Pay It Forward (2000)

October 20, 2000 (US) • Drama • 122m

Overview

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.

Director

Mimi Leder

Writers

Leslie Dixon, Catherine Ryan Hyde

Top Billed

Kevin Spacey

Keywords

child's point of view candlelight vigil good deed exotic dancer schoolteacher extra credit assignment disfigurement junior high school burn injury woman director

Where to watch

Free / Included

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Kevin Spacey

Eugene Simonet

Helen Hunt

Arlene McKinney

Angie Dickinson

Grace

Haley Joel Osment

Trevor McKinney

Jay Mohr

Chris Chandler

Jim Caviezel

Jerry

Jon Bon Jovi

Ricky McKinney

David Ramsey

Sidney Parker

Gary Werntz

Mr. Thorsen

Colleen Flynn

Woman on Bridge

Marc Donato

Adam

Kathleen Wilhoite

Bonnie

Liza Snyder

Michelle

Jeannetta Arnette

Nurse

Hannah Leder

Thorsen's Daughter

Tina Lifford

Principal

Loren D. Baum

Rough Kid #1

Nico Matinata

Rough Kid #2

Zack Duhame

Rough Kid #3

Shawn Pyfrom

Shawn

Alexandra Kotcheff

Alexandra

Bradley White

Jordan

Christi Colombo

Christi

Phillip Stewart

Phillip

Justin Parsons

Justin

Myeshia Dejore Walker

Myeshia

Brenae Suzanne Davey

Brenae

Molly Bernard

Molly

Andrew Patrick Flood

Andy

Tameila N. Turner

Tameila

Julian Correa

Julian

Carrie Sullivan

School Girl

Patricia Deanda

Change Girl

Ryan Berti

Hallway Kid #1

Gabriela Rivas

Hallway Kid #2

Carrick O'Quinn

Man In Window

Stephanie Feury

Woman In Window

Bernard White

Cop

Tom Bailey

Liquid Man #1

Tim DeZarn

Liquid Man #2

Jonathan Nichols-Navarro

Liquid Man #3

Ron Keck

Lowlife #1

John Powers

Lowlife #2

Bob McCracken

Creepy Middle-Aged Man

Frank Whiteman

Doctor

Eugene Osment

Cop Who Gives Directions

Kendall Tenney

Male Newscaster

Sue Tripathy

Female Newscaster

Rusty Meyers

News Stand Guy

Leslie Dilley

The Governor

Billie Perkins

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Crew

Leslie Dixon

Screenplay

Mimi Leder

Director

David Rosenbloom

Editor

Oliver Stapleton

Director of Photography

Maggie Peterson

Location Manager

Geraldine Leder

Casting

Steven Reuther

Producer

Leslie Dilley

Production Design

David H. Venghaus Jr.

Second Assistant Director

Jonathan Treisman

Executive Producer

G. Marq Roswell

Music Supervisor

Buddy Joe Hooker

Stunt Coordinator

Mary McLaglen

Unit Production Manager

Mary McLaglen

Executive Producer

Steve Danton

First Assistant Director

Mo Henry

Negative Cutter

Renee Ehrlich Kalfus

Costume Design

Robert L. Levy

Producer

Jeff Dashnaw

Stunt Coordinator

David Orr

Color Timer

Johnny Martin

Stunt Coordinator

Kevin LaRosa

Pilot

Catherine Ryan Hyde

Novel

Thomas Newman

Original Music Composer

Peter Abrams

Producer

Jack Wolpa

Cableman

Mick Cukurs

Set Designer

Scott Andrew Ressler

First Assistant "B" Camera

Jeremy Bradley

Post Production Assistant

Peg Cummings

Set Decoration

Stephen S. Campanelli

Steadicam Operator

Bill Coe

First Assistant Camera

Michael McGuire

Key Rigging Grip

Lawrence A. Hubbs

Art Direction

Gary Speckman

Set Designer

Mark Hopkins McNabb

Production Sound Mixer

Dwight Joseph Lavers

Dolly Grip

Scott Elias

Production Supervisor

John 'Fest' Sandau

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

Richmond Riedel

First Assistant Editor

Philip Keller

Storyboard Artist

Stephen S. Campanelli

Camera Operator

J. Patrick Daily

Key Grip

Marcos Alvarez

Set Designer

Isaac Friedman

Second Assistant "B" Camera

Julie Pitkanen

Script Supervisor

Christopher S. Aud

Supervising Sound Editor

Chris Lombardi

"B" Camera Operator

James R. Tynes

Chief Lighting Technician

Gregory Plotkin

First Assistant Editor

J. Paul Huntsman

Supervising Sound Editor

Paddy Sam Carson

Associate Producer

Barry Idoine

First Assistant "B" Camera

Raul A. Bruce

Boom Operator

Bill Bernstein

Music Editor

Siobhan Prior

Assistant Editor

Bobby McMahan

Second Assistant Camera

James Simcik

Supervising ADR Editor

Gregg Rudloff

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Terry Garcia

Assistant Sound Editor

Jeff Cranford

Assistant Sound Editor

John T. Reitz

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Mark Morrell

Assistant Sound Editor

Patrick J. Foley

Dialogue Editor

David E. Campbell

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

John F. Reynolds

Dialogue Editor

Lee Lemont

ADR Editor

David Horton Jr.

