• Pay It Forward (2000)

    The story of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student creates a plan for "paying forward" favors, he not only affects the life of his struggling single mother, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness which, unbeknownst to him, has blossomed into a profound national phenomenon.

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Pay It Forward
40
metacriticBased on 34 Critics
86
Based on 140 Users

Release Date: October 20th, 2000

DVD Release Date: May 15th, 2001

PG-13 |2 hr 2 min

Plot Summary

The story of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student creates a plan for "paying forward" favors, he not only affects the life of his struggling single mother, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness which, unbeknownst to him, has blossomed into a profound national phenomenon.

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Jay Mohr, Jim Caviezel, Jon Bon Jovi, Angie Dickinson, David Ramsey

Director: Mimi Leder

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Tapestry Films, Bel Air Entertainment, Warner Brothers

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures

Keywords: Heartwarming , Love , Inspiring , Investigation , 2000s , Quest , Emotional , School , Los Angeles

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 75
    Jay CarrBoston Globe

    The kind of film you've got to admire simply for the way it squares its shoulders and plunges into a message of unfashionable idealism.

  • 63
    Carrie RickeyPhiladelphia Inquirer

    It's a pretty nice movie until, like a Ponzi plan, it collapses.

  • 49
    Kevin MaynardMr. Showbiz

    Despite being full of Oscar-winning talent, this is still just a better-dressed, drawn-out episode of "Touched by an Angel."

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com