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Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber, Marcia Gay Harden ... see more see more... , Jeffrey Tambor , David S. Howard , Lois Kelly-Miller

The cycle of life on Earth hangs in the balance when Death becomes emotionally involved in this romantic fantasy. William Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) is a tremendously wealthy and powerful man who overs... read more read more...ees a worldwide multi-media empire. Despite the loss of his wife, whom he dearly loved, William is content with his life, and he's very close to his two daughters, Allison (Marcia Gay Harden) and Susan (Claire Forlaini). One night, as William is fighting a hostile takeover of his company and Allison is planning an elaborate party to celebrate her dad's 65th birthday, William begins displaying the symptoms of a severe heart attack, and he is visited by a mysterious stranger, Joe Black (Brad Pitt). Joe is actually the angel of death, who has taken the form of a man who recently passed on to pay William a call. It seems that William is due to move on to the next world, but (no great surprise) he doesn't want to go. Joe, on the other hand, is curious to know what life is like for mere mortals, so the two men strike a deal -- William will have some time to get his affairs in order, and Joe will wait and see what it's like to be a human being. Joe decides that he likes it very much when he falls in love with Susan, but negotiating the slippery slopes of romance is no easier for Joe than for any ordinary man. Meet Joe Black is an updated version of Alberto Casella's play Death Takes a Holiday, which was adapted for the screen in 1934. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

218,191 ratings

Critics

51% liked it

37 critics

PG-13, 3 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Martin Brest

Release Date: November 13, 1998

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DVD Release Date: April 6, 1999

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Stats: 11,815 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (11,815)

  • aliceinpunderland
    May 21, 2012
    aliceinpunderland
    This movie really makes no sense, but I still enjoy it a lot by the grace of the willowy and wounded Claire Forlani. Death has been around since the beginning of time (just ballparking it), so how is he still so ignorant about friendship, passion, sex, success, greed, revenge - ... read morethe ways of the world, essentially, including colloquialisms about Death and taxes? One would think he'd have a human dalliance every decade at least. The character is written to be a wide-eyed simpleton, and they had to pick the actor with the worst face and voice for that: Brad Pitt. He's so dead-eyed and dumb-sounding.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A very interesting film that I found to be really cool, however not as great as I had expected, it was very long an got stupid at times.
  • shawnewing92
    April 17, 2011
    shawnewing92
    There is a good and a bad about this film. It has rich values, inspiration, and has some great performances by Pitt and Hopkins. The unfortunate is that this wonderful film had been stretched out so far that it looses it's value and becomes very slow and bland. A good film could ... read morehave been great if it were condensed into 2 hours.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    January 28, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    Okay, i thoroughly enjoyed this movie, i found it original and just a good storyline that i rather enjoyed.
    I loved the beginning of this movie, i think Hopkins was a brilliant choice as william parish and i liked the mystery and wonderment at the beginning, where we arent sure ... read moreas to what is really going on and the voice in his head is captivating and the mystery which helps hook you from the start.
    Although the movie is rather long and i thought the story dragged a little towards the end it was very emotional and i was close to tears, i loved the way that in his final days he sets his affairs in order and makes everythng okay with his daughters.
    This movie is worth the watch it is lovely funny drama.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Very clear with its plot, at times funny, and always loving. There are so many elements of dramatic principle, but overall it's a winner.
  • ythelastman89
    November 25, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Such a bland movie that has no idea if it's a comedy or a drama. While its stars are quite good, the supporting cast was weak and hurt its integrity. The story was very interesting, but it didn't feel like it was taken all that seriously.
  • SirPant
    September 22, 2009
    SirPant
    Boring, wooden and without depth.
  • Gx7
    October 29, 2008
    Gx7
    I was harsh in judging this movie when it first came out, everybody seemed like they were all just sooo into Brad Pitt that I never even bothered to watch this straight, atleast until today.

    The story starts of slow, prim and purely conversational and thats what gave me the ide... read morea before that it was a dull movie and everybody was just over-exaggerating about it cuz Brad Pitt was in it.

    After 10 years, (Wow.. its been that long?) I finally sat thru the whole movie and even suprised myself that I actually enjoyed it.

    The first quarter of this movie was a bit of a snooze, but they made up for it eventually and had managed to leave its viewers highly strung on emotions at the very last scene.

    A good ending doesnt deserve 5 stars tho >;P
  • thmtsang
    September 1, 2008
    thmtsang
    Great plot about Death taking a holiday on Earth. Brad and Anthony are great as a duo. Brad is gorgeous. I love the coffee shop scene and the last scene with the fireworks.
  • moonrivers
    July 26, 2008
    moonrivers
    nearly a perfect movie. it's got everything going for it, so what could foul up the works? call central casting, they might have a clue. although incredible as a rich wannabe revolutionary in terry gilliam's "twelve monkeys" brad pitt is simply out of his depth here, his boy-n... read moreext-door, awshucks routine wearing thin after a minute. he has to play Death taking the guise of a human and pitt himself...is just too young to understand the finality that that might imply. he tries...but it's not enough, and his inexperience undercuts every scene he's in. anthony hopkins, as always, almost effortlessly, brings nothing but the goods. claire forlani surprises. marcia gay harden and jeffrey tambor are rock solid. and jake weber had me wondering why he wasn't more visible. a great might have been...

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Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves
March 11, 2008
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Long but never boring, spiritual but never soggy, this is the brand of big entertainment Hollywood is best at but so rarely does right these days. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 21, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Is weighed down by a tediously slow pace and overwrought production values. Full Review

Alex Ramirez
September 3, 2001
Alex Ramirez, Cinenganos

Un buen ejercicio sobre ideas de amor... de muerte y del camino que todos vamos a seguir en algún momento... Full Review

Chuck Rudolph
April 28, 2001
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

The latest masterpiece to fall victim to cynicism. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
January 1, 2000
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

There's a solid 95-minute movie buried somewhere in here. Full Review

Jorge Avila Andrade
January 1, 2000
Jorge Avila Andrade, Moviola

El trabajo actoral de Brad Pitt como es una muestra de la incapacidad del director para aprovechar su talento Full Review

Kevin Lally
January 1, 2000
Kevin Lally, Film Journal International

There's a decent two-hour movie buried within the three hours of Meet Joe Black, a classic instance of a filmmaker overvaluing his material beyond all good sense. Full Review

Elias Savada
January 1, 2000
Elias Savada, Nitrate Online

Brestian (adj.) Bloated, boring, and long-winded, as in "Meet Joe Black is Brestian in scope and to be avoided if you have a weak bladder." Full Review

Dustin Putman
January 1, 2000
Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com

A sleek, good-looking, and entertaining romance. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

The length does not completely dilute the involving core of the story. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Joe Black: Yes.
    • Joe Black: So you understand the concept, Bill. Now multiply that by infinity, take that to the depths of forever, and you still barely have a glimpse of what I'm taking about.
    • Joe Black: Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but millenniums in a place with no doors.
    • Allison: Nevermind favorites, you're allowed to have one, the point is you've been mine.
    • William Parrish: [about love] I want you to get swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish.
    • Susan Parrish: Oh, that's all?
    • William Parrish: Yeah. Be deliriously happy, or at least leave yourself open to be.
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Meet Joe Black Trivia

  • Who was Brad Pitt's love interest in Meet Joe Black?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Brad Pitt fall in love with peanut butter?  Answer »
  • What movie did Brad Pitt play as death?  Answer »
  • Which Anthony Hopkins movie mentions "Death and Taxes"?   Answer »
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