Foley Editor

Eric Gotthelf

Foley Mixer

Shaun M. McGovern

Assistant Accountant

Dana Brunetti

Actor's Assistant

Denise Heinrich

Production Coordinator

Candice D. Campos

Assistant Production Coordinator

Michelle Pinkney

Producer's Assistant

Tangi Crawford

Costumer

Thomas J. O'Connell

ADR Mixer

Paul Prenderville

Second Second Assistant Director

Stacey Berns

Actor's Assistant

Hallie Sirota

Producer's Assistant

Nadine Haders

Costumer

Douglas Fox

Property Master

David Horton Sr.

Foley Editor

Thomas Pasatieri

Orchestrator

Cary Levine

Production Secretary

Joel Iwataki

Scoring Mixer

Elaine Patarini

Assistant Location Manager

Lynda Foote

Costume Supervisor

Dennis McCarthy

Costumer

David Werntz

Sound Effects Editor

John Voss Bonds Jr.

Sound Effects Editor

Catherine Harper

Foley Artist

Michael P. Sweeney

Assistant Property Master

Larry McGuire

Leadman

Kevin Bartnof

Foley Artist

Jeanmarie Murphy-Burke

Unit Publicist

Brigette Roux-Lough

Producer's Assistant

Stevie Lazo

Production Accountant

China Iwata Fox

Assistant Property Master

Dori Kancher

Producer's Assistant

Norman Howell

Stunts

Brennan Dyson

Stunts

Ryan Keating

Stunts

Greg Harris

Stunts

Chad Dashnaw

Stunts

Ralph W. Odum

Stunts

Kim Renee

Stunts

Peter Weireter

Stunts

William H. Burton Jr.

Stunts

Dick Ziker

Stunts

Debbie Lynn Ross

Stunts

Debbie Evans

Stunts

John M. Schenk

Set Dresser

Burt Dalton

Special Effects Supervisor

Waldo Sanchez

Key Hair Stylist

Darrell Redleaf-Fielder

Hairstylist

Vivian McAteer

Makeup Department Head

Louis Lazzara

Makeup Artist

Matthew W. Mungle

Prosthetic Makeup Artist

Albert Delgado

Special Effects

Christine Steele

Assistant Makeup Artist

Nicholas C. John

Standby Painter

Judith M. Brown

Studio Teacher

Thom 'Coach' Ehle

Dolby Consultant

Carol A. O'Connell

Hairstylist

Roger C. Johnson

Video Assist Operator

Ronnie Specter

Makeup Artist

Laura M. O'Brien

Art Department Coordinator

David Gabrielli

Construction Foreman

Tommy Tancharoen

Transportation Coordinator

Jessie Disla

Casting Assistant

Marvin Salsberg

Construction Coordinator

Carlo Basail

Greensman

Lois Carl

Studio Teacher

Tania McComas

Key Makeup Artist

Stacey Bunch

Casting Assistant

David James

Still Photographer

Lee Garibaldi

Transportation Captain

Richard Cody

Craft Service

Adria Later

Studio Teacher

Clinton Wayne

Prosthetic Makeup Artist

David L. McGuire

Set Dresser

Reviews

Reno

⭐ 8/10

June 8, 2015

**The world can't change by itself, we must bring it.**

After watching this film I just remembered the quote from 'Sullivan's Travels' which says 'film's the greatest educational medium the world has ever known'. Indeed, cinema's for entertainment as well acts as a message deliverer. This was an inspirational movie, and everybody must see it. I know I'm a bit late to see it, better late than never, right? I'm really glad for having it at the right time because 15 years ago I did not have this blog to write about it.

OK, the name of the movie represents the theme of the story. No matter its a developed or developing country, society needs something like the idea this movie talks about. Carrying a good social message, the movie slightly lags behind the too much on the emotions, especially the end part. There won't be a problem if you like melodrama. Other than that, I feel the conclusion was smart and strong, a better solution which would appeal for certain group rather alternate finale.

The film was based on the novel of the same name, crafted by a fine director with the wonderful cast. Haley Joel Osment had a great career as a child-star, you should check some of his films if you love children's movies including this title on the top of that list. As a middle aged actor, Helen Hunt's one of the last best performances before turning into a senior artist. It's not a usual role for Kevin Spacey, but he nailed it with the good dialogues. Especially his talk about the topic 'child abuse' was a great thing from the movie. Overall, the actors get more credit for the first- class acts as the script demanded for their respective roles.

> What did you ever do to change the world.

A movie about a man who achieved in science gets the Oscar, not that real man. A movie about a man escapes from the war prison camp and slavery gets the award, and again none of those real persons. But a movie with the original, intelligent, inspiring, specially designed for a movie was not even a contender of the Oscars. Of course, it was transformed from a book, though there are/were no real people behind these great characters, all are imagined/created for the book and the movie. I never understood the American Academy Awards.

By now you would know that I hate critics badly if you are a regular reader of my blog. Once again they failed to recognise how great the morality of the story is, rather they have concentrated to criticise the writing and the technical aspect of the film. Although, it was not a box office flop or earned beyond, but got a lot of praise from the families. It's a wonderful family drama, but still too far from being a masterpiece. Intelligent enough one to get motivated towards the social issues. Being practical in the real world is a concern as it is risky, depending on the situation and the person, just like this movie's ending. Rare to find a movie like this, you must check it out.

8/10

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