Payback (1999)
71%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 2 nominations
Payback, a film that showcases Mel Gibson’s ability to elevate mediocre material through sheer force of will and charm, has received mixed reviews from critics. While some praise the film’s gritty authenticity and entertaining portrayal of murder and retribution, others criticize its reliance on Gibson’s on-screen persona and gratuitous violence. Director Brian Helgeland’s first-time direction is directed with panache and a higher class of thriller, but the film falls short of its potential to be wittier and darker. Overall, Payback is a solid action comedy that pays homage to the gritty crime films of the ’70s, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s equal parts action and comedy, Payback might just be the flick for you. Mel Gibson’s charm and sheer willpower make up for the mediocre material, and the gritty authenticity of the film is a refreshing throwback to ’70s crime movies. Just be warned, this movie is not for the faint of heart – it’s unrelenting in its portrayal of murder, mayhem, and retribution. But if you’re in the mood for a seedier studio picture, Payback is definitely worth a watch. Just don’t forget to bring some extra napkins for the sticky theater floor.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, language, and drug and sexual content
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 41m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 1999
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Mel Gibson, Deborah Kara Unger, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke, Lucy Liu, James Coburn, John Glover, Kris Kristofferson, directed by Brian Helgeland, written by Donald E Westlake, Brian Helgeland, Terry Hayes, produced by Bruce Davey, action, R-rated, crime, thriller, neo-noir, betrayal, heist, revenge, crime syndicate, prostitute, violence, humor, box office performance, $81.5M, reviewed by Rick Groen, Linda Barnard, Mick LaSalle, Liam Lacey, Nick Roddick, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Chuck O’Leary, Donald Westlake, Terry Hayes, MPAA rating, Paramount Pictures, SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Worldwide gross: $161,626,121
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $290,123,394
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 521
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,638,320
US/Canada gross: $81,526,121
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $146,341,660
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 527
US/Canada opening weekend: $21,221,526
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $38,093,231
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 336
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $161,552,509
Production budget ranking: 195
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $86,996,026
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $41,574,858
ROI to date (est.): 17%
ROI ranking: 1,309
Gregg Henry – Val Resnick
Maria Bello – Rosie
Deborah Kara Unger – Mrs. Lynn Porter
David Paymer – Arthur Stegman
Bill Duke – Det. Hicks
Director(s)
Brian Helgeland
Writer(s)
Donald E. Westlake, Brian Helgeland, Terry Hayes
Producer(s)
Bruce Davey
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (34)
March 16, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
March 16, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/4
Linda Barnard
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Demonstrates why Mel Gibson is a movie star: He can take mediocre material and through sheer willpower — not to mention oodles of charm — make it work.
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A higher class of thriller.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It quickly slides into a Lethal Weapon without Danny Glover, complete with blowups and wisecracks, gratuitous torture scenes and Gibson in familiar form as the twinkling rascal who makes a virtue out of viciousness.
March 22, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Both star and director seem to be more interested in playing off perceptions of Gibson’s on-screen persona than in actually telling the story, which lurches along from one violent set piece to the next.
March 5, 2002
Nick Roddick
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Unrelentingly paints a picture of murder, mayhem, and retribution that is both bold and entertaining.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Directed with panache and gritty authenticity by first-timer Brian Helgeland.
June 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
A solid enough action comedy, albeit one that had a lot of potential to be wittier and darker.
June 21, 2007
Ryan Cracknell
Calgary Movies
A tough, entertaining homage to the kind of gritty ’70s crime film that long ago gave way to a slicker yet tamer form of action movie … Both the studio’s cut and Helgeland’s cut work about equally well.
May 10, 2007 | Rating: B
Chuck O’Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com
This is the seediest studio picture I’ve seen since TO LIVE OR DIE IN LA. Even the theater floor feels stickier while watching this thing unfold.
June 25, 2005
Moriarty
Ain’t It Cool Movie Reviews
June 14, 2004 | Rating: 2/10
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews…
Plot
Porter is bad, but his neighbours are worse. Street-wise and tough, an ex-marine, he is betrayed by a one-time partner, and shot in the back by his junkie wife. He survives and returns, looking to recover his share from the robbery of an Asian crime gang. The money has passed into the hands of “the Outfit”, a slick gangster organisation that runs the city. He has to make his way through a world populated by heroin dealers, prostitutes, sado-masochists, gunmen and crooked cops, a place where torture is a way of life. His only friend is a former employer, a prostitute, and her loyalty is in question, given she now works for the Outfit. He makes good early progress, but then falls into the hands of Fairfax, the crime boss.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Mel Gibson as the lead character, Porter.
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