ComedyYear2022Duration2h 6mIMDb7.6

Joyland

ComedyCrimeDrama

The youngest son in a traditional Pakistani family takes a job as a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and quickly becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show.

Trailer

Cast

Saim Sadiq

Director

Ali Junejo

Haider

Rasti Farooq

Mumtaz

Alina Khan

Biba

Sarwat Gilani

Nucchi

Salmaan Peerzada

Father Aman

SS

Sohail Sameer

Saleem

Sania Saeed

Fayyaz

RL

Ramiz Law

Qaiser

HA

Honey Albela

Ashfaq Saab

PU

Priya Usman Khan

Shagnam Rani

MK

Muzammil Khan

Bobby

H

Honey

Honey

SR

Shahbaz Rafiq

Nenson

II

Iftikhar India

India

UF

Umar Fiaz

Tipu

PB

Pakeeza Batool

Maeedah

EA

Eeshal Ali

Madiha

SM

Shiza Moin

Momina

Saim Sadiq

Writer

Maggie Briggs

Writer

Comments

10 Comments

Elsa EyangMar 13, 2026

Smiley💛Jul 16, 2024

🥰BMay 9, 2024

Robert LewandowskiApr 15, 2024

This is one of the best dramas I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). Its raw, its real and its hard to digest because it depicts a side of the Pakistani society that everyone knows exists but no one wants to admit. There has been a lot of baseless propaganda about this film just because it humanizes a trans person. That is it. There is literally nothing objectionable n this film. In a society that treats trans people worse than animals, it is very hard for people to watch it when this movie shows a glimpse of our everyday reality. Whatever is shown in the movie happens in Pakistan everyday, literally. It is not promoting or demonizing anything. It just shows who we really are. I feel sad for people who are rating it 1 star just because they heard somewhere that this movie promotes something againt their beliefs. What are your beliefs anyways? Almost all 'khwaja sara's in Pakistan are abandoned by their parents at birth or after a few years. Does anyone critise that? Have you criticised the kind of humiliation they face everyday forno reason? Have you ever wondered where do these people come from? Are they some aliens or just humans like us born a little differently? The violence these people face everyday is beyond imagination. And it is very sad to see that some people are trying to get this movie banned because its an attempt to humanize the most vulnerable segment of the society. I loved all the characters, loved the music, loved the setting and more than anything loved the acting. Everything together was a punch in the gut. It made me uncomfortable, it made me cry, it made me laugh outloud and beyond anything else, it made me think. I cant stop thinking about this movie since I watched it last night. Would happily watch it again over the weekend with my mother since I am in Pakistan only for a short while. Congratulations to the creators and actors in this film. You have created a masterpiece.

💔🥵🇧🇷🍫ولد مينة🍫🇧🇷🥵Apr 15, 2024

The word masterpiece is just not enough to define this movie. This is the first pakistani movie I am watching and I am sure this is definitely my most favorite movie of the year 2022. Each frame of the movie is like a painting. The cinematography is just so brilliant and marvelous. I am just out of words to define this movies beauty. The way they show the geography, the way the interior shots are staged and the lighting in thoes scenes, the scenes in the metro train, all are my favorite. There is nothing in this movie that i did not like or felt could have changed. The music is awsome, I mean such a groovy and nice music that just blends amazingly with the scenes. The writing of the characters is again something of a different level. Such amazing and compelling characters. Each character gets its complete expression in the movie. The dilouges are amazing, so natural. I seriously don't have words to describe the performances. Alina khan as Biba is the star of the movie, just so marvelous and beautiful. Ali junejo, rasti farooq, sarwat gilani, the father character and the kids, all give such natural and astonishing performances. The way this movie shows the intricacies and complications in a relationship is very rarely seen and shown in movies. I can just keep on praising the movie. So happy to have seen such a amazing movie.

Vass MKApr 15, 2024

This movie has definitely raised the bar for Pakistani cinema. The cinematography and acting was top-notch. The story was beautifully shown and often gave goosebumps. The film touches on important issues like patriarchy and succeeds in this. The transgender community of Pakistan is less often treated like other communities. There several deep moments in the film where the viewer is forced to question stereotypes. Great job by saim sadiq and sarmad khoosat. It is sad to see why this film became controversial. It genuinely and accurately depicts the "Lahori" people and mindset. Highly recommend this movie!

NonoApr 15, 2024

Beautifully written/direct tale of a family's misfortune. Joyland left me in tears. Great Job Pakistan for promoting pure art. Great storyline and delivery! Depiction of dance "mujraverse" was pretty nice. Hoping Joyland will pickup some major awards and open pathways for Pakistani art to become more mainstream. So much talent and cultural beauty that we can share with the world. Lastly, to all supporting movie ban: Please take a close look at your society. It is what it is. People live diverse lives and they aren't going to change. That's the beauty of being human. Nothing against islam or Pakistani culture in this movie.

Usha UppretiApr 15, 2024

There was much hue and cry about the movie citing it a movie about "LGBT's". Naturally I went expecting a movies centered around that but was pleasantly surprised with everything else the movie had to offer leaving the much talked about issue only secondary. It touched a lot of issues that are neither acknowledged or accepted in Pakistani society and hence no one addresses them. The protagonist is basically a beta male; Haider living in a patriarchal household where his (alpha) brother is the main breadwinner but has been unable to father a son (despite having 4 daughters) to continue family lineage. There is a Haider in every house in Pakistan who is not allowed to make his life decisions for himself; whether the girl he marries, having the option to "allow" her to work, he cant even have privacy with his wife as his nieces are made to sleep with his wife. AND he is supposed to be the breadwinner and not his wife no matter what profession choices he has to resort it. It is therefore natural for him to fall for a strong willed trans he starts working for at the theatre. The theatre culture in Pakistan is beautifully depicted. Some things that stood out for me; I really liked the scene where the family is having dinner and its decided that haider's wife will quit her job without her having a say in it. Everyone else getting excited about the baby boy to be born to carry the family name except the mother bearing the child; the inner turmoil of that mother resulting in drastic actions. The treatment of trans in public transport. The neighbor; an aged woman's having no right to make her life decisions. There are just so many relatable scenes in the movie bring so many shades of Pakistani culture to light that I can just keep going on and on about..... In the end I would like to commend the brilliant acting of Alina Khan as biba, she literally stole the show. Haider's role wasn't easy to play as well so kudos to Ali Junejo as well. I will be looking forward to more masterpieces by Saim Sadiq.

Funke AkindeleApr 15, 2024

I was really mad due to the banning of this movie but at last it got released and it's worth every penny. Even though the movie was heavely censored and multiple scenes were cut i enjoyed it alot. If you are going to watch it be prepared for an emotional rooler coaster because you will be laughing once and then you'll cry. The story is about a family in lahore which goes through alot of loving as well as uncomfortable situations, there is alot about mental health and the casual transphobia of pakistani people. They also depicted the voilence against trans people, how they go through abuse from our society and they also depicted the high rates of killing of trans people in pakistan.

DEEJAY BAXO JNRApr 15, 2024

The prison you call home has let you go, exchanging places with your wife to earn some dough, leaves her trapped and isolated, while you become more animated, and discover what deep down, you've always known; as you fall for dancer Biba who you're supporting, on the stage but after hours you are cavorting, in a world that can be rigid, you find yourself no longer frigid, then you misjudge the whole vibe, with your contorting. It's a wonderful and brave piece of cinema that breaks boundaries by some measure (and quite rightly so), as Haider falls for the elegant transgender Biba, and his wife Mumtaz pays the penalty for his indiscretions.

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