# Joyland (2022) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/joyland-2022/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 83% |
| Editorial Rating | 92/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 82% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 86/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.9/5 |
| IMDb | 7.5/10 |
| Director | Saim Sadiq |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Runtime | 127 min |
| Festival premiere | Cannes 2022 (Un Certain Regard Jury Prize) |
| Major awards | 1 wins, 1 nominations |

## Quick answer

Joyland (2022) earns a 83% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Pakistan's most important recent film — Joyland balances family melodrama with queer tenderness, earning Oscar shortlist Metascore 86/100. Directed by Saim Sadiq.

## Celluloid verdict

Pakistan's most important recent film — Joyland balances family melodrama with queer tenderness, earning Oscar shortlist recognition and Lux Style Awards glory while surviving domestic censorship battles.

## Synopsis

A patriarchal Lahore household fractures when a married man falls for a transgender dancer at an erotic dance theatre — Saim Sadiq's Cannes-graduated debut became Pakistan's Oscar-shortlisted breakthrough and a Lux Style Awards sensation.

## Cast

Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gill

## Accolades

Premiered at Cannes 2022, where it won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize.
- Won Best Film — Lux Style Awards 2023
- Nominated for Best International Feature Film — Academy Awards 2023

## Where to watch

Global: Prime Video
the United States: Prime Video
Japan: Hulu

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Joyland worth watching?**
Joyland holds a 83% Celluloid Score. Pakistan's most important recent film — Joyland balances family melodrama with queer tenderness, earning Oscar shortlist recognition and Lux Style Awards glory while surviving domestic censorship battles.

**What is Joyland about?**
A patriarchal Lahore household fractures when a married man falls for a transgender dancer at an erotic dance theatre — Saim Sadiq's Cannes-graduated debut became Pakistan's Oscar-shortlisted breakthrough and a Lux Style Awards sensation.

**Who directed Joyland?**
Joyland (2022) was directed by Saim Sadiq.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Joyland?**
83% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (92/100), Metascore (86/100), Letterboxd (3.9/5), and IMDb (7.5/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**What awards did Joyland win?**
Joyland won Best Film (Lux Style Awards 2023), with 1 further nomination.

**Where can I watch Joyland?**
Joyland is streaming on Prime Video; on Prime Video in the United States; on Hulu in Japan. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/joyland-2022.md