Movie remakes aren’t exactly a new concept, especially when it comes to supernatural and horror movies. The latter genre typically evokes images of slasher films and similar fare, but Gothic fantasy was once tied quite a bit with the genre. The 1930s saw many films released in this vein, and one of these classics was actually remade into a film with a completely different title.
Meet Joe Black is a notable film featuring Brad Pitt as the actor was truly building himself up as one of Hollywood’s biggest names, and it had all the ingredients to become a classic. Contemplating the concept of death amid a torrid romance, the film sadly didn’t make as big of an impact as it could have. Ironically, it was also a remake of another film from decades beforehand, but that pre-code Gothic movie is ultimately the better version.
Released in 1998, Meet Joe Black was a film that helped end a decade that cemented Brad Pitt as a star. The movie features Pitt in the role of the personification of Death, with “Joe Black” merely a pseudonym he takes in his brief mortal form. He comes to the mortal plane to learn more about how humanity lives, while under the tutelage of a potential target, Bill Parrish (played by Anthony Hopkins).
While posing as a mortal, Joe is completely awestruck by human society and at odds with just about everything, with even the act of eating and drinking being unfamiliar to him. Through these learning pains, he befriends and eventually romances Bill’s daughter, Susan, in the form of a young man she had recently met in a coffee shop. This man had actually died in a car accident afterward, with Joe merely taking his form as his human vessel. Learning the joys and beauty of human life, he questions his own role as both he and Bill come to grips with the concept of death.
Despite a seemingly winning formula, Meet Joe Black failed to be a critical darling or a financial one. The movie only made $140 million USD on a budget of $90 million USD, with the latter figure being particularly egregious given that the film cost only $25 million less than Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. In fact, it’s believed that some people only watched Meet Joe Black due to it being one of the only movies to have a trailer for the then-upcoming Star Wars film.
In terms of reception, it was mostly mixed, as many praised the acting and direction amid a somewhat lackluster script with occasionally plodding pacing. The biggest issues were the characters, some of whom felt too shallow or underdeveloped amid such a haunting and serious movie. Susan and Joe’s romance was especially half-hearted, which took away from some of the more dramatic elements. As a result, the movie didn’t even double its budget, which was itself most bloated by featuring expensive actors in a three-hour film set in New York. Unbeknownst to most moviegoers, however, the 1998 film was actually a remake of a 1930s film.