Joy (2015)

Joy is the story of the title character, who rose to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.

Director:

David O. Russell

Writers:

David O. Russell (screenplay), Annie Mumolo (story)

Stars:

Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Lawrence	...	Joy
Robert De Niro	...	Rudy
Bradley Cooper	...	Neil Walker
Edgar Ramírez	...	Tony
Diane Ladd	...	Mimi
Virginia Madsen	...	Terry
Isabella Rossellini	...	Trudy
Dascha Polanco	...	Jackie
Elisabeth Röhm	...	Peggy (as Elisabeth Rohm)
Susan Lucci	...	Danica
Laura Wright	...	Clarinda
Maurice Benard	...	Ridge
Donna Mills	...	Priscilla
Jimmy Jean-Louis	...	Touissant
Ken Howard	...	Mop Executive

Storyline

Joy has always been fascinated by creating things, This pursuit was always supported emotionally by her maternal grandmother, Mimi. Joy feels that lack of practical support has led to others making fortunes on ideas she came up with years ago but could not act upon manufacturing. Despite being broke, Joy is the person in her extended family to whom everyone has always turned, in the process forgoing her own life, including not having attended college to help see her parents through their divorce. She works in an unsatisfying job as an Eastern Airlines ticket clerk; and lives with her mother Terry who spends all day in bed watching soap operas; her ex-husband Tony, a less than successful aspiring Latino Tom Jones wannabe; and their two children. Added to this mix is her father Rudy, the owner of a failing heavy-duty garage, which is managed by Joy's older half-sister Peggy, with whom she has somewhat of a strained relationship, and for which Joy does the books. Sharon, Rudy's latest ...

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Plot Keywords:

sales pitch | divorce | soap opera | reference to fox television network | shooting practice | 

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Taglines:

In America the ordinary needs the extraordinary every single day.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

25 December 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Joy

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,500,000, 27 December 2015, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$56,451,232

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$101,134,059

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Annapurna Pictures, Davis Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert De Niro's and David O. Russell's third film together.

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Goofs

Joy's home phone service is disconnected because she did not pay the bill on time. In the previous scene, she called QVC on the same phone.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Clarinda: [TV soap opera scene] It doesn't make sense, I don't understand how something like this happened. I don't know what I'm going to do. This has been my whole life, and now it's gone I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Pendleton Industries is all I've ever known, and now it's all been taken away.
Danica: When someone sees a weakness in me, I turn that weakness into a strength.
[holds up a gun]
Clarinda: Danica, you're so strong. I don't think I can do anything like this.
Danica: You can imagine changing your ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox fanfare abruptly cuts into the background music.

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Connections

References Citizen Kane (1941)

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Soundtracks

Alicia Reflects
(from The Good Wife (2009))
Composed by David Buckley
Courtesy of CBS Television Studios

User Reviews

Outstanding in dealing with issues of self worth and confidence

Joy, the protagonist of the film carries the other characters when they can't make things work. She makes things work for all of them and us. This process is refreshingly unique in that she constantly thinks on her feet and resolves situations with surprising results. The suspense of the plot allows the audience to be involved in not only her journey but those of her family as well. Encouraging everyone to reach out for that special gift.