Payback
Seen it?1999 | 100 min | Action, Drama, Crime, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It's still drawing plenty of interest, but middling reviews (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved Gone Baby Gone or Layer Cake, start here.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect drug use.
With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and leave him for dead -- or so they think. Five months and an endless reservoir of bitterness later, Porter's partners and the crooked cops on his tail learn how bad payback can be.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$162 million worldwide on a $90 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 239K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Gone Baby Gone
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drug-world crime drama.
Layer Cake
Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
Out for Justice Weeknight WatchAnother mob crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Killing Them Softly Sunday Safe BetAnother drug-world crime thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Brian Helgeland
- Mel GibsonPorter
- Gregg HenryVal Resnick
- Maria BelloRosie
- David PaymerArthur Stegman
- Bill DukeDet. Hicks
- Deborah Kara UngerMrs. Lynn Porter
- John GloverPhil
- William DevaneCarter
- Lucy LiuPearl
- Kris KristoffersonBronson