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Paycheck
2003 119 min Canada, United States of America PG-13 16+
★5.8
Action, Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Director: John Woo
🎭 Based on
«Paycheck»
byPhilip K. Dick
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
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.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$53.79M
Worldwide:
$117.25M
Starring
Ben Affleck
Actor
Aaron Eckhart
Actor
Uma Thurman
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best Science Fiction Film
Key opinion
Paycheck is a polarizing science fiction action film that balances kinetic, stylized set pieces with a narrative often criticized as predictable and formulaic. While some viewers appreciate its brisk pacing and entertaining spectacle, others find the script lacking in depth and the emotional stakes unconvincing.
| Acting | Ben Affleck's performance is widely debated, with some critics viewing him as a standout lead while others dismiss his acting as flat or constrained. | |
| Direction | John Woo's direction is praised for its kinetic action sequences and visual flair, but criticized for lacking the thematic weight or distinct stylistic punch seen in his earlier work. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is frequently described as formulaic, relying on a predictable, cliché-ridden narrative that fails to reach the depth of its source material. | |
| Acting | The chemistry and individual performances of the supporting cast are divisive, with some finding the characters one-dimensional and misplaced. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing, shifting between an engaging, fast-moving first act and a second half that some viewers find exhausting or overly reliant on standard action tropes. |