Generally succeeds as an action movie and occasionally slips as a smarty pants work of speculative fiction, but fun overall.
Comment
01/05/04
Paycheck (2003)
27
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:37
Rotten:101
Average Rating:4.7/10
Consensus: Though Dick's short story has an intriguing premise, Woo reduces it to a lot of meaningless chases, shoot-outs, and explosions.
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $53,681,119
Synopsis: Adapted from a mind-bending sci-fi thriller by Philip K. Dick, the slick and riveting PAYCHECK is directed by John Woo (THE KILLER, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II)--the king of artful gunfighting... [More]
Starring: Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti
Director: John Woo
Reviews for Paycheck
41 - 60 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Click to read the article
01/05/04
Tout le monde ici s’est donc contenté de venir chercher son chèque de paie...
01/05/04
The one thing we cannot forgive in a would-be thriller is boredom. Even Woo's trademarks, the fluttering birds and the two-gun stand-off, feel perfunctory.
01/04/04
Director John Woo, progenitor of film violence as stylized artistry, rests on his laurels here. He keeps the action sufficiently engaging, but never mind-blowing.
01/04/04
You've seen Roadrunner cartoons with more suspense than this entirely predictable hash.
01/04/04
A pleasant enough diversion.
01/03/04
It moves quickly, doesn't belabor the obvious, doesn't do anything stupid, and will be forgotten the moment you exit the theater.
01/03/04
Doves might be symbolic for many of the classic struggles in film and literature. But something they drop from their business end embodies what “Paycheck’s” all about.
01/02/04
Click to read the article
01/02/04
Affleck is no Schwarzenegger but director Woo works with what he's got. With Uma Thurman as the action sidekick/love interest, how bad can it be?
01/01/04
A good bit of the negativity surrounding the film wouldn't exist if it starred anyone but Ben Affleck (well, maybe not Mark Wahlberg either).
12/31/03
What's the problem? Ben Affleck is perfectly believable as a guy who spends two hours confused and with a dazed look on his face.
12/31/03
The first hurdle is the hardest: Accepting Ben Affleck in the role of possibly the most intelligent man on the planet.
12/30/03
Only dedicated fans will be willing to overlook Paycheck's relatively weak cast and lackluster fights and chases.
12/30/03
Paycheck is nothing more than an adequate thriller; a standard chase movie.
12/30/03
Just add an underwritten love interest, a scruffy yet lovable sidekick, stir violently and overcook action sequences. Serves millions, but tastes bland.
12/29/03
It's hard to imagine Dick ever writing anything as empty as this.
12/29/03
Fails to satisfy as either a Dickian head trip or a Woo-zy thriller...
12/29/03
How appropriate that Woo’s awkward sci-fi nutty narrative is about memory loss seeing as though this convoluted clunker is utterly forgettable.
12/29/03
Latest News for Paycheck
August 31, 2006:
A Taste of What's "Next" for Nicolas Cage
Any time I hear the phrase "movie based on a Philip K. Dick story," I know I have to do a little more research. The next PKD adaptation is Lee Tamahori's... More...
August 08, 2006:
Paul Giamatti to Star as Philip K. Dick
He night not be as famous as H.G. Wells or Isaac Asimov, but ask a sci-fi enthusiast what they think of Philip K. Dick, and get ready for a lengthy conversation. The late and... More...
November 08, 2005:
Nic Cage & Julianne Moore Will Do Sci-Fi Action Flick "Next"
Variety reports that Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore will star in Revolution's "Next," which is a sci-fi action project based on a story by genre giant Philip K. Dick. More...
July 08, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Head on over to the film's official site for your first look at the trailer to "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." The supernatural horror flick is directed by Scott... More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland 
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds