Paid in Full

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Paid in Full

R

Released Oct 25, 2002

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

I'm going to give it a marginal thumbs up. I liked it just enough.

Oct 29, 2002

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Ted Fry

Seattle Times

This familiar rise-and-fall tale is long on glamour and short on larger moralistic consequences, though it's told with sharp ears and eyes for the tenor of the times.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 25, 2002

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Carla Meyer

San Francisco Chronicle

Needed a little less bling-bling and a lot more romance.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 25, 2002

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Violent crime drama about drug dealer has constant cursing.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2018

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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

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

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

Rated: 3/4

Jan 27, 2009

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Niko H

The tomatometer is completely useless, this movie is a one of the kind with much deeper lessons then what’s on the surface & people with no life experience can’t read the writing on the wall. you will be doing yourself a great disservice by not giving this movie the chance it deserves.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

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Todd B

I loved the movie. Superb acting. Great job.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

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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

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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

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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

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Ronald R

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

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Charles Stone III

Director

Wood Harris

Ace

Mekhi Phifer

Mitch

Kevin Carroll

Calvin

Esai Morales

Lulu

Chi McBride

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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

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