Trailer+1 trailer

Paycheck

2003Movie1 h 59 minPG-13

46
MediocreGoodWatch score

A gripping, fast-paced action movie about the future and mystery.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, comfort or warmth.

Movies with

Story

The future depends on a past he was paid to forget.

Michael Jennings is a genius who's hired – and paid handsomely – by high-tech firms to work on highly sensitive projects, after which his short-term memory is erased so he's incapable of breaching security. But at the end of a three-year job, he's told he isn't getting a paycheck and instead receives a mysterious envelope. In it are clues he must piece together to find out why he wasn't paid – and why he's now in hot water.

Feels like

  • Sci-Fi Thriller
  • Memory Loss
  • Conspiracy
  • High-Tech Crime
  • Action-Packed
  • Puzzle-Solving
  • Corporate Espionage
  • Mind-Bending
  • Identity Crisis

Cast

Crew

Directed by
John Woo
Written by
Dean Georgaris
Music by
John Powell

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 25, 2003 · 1 h 59 min · PG-13

Released
December 25, 2003
Runtime
1 h 59 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence
Genres
Action, Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Original language
English
Made in
Canada, United States, Hong Kong SAR China
Budget
$60 million
Box office
$117 million
Available in
113 countries

Tropes

Viewer-Friendly Interface, Mexican Standoff, Achievements in Ignorance +9

  • Viewer-Friendly Interface
  • Mexican Standoff
  • Achievements in Ignorance
  • Chekhov's Skill
  • Psycho for Hire
  • Unusually Uninteresting Sight
  • Ontological Mystery
  • Aerosol Flamethrower
  • Intangible Time Travel
  • Named by the Adaptation
  • Old Cop, Young Cop
  • Golden Ending

12 of 62 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Paycheck?"

Questions about Paycheck

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Paycheck?

In the United States, Paycheck streams on fuboTV and Paramount+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 78 other countries.

Is Paycheck worth watching?

46
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 46 (IMDb 6.3, Letterboxd 2.8 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 27%, and Metacritic 43). Audiences rate it higher (56 out of 100) than critics (35).

Is Paycheck okay for kids?

PG-13Violence

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is Paycheck plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (9 of 10) and mystery (8 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

What tropes does Paycheck use?

Viewer-Friendly InterfaceMexican StandoffAchievements in IgnoranceChekhov's SkillPsycho for HireUnusually Uninteresting SightOntological MysteryAerosol FlamethrowerIntangible Time TravelNamed by the AdaptationOld Cop, Young CopGolden Endingand 50 more

TV Tropes lists 62 tropes for it, including Viewer-Friendly Interface, Mexican Standoff, and Achievements in Ignorance.