Paying for It
Film Movement | Release Date: January 30, 2026 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
82
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 4 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Film ThreatRicky ArchuletaJan 29, 2026
Paying for It is a tremendous effort that honors Brown’s source novel while digging deeper into its subtext. By further developing these characters and emphasizing the female gaze, Lee provides a compelling narrative that neither glamorizes nor denigrates the women Chester encounters. I highly recommend this film. Read full review
84
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzFeb 3, 2025
Thanks to Lee’s smooth construction and her performers’ carefully calibrated performances – Beirne is particularly engaging in a role that doesn’t automatically earn sympathy – it all clicks together. Read full review
83
Original-CinKaren GordonFeb 3, 2025
This is a story that could easily have descended into something very seamy, but Lee keeps the film's tone light. Sonny and Chester are lovely people, who are on the level and really, really like each other. Read full review
70
The New York TimesChris AzzopardiJan 29, 2026
Paying for It keeps its narrative tight, perhaps overly simple. There’s space to savor the retro intimacy, amplified by the film’s striking primary colors and lo-fi rock soundtrack. Lee — while only gesturing toward the complexities of open arrangements — captures Chester and Sonny in a fleeting time that feels soft, but not shy. Read full review
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