Joe Versus the Volcano

Play trailer

Joe Versus the Volcano

PG

1990

1h 42m

Romance

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) is dying, apparently. This is good news, since his life was not much worth living anyway. On the upside, a strange millionaire (Lloyd Bridges) offers Joe a way to die with meaning and dignity: by hurling himself into a volcano. With plenty of spending cash and an ensemble of new luggage, Joe embarks on an absurdist journey to his demise, guided by two very disparate sisters, and trying to puzzle out the meaning of existence.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Joe Versus the Volcano erupts with plenty of screwball energy and thoughtful observations about living to the fullest, but its existential ambition may prove too goofy for some audiences.

Read Critics Reviews

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

06/23/2017

It speaks to the commercial and critical success of Shanley's 1987 hit 'Moonstruck' that he was handed, by a major studio, the resources to make a movie as unapologetically weird as this one.

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3.5/4

Joe Versus the Volcano achieves a kind of magnificent goofiness. Hanks and Ryan are the right actors to inhabit it, because you can never catch them going for a gag that isn't there: They inhabit the logic of this bizarre world and play by its rules.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

10/16/2023

3/4

...fares best in its oddball yet engrossing first half...

Go to Full Review

Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

07/25/2023

Joe Versus the Volcano stands on its own, fantastical oddities are kept grounded by the inimitable duo of Hanks & Ryan. The film proudly wears its heart on its sleeve, proclaiming that this world is beautiful. It’s a terrible shame when that is forgotten

Go to Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

10/27/2022

A script of bad sentimental lunacy. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

06/15/2022

I now get why Roger Ebert was so obsessed with this film.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

David R

@Zenforcer Feb 2

I saw this movie when I was about 18 years old and I did not appreciate it.; I would not have given it a five star review. I'm much older now and I've lived a lot of life. This movie truly hits different. Whenever I need an emotional release, JVtV is my goto. The dog scene is everything (nothing bad happens to the dog).

See more

Irene M.

@igawel Nov 28

Knowing it's intended to be a satire and a fable helps. There are some laugh out loud bits but the entire thing doesn't completely hold together

See more

Farah R.

@Farah Nov 24

As a fan of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s other two collaborations, I decided to give this one a shot. Sadly, it was nothing like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. The story was nonsensical and the acting was mediocre. At least it was well shot.

See more

Erik B

@Atma-X Nov 17

A super stylized movie that clearly has a message to tell. Colorful and vibrant, this movie has some fever-dream moments, but overall is a heartwarming romance between two likeable characters.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone Aug 23

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Bobbie L

Jul 30

This is my first ever review because I need to defend this precious gem of a film. It's one of my all time, secret, favorites. I understand the issues with it, but what it's trying to do is something you either get or don't get. For me, it's existential and spiritual, and trust me, I'm a total movie snob, so to overlook issues and give it an A tells you you gotta look deeper with this one and keep an open mind.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Patrick Shanley

Director

Tom Hanks

Joe

Meg Ryan

DeDe

Lloyd Bridges

Graynamore

Robert Stack

Dr. Ellison

Abe Vigoda

Chief of the Waponis

You've Got Mail

69%

73%

You've Got Mail

Watchlist

Jump Tomorrow

81%

88%

Jump Tomorrow

Watchlist

Elsa & Fred

55%

92%

Elsa & Fred

Watchlist

Pride & Prejudice

66%

56%

Pride & Prejudice

Watchlist

Chasing Papi

13%

40%

Chasing Papi

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Total Recall: In Honor of AVP:R, Memorable Cinematic Title Fights

McAvoy & Knightley Aim for "Atonement"

View more photos

Synopsis

Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) is dying, apparently. This is good news, since his life was not much worth living anyway. On the upside, a strange millionaire (Lloyd Bridges) offers Joe a way to die with meaning and dignity: by hurling himself into a volcano. With plenty of spending cash and an ensemble of new luggage, Joe embarks on an absurdist journey to his demise, guided by two very disparate sisters, and trying to puzzle out the meaning of existence.

Director: John Patrick Shanley
Producer: Teri Schwartz
Screenwriter: John Patrick Shanley
Production Co: Warner Bros., Polyphony Digital, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now