Pay It Forward

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Pay It Forward

PG-13

2000

2h 2m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

39%

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129 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The story of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student creates a plan for "paying forward" favors, he not only affects the life of his struggling single mother, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness which, unbeknownst to him, has blossomed into a profound national phenomenon.

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Critics Consensus

Pay It Forward has strong performances from Spacey, Hunt, and Osment, but the movie itself is too emotionally manipulative and the ending is bad.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 27, 2010

4/5

A bit syrupy, but sentimental teens may enjoy it.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 31, 2008

if this is what Hollywood considers serious, important filmmaking, maybe the movie industry should stick to the low road. Directed with the in-your-face subtlety of a sitcom, the tone of the movie is weirdly miscalculated from the get-go.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Nov 6, 2002

3.5/4

Spacey and Hunt create interestingly layered characters who are hiding parts of themselves from themselves. And come Oscar time, Osment once again may be saying, 'I see tuxedoed people.'

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 3, 2022

F

The stickiest pile of moosh since "Patch Adams," and it has a comparable tragic ending that invalidates the film’s message.

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

Jan 29, 2020

For such a self-righteous movie, Pay It Forward has its own share of racism, class snobbery and spurious moralism in this sloppy attempt to help Americans get in touch with themselves made by a group of people who are out of touch with reality.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Feb 15, 2013

C

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 7, 2026

Pay It Forward is a 3.5 Star Movie!!!

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J. T

@RT75227964 Apr 22, 2026

I just watched this tonight and its defintely a tear-jerker. The characters have real depth and vulnerability and it ties together nicely. The ending didn't have to be like that. It was too much. The last 7 minutes of the film really killed the vibe. Of course, for a 26 year old film, it's definitely not bad and the bridge scene really brought on the waterworks. I would definitely recommend seeing this

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Anthony M.

@Tony7777777 Mar 16, 2026

By the year 2000 and it already became apparent that the empathy level in the world was dropping and more entitlement was taking place now being 26 years later it's more worse than it's ever been but speaking of this movie all about paying it forward what is wrong with that it covers every base it's sad that it has a sad ending but I think to understand the moral of life it's not how much money you make it's not a position one person holds that makes a difference it's your deeds in life and what you do and how you help your fellow man and a difference that you can make that's what it's all about and this movie cover that in many ways it was not boring I thoroughly enjoyed it so it gets a perfect five out of five from me.

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ri r

@Ivana152 Jan 28, 2026

An absoulute must-see. At the start i was pretty much sure its a cool movie but i wouldnt watch it if it wasnt for my assigment.....when i tell you i have never had a movie tearing me up so much or at all, i mean it. The ending i didnt really like as well as other people from i saw. But yea i think its a remarcable movie in a sence of emotional dept, changing prespective and helping you see in life. It makes you realise people do, work, say ect... bad things because they were too weak to overcome a negative thing or a situation.

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S S.

@SShol Nov 9, 2025

Sweet premise - Among the strangest-written endings of a movie.

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Alexander S

@RT61935749 Oct 20, 2025

Pay It Forward delivers a powerful message and standout performances, particularly from Haley Joel Osment, but its daunting and emotionally intense tone may not appeal to everyone, detracting from its potential as a meaningful and impactful story. Grading: C+

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Mimi Leder

Director

Kevin Spacey

Eugene Simonet

Helen Hunt

Arlene McKinney

Haley Joel Osment

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Synopsis

The story of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student creates a plan for "paying forward" favors, he not only affects the life of his struggling single mother, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness which, unbeknownst to him, has blossomed into a profound national phenomenon.

Director: Mimi Leder
Producer: Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Steven Reuther
Screenwriter: Catherine Ryan Hyde, Leslie Dixon
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Tapestry Films, Bel Air Entertainment, Warner Brothers
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Brief Violence|Mature Themes|Sexual Situations)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.5M
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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