Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- grim
- sardonic
- pulpy
- late night viewing
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics found cleverness, ingenuity, and a strong Mel Gibson performance within a stylish but predictable neo-noir action premise burdened by sadistic violence and rote humor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Porter survives being double-crossed and shot, then relentlessly pursues his stolen robbery share and those responsible.
Porter is explicitly presented as bad, yet his toughness and focused retaliation make him the film's dominant point of identification.
The Outfit controls the city while dealers, prostitutes, gunmen, sadomasochists, and crooked cops surround Porter's search.
The film is described as modern noir with colors so muted they approach black and white, reinforcing its grim urban world.
Films like Payback, and why
Point Blank
shared neo noir atmosphere, hard-boiled antihero, organized crime, and revenge-driven crime thriller structure
The Limey
shared brutal revenge premise, terse protagonist, criminal underworld, and stylish noir violence
Get Carter
shared criminal antihero, double-crossed robbery, morally stark revenge, and 1990s neo noir sensibility
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
shared pulpy crime world, avenging protagonist, corrupt institutions, and darkly comic action tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Brian Helgeland
- Release Date
- 1999-02-05
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (2097)
Cast
- Mel Gibson
- Gregg Henry
- Maria Bello
- David Paymer
- Bill Duke
- Deborah Kara Unger
- John Glover
- William Devane
- Lucy Liu
- Kris Kristofferson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Payback about?
- A betrayed thief claws through a corrupt criminal hierarchy to reclaim his money and exact brutally focused revenge.
- What is Payback like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Payback as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Payback violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Payback as graphic.
- What did critics think of Payback?
- Critics found cleverness, ingenuity, and a strong Mel Gibson performance within a stylish but predictable neo-noir action premise burdened by sadistic violence and rote humor.
- Which films are like Payback?
- Films with a similar feel include Point Blank, The Limey, Get Carter, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
- How long is Payback?
- Payback runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Payback?
- In United States, Payback streams on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus.
