IMDb > Pay It Forward (2000)
Pay It Forward
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Pay It Forward (2000) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 30 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
Pay It Forward (2000) -- hv post
Pay It Forward (2000) -- The wait for a new kidney can take years. One donor began a chain of donations to people desperately in need. Harry Smith talks to 8 donors and recipients who are linked by paying it forward.
Pay It Forward (2000) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   33,767 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Mimi Leder
Writers (WGA):
Catherine Ryan Hyde (book)
Leslie Dixon (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Pay It Forward on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 October 2000 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded. more
Plot:
A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(22 articles)
Jon Bon Jovi 'rules out return to acting'
 (From digitalspy. 10 November 2009, 4:48 PM, PST)
Jon Bon Jovi: 'I don't like Hollywood'
 (From digitalspy. 23 October 2009, 11:16 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A very moving movie more (627 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kevin Spacey ... Eugene Simonet

Helen Hunt ... Arlene McKinney

Haley Joel Osment ... Trevor McKinney

Jay Mohr ... Chris Chandler

James Caviezel ... Jerry

Jon Bon Jovi ... Ricky McKinney

Angie Dickinson ... Grace

David Ramsey ... Sidney Parker

Gary Werntz ... Mr. Thorsen
Colleen Flynn ... Woman on Bridge
Marc Donato ... Adam
Kathleen Wilhoite ... Bonnie
Liza Snyder ... Michelle
Jeannetta Arnette ... Nurse
Hannah Werntz ... Thorsen's Daughter
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including substance abuse/recovery, some sexual situations, language and brief violence
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
123 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Iceland:10 | Malaysia:U | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13
Filming Locations:
Bradbury Building - 304 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA more
Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the scene where Helen Hunt's character strikes her son Trevor across the face, Haley Joel Osment requested that she actually hit him to make it seem more realistic. However, director Mimi Leder declined more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After Arlene slaps Trevor, she goes into the garage looking for stashed alcohol. On the right side of the shelves she searches, there are two boxes of powder laundry detergent stacked one upon the other. Although each would weigh a few to several pounds even if only half full, she brushes them off the shelf with just a flick of her hand, revealing the boxes to be empty. more
Quotes:
Eugene: I know what I'm talking about, Arlene! My father got down on his knees and begged my mother. And my mother,s he always took him back. I never understood it. she'd cover up the bruises and the cuts and she'd take him back. Because he begged and he cried. And now you ask me, you ask me what happened after he came back.
Arley: I...
Eugene: No! Go on! You said you wanted to know what happened to me, now ask me!
Arley: I don't like this...
Eugene: Did he hurt you, Eugene? Ask me!
Arley: Did he hurt you?
Eugene: [shakes his head] Not for long. By 13 I was gone. i ran away. But I missed her so... I had to go back and see her. So one night I did. Now, ask me what happened. What happened that night you came back, Eugene?
Arley: What happened?
Eugene: He was there. Drunk. As usual. Only this time I wasn't the same. I was 16 years old and I was no longer afraid of him. And when I looked him in the eyes and told him if he ever touched her again I would kill him, he knew. He knew that he would never exist for me again. And I'm standing in front of the house. I'm yelling, screaming for her to come out. I'm telling her she doesn't have to take it anymore. She really doesn't. She can come with me now. I don't even see it. He hits me in the side of the head with a two-by-four and I'm bleeding from my ear. And then he's dragging me. He's dragging me behind the house into the garage. And then he's gone. A minute... five minutes... I don't know. And then he's back. And he's wetting me down. He's wetting me down and I don't understand. I don't understand why water... should smell so bad. I don't understand. And then I see it. I see... this... this gas can. This red gas can from his truck.
[Crying]
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Lucky Break (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Win Your Love for Me more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
21 out of 28 people found the following comment useful.
A very moving movie, 29 December 2004
10/10
Author: EternianNews from United States

This is one of the most moving movies that I have seen in years. The performances are excellent by all the cast members and the emotional tie you develop with the characters is so amazing that you start to feel what they are feeling and go through their good and bad times. This movie is inspiring and heart driven. I really enjoyed this movie because of the well written story and smoothly moving plot of this movie. The movie does not leave you confused as to what is going on or why. That's why I gave this movie a 10, because it is excellent. The odd thing is about movies, the ones that aren't really that good get the awards, yet the really good ones never get one. I have really never understood that. This movie should have been given an award.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pay It Forward (2000)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anyone else hate the ending? LightGrenades12
a better ending rutica
How can anyone possibly like this movie?? chloen1979
Wish? frost1013
filmed at my school Taylorrr04
Sounds like American Beauty. Thorpe89
more

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