Paycheck

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.

Critics found the Philip K. Dick premise intriguing but broadly judged the film's action-heavy execution shallow, clichéd, and less suspenseful than its concept promised.

• Michael's erased future knowledge and the personal objects left for him guide actions that appear designed to prevent the predicted outcome.
• The plot is driven by a billionaire's secret technological project, surveillance, engineered memory loss, and a powerful corporation operating above the law.
• Michael must infer what he worked on and why he surrendered his enormous paycheck by studying unfamiliar personal effects.
• The substitute belongings Michael receives after the erasure become practical tools and clues during his escape and investigation.

• Minority ReportShares a science fiction thriller premise involving altered memory, corporate conspiracy, and a protagonist trying to reconstruct hidden events.
• The IslandCombines futuristic technology, paranoia thriller tension, action set pieces, and a protagonist pursued by powerful institutions.
• NextShares a self-fulfilling prophecy structure, near-future conspiracy, and sleek action-oriented science fiction.

Director

John Woo

Release Date

2003-12-25

Runtime

119 min

Rating

6.2 / 10 (2160)

What is Paycheck about?

A memory-erased engineer follows a trail of seemingly worthless objects to uncover why his future self sacrificed a fortune and made him a target.

What is Paycheck like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Paycheck as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Paycheck violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Paycheck as moderate.

What did critics think of Paycheck?

Critics found the Philip K. Dick premise intriguing but broadly judged the film's action-heavy execution shallow, clichéd, and less suspenseful than its concept promised.

Which films are like Paycheck?

Films with a similar feel include Minority Report, The Island, and Next.

How long is Paycheck?

Paycheck runs 119 minutes.

Where can I watch Paycheck?

In United States, Paycheck streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Kanopy, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, YouTube Free.