Pay It Forward
Rent & Buy
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics largely dismissed Pay It Forward as manipulative awards-bait, panning its contrived plotting and maudlin ending — yet audiences responded with genuine warmth, creating a stark gap between critical and popular reception that persists today. The three lead performances from Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment were the one point of near-universal agreement, with reviewers often crediting the actors for elevating material that otherwise didn't deserve them.
“I believed in them and cared for them. I wish the movie could have gotten out of their way.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
Mimi LederDirector
Kevin SpaceyEugene Simonet
Helen HuntArlene McKinney
Angie DickinsonGrace
Haley Joel OsmentTrevor McKinney
Jay MohrChris Chandler
Jim CaviezelJerry
Jon Bon JoviRicky McKinney
David RamseySidney Parker
Gary WerntzMr. Thorsen
Colleen FlynnWoman on Bridge
Marc DonatoAdam
Kathleen WilhoiteBonnie
Thomas NewmanComposer
Leslie DixonWriter
Catherine Ryan HydeWriter
Oliver StapletonCinematographyPay It Forward
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.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics largely dismissed Pay It Forward as manipulative awards-bait, panning its contrived plotting and maudlin ending — yet audiences responded with genuine warmth, creating a stark gap between critical and popular reception that persists today. The three lead performances from Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment were the one point of near-universal agreement, with reviewers often crediting the actors for elevating material that otherwise didn't deserve them.
“I believed in them and cared for them. I wish the movie could have gotten out of their way.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Genres
Drama
Cast & Crew
Mimi LederDirectorKevin SpaceyEugene SimonetHelen HuntArlene McKinneyAngie DickinsonGraceHaley Joel OsmentTrevor McKinneyJay MohrChris ChandlerJim CaviezelJerryJon Bon JoviRicky McKinneyDavid RamseySidney ParkerGary WerntzMr. ThorsenColleen FlynnWoman on BridgeMarc DonatoAdamKathleen WilhoiteBonnieThomas NewmanComposerLeslie DixonWriterCatherine Ryan HydeWriterOliver StapletonCinematographyRent & Buy