planet earth, there's no way!!!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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43	#43 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
8	#8 Most Shared Movie of 1998