Pay It Forward (2000): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Pay It Forward is a 2000 romantic drama directed by Mimi Leder, starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. It is based on Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes and earned $55.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Critics gave it 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic. Stream it on Howdy, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 3m (123 min)
- Director
- Mimi Leder
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Pay It Forward About?
The premise of Pay It Forward without spoilers, adapted from Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A social studies teacher challenges his students to devise a plan to change the world. One student’s idea to “pay forward” good deeds—reciprocating kindness with further acts of generosity—ignites a remarkable chain reaction. This unconventional assignment unexpectedly touches lives across the country, demonstrating the powerful impact of simple acts of kindness and inspiring others to join the movement.
Pay It Forward Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- boy
- single mother
- schoolteacher
- kindness
- teacher student relationship
- disfigurement
- las vegas nevada
- mother son relationship
- death
- bully
- alcoholic
- altruism
+38 more Show fewer
- flashback
- mother daughter relationship
- recovering alcoholic
- goodness
- hope
- childhood trauma
- classroom
- journalist
- grief
- nonlinear timeline
- alcoholism
- homeless man
- drug addiction
- forgiveness
- based on novel
- middle school
- favor
- suicidal woman
- hospital
- stabbed in the abdomen
- ex husband ex wife relationship
- homelessness
- man wears eyeglasses
- facial scar
- homeless woman
- grandmother grandson relationship
- accidental killing
- boy rides a bicycle
- first day of school
- emergency room
- dejection
- crying
- intimacy
- burn victim
- birthday party
- philanthropist
- investigation
- prison visit
Where to Watch Pay It Forward
Stream it on Howdy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Pay It Forward Cast
Kevin Spacey leads the cast, with Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. Directed by Mimi Leder.
- Director Mimi Leder
Pay It Forward Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Pay It Forward 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 39% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 77%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 40 Metascore
User score 6.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
Pay It Forward Plot Summary
What happens in Pay It Forward from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Trevor McKinney embarks on his seventh-grade journey in Las Vegas, he encounters a transformative assignment from his social studies teacher, Eugene Simonet. The challenge is simple yet profound: devise a plan that can positively influence the world. Trevor’s innovative solution, “pay it forward,” implies that each person who receives a favor should pass it on to three others, creating a ripple effect of goodwill. However, to keep the cycle going, the initial recipient must be unable to repay the gesture themselves. With his newfound purpose, Trevor dives headfirst into his mission, starting with an audacious act by inviting homeless man Jerry to live in his garage.
Full summary
The whole story of Pay It Forward, scene by scene
Pay It Forward Box Office & Budget
Pay It Forward grossed $55.7 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 1.4 times what it cost. $33.5 million came from the US and Canada and $22.2 million (40%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$55.7M
1.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $33.5M
- International
- $22.2M
- Budget
- $40M
Pay It Forward Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Pay It Forward.
How Well Do You Know Pay It Forward?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the central assignment given to Trevor by his teacher?
Cars in Pay It Forward
23 cars on screen, including the 2000 Jaguar S-Type X200 and the 1988 Jeep Cherokee.
-
2000 Jaguar S-Type X200 Important role -
1988 Jeep Cherokee Important role -
1992 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role -
1995 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
Pay It Forward Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “A Corrente do Bem” and “Un sogno per domani”.
- Also known as
-
- A Corrente do Bem
- Un sogno per domani
- Un monde meilleur
- Skicka vidare
- Cadena de Favores
- ペイ・フォワード 可能の王国
- תעביר את זה הלאה
- 아름다운 세상을 위하여
- 美好人生
- Das Glücksprinzip
- Favores em Cadeia
- Заплати другому
+18 more Show fewer
- 让爱传出去
- A jövő kezdete
- Pošli to dál
- ペイ・フォワード
- Χωρίς Αντάλλαγμα
- Gi' det videre
- Podaj Dalej
- İyilik Bul
- İyilik Yap
- Заплати іншому
- 讓愛傳出去
- Предай нататък
- Cadena de favors
- Anna hyvän kiertää
- Dă mai departe!
- Payez au suivant
- Pošli to ďalej, გადაუხადე სხვას
- หากใจเราพร้อมจะให้(ใจ) เราจะได้มากกว่าหนึ่ง
Seen Pay It Forward?
Movies Like Pay It Forward
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Good Deeds, Good and The Fundamentals of Caring.
Pay It Forward FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Pay It Forward, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Pay It Forward?
Pay It Forward runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).
When was Pay It Forward released?
Pay It Forward was released on October 20, 2000.
Who directed Pay It Forward?
Pay It Forward was directed by Mimi Leder.
More films by Mimi Leder Who is in the cast of Pay It Forward?
Pay It Forward stars Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment.
Where can I watch Pay It Forward?
In the US, Pay It Forward is streaming on Howdy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Pay It Forward make at the box office?
Pay It Forward grossed $55.7 million worldwide ($33.5 million domestic, $22.2 million international) on a budget of $40 million.
How is Pay It Forward rated?
Pay It Forward has 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Is Pay It Forward based on a book?
Yes. Pay It Forward is adapted from Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
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