Joaquin Phoenix

Biography: This intense actor's early years were seemingly as dramatic as any of his film roles. As children, the Phoenix siblings---including Summer and the late River---traveled the world with their missionary hippie parents. In the 1980s the Phoenixes worked as child actors, and eldest River became a breakout star. Billed under the name Leaf, Joaquin did his share of TV guest spots and small film roles, notably as a disaffected teen in the 1989 movie Parenthood. He then disappeared from showbiz for six years, during which time he reverted to his given name and watched River die from a drug overdose outside a Los Angeles nightspot. (Joaquin's desperate 911 call was played ad nauseam on the news for months.) In 1995 he made a triumphant return to the big screen in the black comedy To Die For as an easily manipulated teen murderer. Although his next film, Inventing the Abbotts, failed to register at the box office, it sparked a romance with costar Liv Tyler. A turning point for the actorThis intense actor's early years were seemingly as dramatic as any of his film roles. As children, the Phoenix siblings---including Summer and the late River---traveled the world with their missionary hippie parents. In the 1980s the Phoenixes worked as child actors, and eldest River became a breakout star. Billed under the name Leaf, Joaquin did his share of TV guest spots and small film roles, notably as a disaffected teen in the 1989 movie Parenthood. He then disappeared from showbiz for six years, during which time he reverted to his given name and watched River die from a drug overdose outside a Los Angeles nightspot. (Joaquin's desperate 911 call was played ad nauseam on the news for months.) In 1995 he made a triumphant return to the big screen in the black comedy To Die For as an easily manipulated teen murderer. Although his next film, Inventing the Abbotts, failed to register at the box office, it sparked a romance with costar Liv Tyler. A turning point for the actor came in 2000 when his deliciously villainous turn in Gladiator earned him an Oscar nod. His fiery style was subsequently put to use in a number of high-profile projects, including Quills and Signs. In 2005 Phoenix earned rave reviews, a Golden Globe award and his second Oscar nomination for playing Johnny Cash in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line, which featured Phoenix performing his own singing for the part. In other musical ventures, he has directed music videos---including videos for Silversun Pickups and Albert Hammond Jr. Away from the silver screen, he is a social activist, championing animal rights and supporting charitable organizations such as Amnesty International and the Peace Alliance. Expand

Joaquin Phoenix's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average career score: 62
Highest Metascore: 91 Her
Lowest Metascore: 21 8MM
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 39
  2. Negative: 2 out of 39
39 movie reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
67 Gladiator May 5, 2000 Commodus 8.8
21 8MM Feb 26, 1999 Max California 6.5
46 Clay Pigeons Sep 25, 1998 Clay Bidwell 7.5
56 Return to Paradise Aug 14, 1998 Lewis McBride 7.0
49 Inventing the Abbotts Apr 4, 1997 Doug Holt 6.3
86 To Die For Sep 27, 1995 Jimmy Emmett 8.5
82 Parenthood Aug 2, 1989 Garry Buckman-Lampkin 8.3
43 Russkies Nov 6, 1987 Danny 7.1
40 SpaceCamp Jun 6, 1986 Max 6.6
tbd Polaris TBA Principal Cast / Principal Cast 6.2