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Joyland Review (2022) — 83% Celluloid Score

Directed by Saim Sadiq · 2022 ·

Short answer

Is Joyland worth watching?

Yes. Joyland (2022) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (92%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%). See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

92% Editorial Rating
82% Audience snapshot · excluded
86 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.9
7.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 7m
Age rating
NR (US) · 15 (UK) · 17+ (Indonesia) · 15 (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
Ali Junejo , Rasti Farooq , Alina Khan , Sarwat Gill
Streaming
Prime Video
Country
Pakistan
Language
Urdu

Also known as جوائے لینڈ ジョイランド　わたしの願い 조이랜드 乐土 愛情美樂地 กรงขังในแดนสุข

🏆 1 award win — Won Best Film, Lux Style Awards 2023

Where to watch

  • Prime Video

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Joyland by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Hulu
United States Prime Video

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (92/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (82%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (86/100).
  • Celluloid Score 83% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, romance pick
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Joyland worth watching?

    Yes — Joyland earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama, romance pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    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.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (92%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%).

    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.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Joyland

    Joyland (2022) Review: Desire and Duty in a Lahore Home

    Joyland is Saim Sadiq's Cannes prize-winning Pakistani drama about a married man who falls for a trans dancer, a tender, devastating portrait of a family bound by duty.

    Yes. It is one of the finest Pakistani films of recent years, a humane family drama for viewers who value patient, character-driven storytelling.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Joyland stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Joyland production still 1
    Joyland production still 2
    Joyland production still 3
    Joyland production still 4
    Joyland production still 5
    Joyland production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Joyland: frequently asked questions

    Is Joyland worth watching?

    Yes. Joyland (2022) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Joyland?

    In the United States, Joyland streams on Prime Video with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Hulu in Japan. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Joyland?

    Joyland runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

    What is Joyland rated?

    Joyland is rated NR in the United States, 15 in the UK, 17+ in Indonesia, 15 in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Joyland?

    Joyland is directed by Saim Sadiq and stars Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gill.

    What is the Metascore for Joyland?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Joyland is 86 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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