Joy
A determined nurse, scientist, and surgeon challenge entrenched institutions to make IVF and the hope of parenthood possible.
Overview
Three pioneers challenge the status quo in their quest to change the world of medicine.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- inspirational
- earnest
- hopeful
- inspirational movie night
- historical drama evening
What critics said
Critics broadly value the film's accessible, inspirational account of IVF and its effort to restore Jean Purdy's overlooked contribution, while finding its familiar sports-film structure somewhat conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story foregrounds Jean Purdy's substantial role in developing IVF and challenges the marginalisation of women in scientific breakthroughs.
The IVF team faces opposition from the church, state, media, and medical establishment.
Critics describe Ben Taylor's approach to the IVF breakthrough as reminiscent of a sports film, emphasizing collective persistence against entrenched opposition.
The central scientific pursuit is the creation of the world's first test-tube baby, Louise Joy Brown, for people facing infertility.
Films like Joy, and why
The Theory of Everything
shared true-story medical breakthrough, institutional resistance, ethical controversy, and determined ensemble of researchers
Hidden Figures
shared period scientific drama, principled outsiders, social opposition, and emotionally accessible inspirational tone
Never Let Me Go
shared reproductive medicine subject, ethical debate, intimate human stakes, and thoughtful medical drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Ben Taylor
- Release Date
- 2024-11-15
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (187)
Cast
- Bill Nighy
- James Norton
- Thomasin McKenzie
- Charlie Murphy
- Rish Shah
- Cecily Cleeve
- Eoin Duffy
- Mariam Haque
- Abbiegail Mills
- Olivia Sellers
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Joy about?
- A determined nurse, scientist, and surgeon challenge entrenched institutions to make IVF and the hope of parenthood possible.
- What is Joy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Joy as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Joy violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Joy.
- What did critics think of Joy?
- Critics broadly value the film's accessible, inspirational account of IVF and its effort to restore Jean Purdy's overlooked contribution, while finding its familiar sports-film structure somewhat conventional.
- Which films are like Joy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Theory of Everything, Hidden Figures, and Never Let Me Go.
- How long is Joy?
- Joy runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Joy?
- In United States, Joy streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
