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Pay It Forward (2000)

 -  Drama  -  20 October 2000 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 67,720 users   Metascore: 40/100
Reviews: 643 user | 156 critic | 34 from Metacritic.com

A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance.

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(book), (screenplay)
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Title: Pay It Forward (2000)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
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Ricky McKinney
...
Grace
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...
Colleen Flynn ...
Woman on Bridge
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Adam
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Bonnie
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Michelle
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Nurse
...
Thorsen's Daughter
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Storyline

Young Trevor McKinney, troubled by his mother's alcoholism and fears of his abusive but absent father, is caught up by an intriguing assignment from his new social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet. The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward--repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. Trevor's efforts to make good on his idea bring a revolution not only in the lives of himself, his mother and his physically and emotionally scarred teacher, but in those of an ever-widening circle of people completely unknown to him. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Is it possible for one idea to change the world? See more »

Genres:

Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including substance abuse/recovery, some sexual situations, language and brief violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

20 October 2000 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Cadena de favores  »

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£357,185 (UK) (26 January 2001)

Gross:

ESP 191,771,560 (Spain) (29 June 2001)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Several pieces of promotional material (including some press kits) mistakenly referred to Kevin Spacey's character as Reuben Simone. See more »

Goofs

The point of triage in an ER is to identify and treat patients in need of immediate care. No nurse in his/her right mind would pass over a girl having an acute asthma attack for an obviously stable man with a gunshot wound, no matter what order they arrived in. See 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. ...
[...]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in General Hospital: Episode #1.11899 (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

"Mar y cielo"
By Julio R. Reyes
Performed by Los Hermanos Martinez Gil
See more »

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User Reviews

 
A touching film in these uncertain times
14 May 2008 | by (NSW, Australia) – See all my reviews

A film of surprising majesty mainly because of its sincerity to convey the tale of a young (American) high school student, touchingly and masterfully played by the then 12-year-old Haley Joel Osment, who, at the instigation of his new teacher's challenge to the class, comes up with a beautiful and simple plan to make a difference in the world, involving doing a good turn to not just one person but three, who then, in turn, return the gift themselves to three more people, thereby very quickly spreading goodness in both directions, in the giving and receiving, in the most unlikely places and ways. Warning: a tear-jerker!


13 of 17 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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How can anyone possibly like this movie?? chloen1979
a better ending rutica
now if you got stabbed in the stomach Sensfan1915
Should be a law... libertess66
Did anyone ever have 7th grade teacher like that? MBasler89
from a mother who lost her son goldstalk
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