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Meet Joe Black

Meet Joe Black is a 1998 American romantic fantasy drama film directed and produced by Martin Brest.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Meet Joe Black is a 1998 American romantic fantasy drama film directed and produced by Martin Brest. Starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Claire Forlani, it follows Death taking human form and forming a relationship with a wealthy family. The film is loosely based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday and was released by Universal Pictures.

Plot

The story follows media magnate Bill Parrish, who is visited by Death in the form of a young man named Joe Black. Joe wants to understand human life and, in exchange for extra time, becomes involved with the Parrish family, including Bill’s daughter Susan.

Production and release

Meet Joe Black was directed and produced by Martin Brest from a screenplay by Bo Goldman, Kevin Wade, Ron Osborn, and Jeff Reno. It premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival on November 8, 1998 and was released in the United States on November 13, 1998.

Source material

The film is loosely based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday, which itself was based on the 1929 play Death Takes a Holiday by Walter Ferris and an English-language adaptation of Alberto Casella’s 1924 Italian play La morte in vacanza.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Box office reporting in the provided sources indicates worldwide grosses of roughly $142.9 million against a production budget of $90 million.

Key facts

  • Meet Joe Black is a 1998 romantic fantasy drama directed by Martin Brest.
  • The film stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Claire Forlani.
  • It is loosely based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday.
  • The plot follows Death, in human form, visiting a wealthy businessman.
  • The film received mixed reviews and grossed about $142.9 million worldwide.
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Canadian context

No specific Canada-related significance is indicated in the provided sources; the film is available to Canadian viewers through standard international film distribution and streaming platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is Meet Joe Black about?
It follows Death, who takes human form as Joe Black and visits wealthy businessman Bill Parrish to experience life among humans.
Who directed Meet Joe Black?
Martin Brest directed and produced the film.
Who stars in Meet Joe Black?
The film stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Claire Forlani.
What is Meet Joe Black based on?
It is loosely based on Death Takes a Holiday, the 1934 film adapted from earlier stage works.
When was Meet Joe Black released?
It premiered on November 8, 1998 and was released in the United States on November 13, 1998.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_Joe_Black
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, synopsis, source material, premiere and release dates, and box office figures.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/meet_joe_black
    Supports: Genre, director, runtime, rating, and release information.
  3. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/movies/meet-joe-black/2030361007/
    Supports: Runtime, genre, and plot synopsis.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119643/
    Supports: Cast, director, and release date.