Meet Joe Black

(Universal)

Clocking in at three hours (the 1934 Death Takes a Holiday, on which this is loosely based, was a trim 78 minutes), Martin Brest's film is a lingering demise indeed. Brad Pitt's Grim Reaper offers media tycoon Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) a few more days of life in exchange for being initiated into life's mysteries -- which include peanut butter and Bill's daughter Susan (Claire Forlani). Death is not proud here, merely complacent and comfortable.