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Paid in Full

Play trailer Poster for Paid in Full R 2002 1h 38m 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.
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Paid in Full

Paid in Full

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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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Critics Reviews

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Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper Oct 29, 2002
I'm going to give it a marginal thumbs up. I liked it just enough. Go to Full Review Ted Fry Seattle Times Oct 25, 2002
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Carla Meyer San Francisco Chronicle Oct 25, 2002
2/4
Needed a little less bling-bling and a lot more romance. Go to Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media Aug 7, 2018
4/5
Violent crime drama about drug dealer has constant cursing. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews May 12, 2017
B-
hough it shows bling, strong feelings for the inner city and the acting is solid, the derivative story won't knock you out. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jan 27, 2009
3/4
Harris and Phifer's chemistry lends the inevitable tragedies some genuine punch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John C @JohnClasky Sep 6, 2026 Paid in Full is a stone-cold classic and an undeniable pillar of hip-hop cinema. Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer, and Cam'ron deliver unforgettable performances, capturing the electric rise and devastating fall of 1980s Harlem with raw, uncompromising authenticity. Powered by a legendary soundtrack and iconic dialogue that defined an era, it’s far more than a street drama—it's a powerful cautionary tale about ambition, loyalty, and betrayal. Essential viewing. 5/5 stars. See more Derek T @journalforyourself Jun 17, 2026 Plays out like a Scorcese movie, except it's in the hood and no Italians. Acting overall is great, at times there's performances that feel so close to real life. The writing is really good. Cinematography and editing, continuity of the story, same thing it's all high quality. Gotta agree with almost everyone else in the audience, critics taking a dump on this movie is unbelievable. Also learned this movie bombed at the box office. This movie got so much hate, I don't get it. Would recommend you watch it without hesitation. See more Crimson R @RT52414205 Feb 16, 2026 I don't know what rotten tomatoes critics are doing I don't think some of them should even be able to rate this type of movie because a 53 is disrespectful because it's not understood by them I think it's a bad sign when there is a big difference between the critics perspective and natural audience because it means that the critics are not in touch with what the audience enjoys See more Keith B @Okbullard Jan 29, 2026 It was okay but hard to understand sometimes they talk so fast. I'd never bother watching it again. See more Niko H @RT91006666 May 17, 2025 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. See more Todd B @RT92383055 Apr 1, 2025 I loved the movie. Superb acting. Great job. See more Read all reviews
Paid in Full

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Stone III

Director

Wood Harris

Ace

Mekhi Phifer

Mitch

Kevin Carroll

Calvin

Esai Morales

Lulu

Chi McBride

Pip

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Paid in Full

Paid in Full (2002) Mekhi Phifer, Wes "Maestro" Williams (passenger) and Wood Harris (back) in Charles Stone III's PAID IN FULL. View more photos

Movie Info

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 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
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