Brad Pitt, recognized for many acclaimed roles in his career, has opened up about his most regretted performance in Meet Joe Black, reflecting candidly on why the project never felt right for him. In a recent discussion, Pitt addressed his experience in the 1998 film, highlighting the difficulties he faced and the lessons he learned alongside legendary co-star Anthony Hopkins.
Brad Pitt’s Journey Through Varied Roles
Throughout decades in Hollywood, Brad Pitt has become synonymous with blockbuster hits and celebrated films. He has starred in Steven Soderbergh’s renowned Ocean’s franchise, tackled gritty subject matter in David Fincher’s Se7en, and led the action in World War Z. The Academy recognized his skill, awarding him Best Supporting Actor for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and nominating him for roles in 12 Monkeys, Moneyball, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Despite these successes, not every project has enjoyed the same praise. His turn in David Leitch’s Bullet Train drew criticism for relying on well-worn tropes, while his portrayal of an Irish traveler boxer in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch received mixed reactions, especially from community members represented in the film. However, none of his performances have divided audiences and critics quite as much as when he played the title character in Meet Joe Black, making this his most polarizing effort according to some reviewers.
The Challenges and Criticism of Meet Joe Black
Directed by Martin Brest, Meet Joe Black cast Anthony Hopkins as a wealthy patriarch who, facing death, bargains with the Grim Reaper to gain more time on Earth. Death assumes human form, embodied by Pitt as the enigmatic Joe Black. The film’s ambition, including its three-hour runtime, became a source of reviewer frustration, with many arguing its storyline could not sustain such length. Pitt’s performance, in particular, drew sharp critique. One write-up described his portrayal of the collector of souls as so lacking it was “bad it hurts,” and the critical consensus suggested Pitt did not yet command the gravitas required to convincingly play an all-powerful cosmic entity.
Pitt Reflects on His Regrets and Anthony Hopkins’ Influence
Reflecting years later with Entertainment Weekly, Brad Pitt acknowledged his own misgivings about his place in the movie and this period of his career.
“That was the pinnacle of my… loss of direction and compass,”
—Brad Pitt, speaking to Entertainment Weekly. The actor admitted that starring alongside the accomplished Anthony Hopkins only intensified his sense of being out of his depth.
“Mr. Hopkins is one of the greats, and really kind and giving – one of those that I take a lot of notes from,”
—Brad Pitt, speaking to Entertainment Weekly. Pitt continued, openly critiquing his own work and process:
“But I dogged it. I muffed it. I shouldn’t have been there in the first place. I should have been decompressing. I just didn’t crack the piece… Someone could have done a better job in it. Because Tony didn’t dog it. Tony nailed it.”
—Brad Pitt, speaking to Entertainment Weekly.
Standing beside Anthony Hopkins—regarded as a master of his craft—Pitt struggled to find his footing, especially given Hopkins’ natural command of the screen. As observers have noted, even when Hopkins is “dogging it,” his performances tend to elevate the entire production, regardless of the film’s flaws.
The Wider Impact on Pitt’s Career
Despite his reservations about this particular role, Brad Pitt’s career includes far more triumphs than failures. Like any versatile actor, he has weathered both critical acclaim and the lessons of projects that fell short. Meet Joe Black stands as a rare misstep that Pitt himself willingly admits, especially considering the high expectations set by working with talents like Anthony Hopkins and under Martin Brest’s direction.
For Pitt, reflecting on this moment of self-doubt and recalibration has likely fueled his ongoing success in subsequent roles. As long as he steers clear of roles as personifications of cosmic forces, fans and critics alike seem content to leave Meet Joe Black in the past, remembering Pitt’s extensive body of work more for its highlights than its rare disappointments.
