Payback

2012·Movie
1h 22min
60
DecentGoodWatch score

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Payback fingerprint

Emotionally cool.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension3
  • Fast Pace3
  • Adrenaline1

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Melancholy4
  • Pathos3
  • Hopefulness3

Humor

Some sharp wit and satire

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Satire & Parody5
  • Situational Comedy0

World

Society, class and money, and everyday modern life

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Rewatchability7
  • Novelty7

Craft

Standout dialogue

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Complexity8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing7
  • Sound Centrality7
  • Cinematography6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want to half-watch while scrolling

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

An adaptation of Margaret Atwood's book examining the metaphor of indebtedness.
Philosophical DocumentarySocial CommentaryEconomic AnalysisMargaret AtwoodIntellectual ExplorationDebt MetaphorThought-ProvokingNon-FictionAcademicContemporary Issues

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Payback

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Payback legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Filmzie. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Payback worth watching?

60
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 61/100 (IMDb 6.3, Rotten Tomatoes 73%, and Metacritic 100). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is Payback?

1 h 22 min

Payback runs 1 h 22 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Payback?

Critics87
Audiences63

Not quite. Critics rate Payback higher (87) than audiences (63). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Payback in?

EnglishAlbanianSpanish

It was made in English, with some Albanian, Spanish. Produced in Canada.

In how many countries can I watch Payback?

90ADARATAUBBBHBMBOBRBSCACHCICL+76

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Payback in 90 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Payback use?

Going Cold TurkeyFlaw ExploitationChildren Are InnocentAuthor AppealXanatos Speed ChessEven Evil Has Loved OnesAdaptational HeroismNo Honor Among ThievesHigh-Class Call GirlDeath by AdaptationHumble GoalWe Named the Monkey "Jack"and 79 more

TV Tropes lists 91 storytelling tropes for Payback, including Going Cold Turkey, Flaw Exploitation, Children Are Innocent.

HomeDiscoverMoviesShows