Pain & Gain

Pain & Gain

Their American dream is bigger than yours.

Directed by Michael Bay

Produced by Paramount Pictures, De Line Pictures

2013130 min6.3 / 10

A darkly comedic, high-energy crime caper about misguided gym-rat criminals pursuing a twisted version of the American dream through kidnapping and extortion in 1990s Miami.

Daniel Lugo, manager of the Sun Gym in 1990s Miami, decides that there is only one way to achieve his version of the American dream: extortion. To achieve his goal, he recruits musclemen Paul and Adrian as accomplices. After several failed attempts, they abduct rich businessman Victor Kershaw and convince him to sign over all his assets to them. But when Kershaw makes it out alive, authorities are reluctant to believe his story.

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Questions people ask

  • Is Pain & Gain one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 86% of films.

  • Is Pain & Gain violent? Yes. More violent than 83% of films.

  • Is Pain & Gain sad? Not especially. Less sad than 73% of films.

  • Does Pain & Gain end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

  • Is Pain & Gain scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 61% of films.

  • Is Pain & Gain easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

42/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity79

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise22

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love35

How much audiences actually like it

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Everything like Pain & Gain, and what each one shares →

Like Pain & Gain

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Same Mood as Pain & Gain

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Like Pain & Gain, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Pain & Gain, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Pain & Gain, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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