Meet Joe Black

Bill Parrish appears to have the perfect life—a powerful studio head with influence, wealth, and control over his days. As his sixty fifth birthday approaches, a calm and pale stranger named Joe Black arrives, bringing a rumor of something beyond the ordinary. Joe reveals a startling truth, that he embodies Death, come to observe and learn about living from the inside. Bill agrees to a curious arrangement, letting Joe stay and guiding him through the world for a time in exchange for more days on Earth. The pact unsettles Bill and his family, nudging them to reexamine time, duty, and what it means to truly live, with consequences that unfold gradually.

Released in 1998 and directed by Martin Brest, Meet Joe Black draws on the Death Takes a Holiday concept. The screenplay credits Bo Goldman, Kevin Wade, and Ron Osborn for adapting the idea into a modern romance and fantasy.

Box office performance was solid for a prestige drama, with strong worldwide box office figures thanks to the star pairing of Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins and a lush, contemplative tone. Its commercial appeal matched its awards season ambitions.

Cultural impact centers on Brad Pitt in an unusual turn as Death in human form and the film's candlelit, operatic mood. It stands as a late 90s example of big budget romance infused with mythic ideas, shaping conversations about mortality in cinema.

Reception was mixed. Some critics praised the performances, the film's visual poetry, and its patient exploration of mortality, time, and devotion. Others faulted the pacing and a sentimentality that felt overripe. Core themes include choosing how to spend the time we have, the price of magical second chances, and whether love can redefine a life defined by achievement.