Paid in Full

Play trailer

Paid in Full

R

Released Oct 25, 2002

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In the late 1980s, Ace (Wood Harris) is a young man employed by a Harlem dry cleaning shop, working hard to stay out of the drug business. While making deliveries, he meets Lulu (Esai Morales), a drug dealer who convinces Ace to join him. Ace recruits his friends Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and Rico (Cam'ron), and the trio become major players in the Harlem drug underworld, a violent business that will test the friends' loyalty and wits as the money rolls in and the dangers grow beyond their control.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Though well-acted and non-exploitative, Paid in Full treads a very well-worn story.

Read Critics Reviews

Newsday

Rated: 2.5/4

May 28, 2003

Full Review

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rated: C-

Nov 5, 2002

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 2/4

Nov 3, 2002

Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Violent crime drama about drug dealer has constant cursing.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

hough it shows bling, strong feelings for the inner city and the acting is solid, the derivative story won't knock you out.

Rated: B-

May 12, 2017

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Harris and Phifer's chemistry lends the inevitable tragedies some genuine punch.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 27, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

Todd B

I loved the movie. Superb acting. Great job.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

Full Review

Tony P

A great movie depicting the reality of the 80’s drug era. An unlikely kingpin without the propensity to the violence that’s needed in that world undergoes hard lessons, tragedy, and betrayal. Ultimately realizing the treasure he would acquire would pale in comparison to the human cost he would endure.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/11/25

Full Review

Thomas W

True story lot more could of been done with more money as far as telling the story however must see good cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Audience Member

It’s about driving these flashy cars getting with the ladies like that one right there and definitely never dressing like a brother like u man

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Ronald R

Great Movie!!! Highly Recommended!!!! A++ 🍿🎥🍿

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Walter W

VERY Underrated film; it's hated on because there were SO many movies that told similar stories of drug dealing urban gang rise and fall. The title seems to glorify it. If you liked Menace 2 society, Boys in Hood, Juice, then you'll really like Paid In Full. Fans of the Wire will recognize the gangster who wants to make $$ for all his people without victims, without the damage to his soul and the hood. "Everybody Eats" he says again and again. Greek Tragedy: The hero vs Gods and Fate, what the wire is always about. The Gods/Fate is The nature of the Game.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Charles Stone III

Director

Wood Harris

Ace

Mekhi Phifer

Mitch

Kevin Carroll

Calvin

Esai Morales

Lulu

Chi McBride

Pip

In Too Deep

39%

75%

In Too Deep

Watchlist

Reindeer Games

25%

28%

Reindeer Games

Watchlist

The Yards

64%

51%

The Yards

Watchlist

State Property

0%

73%

State Property

Watchlist

Empire

21%

62%

Empire

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the late 1980s, Ace (Wood Harris) is a young man employed by a Harlem dry cleaning shop, working hard to stay out of the drug business. While making deliveries, he meets Lulu (Esai Morales), a drug dealer who convinces Ace to join him. Ace recruits his friends Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and Rico (Cam'ron), and the trio become major players in the Harlem drug underworld, a violent business that will test the friends' loyalty and wits as the money rolls in and the dangers grow beyond their control.

Director: Charles Stone III
Producer: Brett Ratner, Damon Dash, Jay-Z
Screenwriter: Matthew Cirulnick, Thuliani Davis, Azie Faison Jr., Austin Phillips
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, Dimension Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Some Strong Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now