Maddie's Secret

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1:48

Maddie's Secret

Jun 2026

1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

MADDIE'S SECRET is comedian, writer, and actor John Early's critically acclaimed directorial debut starring himself as Maddie, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque -- complete with an adoring husband (Eric Rahill), ride-or-die best friend (Kate Berlant) and a cupboard full of woman-owned ethically-sourced chili crisp to boot -- mounting professional pressures threaten to reawaken a hidden secret from her troubled past. A pitch-perfect blend of satire, melodrama, daring tonal shifts and intimate performances, the film marks a bold new voice in contemporary cinema.

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Critics Consensus

Equal parts exuberant crowd-pleaser and intimate passion project, Maddie's Secret embraces melodrama without irony, finding emotional depth in its vibrant style and unwavering commitment to its singular vision.

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

Jul 29

It doesn't satirize any of this stuff, and that's what's ultimately special about it. And John Early is a terrific physical comic.

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Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

Jul 16

Like all great art does in one way or another, Maddie’s Secret leads with its heart to create something unexpected and necessary, finding the point where humor and tragedy graze each other in passing, making a home there.

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Kimber Myers

Crooked Marquee

Jul 11

B+

Maddie’s Secret is a perfectly pitched satire that targets both the Lifetime films of the ‘80s and ‘90s and contemporary influencer culture while simultaneously being an effective exercise in empathy for its heroine ...

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John Paul King

Washington Blade

1d

It’s not a “drag” movie, or a cross-dressing comedy, or anything to do with Maddie’s gender at all. She is a woman, presented without exaggeration or irony, and she just happens to be portrayed by a male actor instead of a female one. There’s no joke...

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Erik Childress

Movie Madness Podcast

Aug 8

1/4

Bottom line is that the film is not funny but as it tries to play upon its roots as an after-school special or Lifetime cautionary tale it asks us to take these situations with gravity leaving an ever more sour taste in its earlier attempts at mockery.

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Fletcher Powell

KMUW - Wichita Public Radio

Aug 6

Early’s performance ... holds the film together, and it’s close to perfect.

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Anita M

Jul 9

I did not like watching a man playing a woman. I believe homosexuality is a sin. There was a lot of it in this movie. I did not like how the mother had a cross around her neck and she was portrayed as a villain.

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Eric

Jul 4

As several reviewers said, you have to suspend disbelief that the lead actor is not a woman. I think that took away from it. But it has good elements to it and overall is worth watching.

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CRS

Jul 3

Interesting movie but not sure why the lead female role was played by a man? It’s fine, but I thought maybe the ending would reveal some sort of reason for it… because it seemed intentional to me. (Or maybe the actor just happens to be transgender? But, again, it felt like that role was very intentional.) So in that sense, the ending didn’t match my expectations and was a little underwhelming. I just thought there’d be some point to it. Maybe there is, but I’m just missing it. (I’m writing this before doing any research on the film - I had no expectations going into it.) The lead character was charming and it was overall an entertaining movie and believable.

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LeeLeap

Jul 1

Incredible. Unique. Hilarious. Touching. A gem of a film in an ocean of unremarkable movies.

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Dan O

@RT47136587 2d

How such a poorly written, poorly acted, and poorly directed movie ever got a green light and a distribution deal boggles my mind. 👎👎

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Agnes F

@rendbezsolika 4d

Absolute brilliance. 85% laugh out loud, 10% "I shouldn't really be laughing at this, but I am" and 5% crying.

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John Early

Director

John Early

Maddie Ralph

Kip Reynolds

Juggler

Neil Wachs

Homeless Man

Kate Berlant

Deena

Claudia O'Doherty

Emily

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Synopsis

MADDIE'S SECRET is comedian, writer, and actor John Early's critically acclaimed directorial debut starring himself as Maddie, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque -- complete with an adoring husband (Eric Rahill), ride-or-die best friend (Kate Berlant) and a cupboard full of woman-owned ethically-sourced chili crisp to boot -- mounting professional pressures threaten to reawaken a hidden secret from her troubled past. A pitch-perfect blend of satire, melodrama, daring tonal shifts and intimate performances, the film marks a bold new voice in contemporary cinema.

Director: John Early
Producer: Harris Mayersohn, John Early, Luca Intili
Screenwriter: John Early
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Dogma 3000, Unapologetic Projects, Dweck Productions, Whetstone Pictures, Radish Films
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 38m

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