Joy
A burdened New York homemaker turns a self-wringing mop into a hard-won path toward entrepreneurial independence.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- inspirational
- melodramatic
- witty
- inspirational viewing
- career motivation
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that Jennifer Lawrence gives the fact-based entrepreneurial drama a strong center, while David O. Russell’s uncertain tonal approach makes the story only intermittently compelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joy designs a self-wringing mop after recognizing an everyday cleaning problem and pursues its manufacture.
Joy supports her divorced parents, children, ex-husband, mother, father, and half-sister while trying to build a business.
Joy is broke and must negotiate investors, executives, consumer sales, manufacturing risks, and a serious legal dispute.
Joy’s mother watches soap operas constantly, while the family’s crises and heightened relationships echo that melodramatic form.
Films like Joy, and why
The Founder
shared fact-based entrepreneurial drama, dysfunctional family pressure, and determined central performance
The Fighter
shared David O. Russell sensibility, dysfunctional family dynamics, resilient protagonist, and performance-driven drama
Silver Linings Playbook
shared Jennifer Lawrence-led character drama, family instability, emotional resilience, and hopeful reinvention
Erin Brockovich
shared inspirational business struggle, working-class ambition, and grounded pursuit of economic independence
Movie Details
- Director
- David O. Russell
- Release Date
- 2015-12-24
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (4358)
Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Robert De Niro
- Bradley Cooper
- Edgar Ramírez
- Diane Ladd
- Virginia Madsen
- Isabella Rossellini
- Dascha Polanco
- Elisabeth Röhm
- Susan Lucci
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Joy about?
- A burdened New York homemaker turns a self-wringing mop into a hard-won path toward entrepreneurial independence.
- What is Joy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Joy as brisk, its intensity as moderate 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 agreed that Jennifer Lawrence gives the fact-based entrepreneurial drama a strong center, while David O. Russell’s uncertain tonal approach makes the story only intermittently compelling.
- Which films are like Joy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Founder, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and Erin Brockovich.
- How long is Joy?
- Joy runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Joy?
- In United States, Joy streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
