Maddie's Secret

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Maddie's Secret

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1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 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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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

6d

0/5

Instead of his seeming intention to create something that’s both funny and yet very demure, very mindful, [Early]’s churned out a barely-congealed dish that’s the thinnest of gruel.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Los Angeles Times

Jun 27

When we’re just focused on Early, hoping to outrun Maddie’s demons in manic aerobics sessions of deliriously complex choreography, the movie feels like a spell.

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Joey Shapiro

Chicago Reader

Jun 26

Maddie’s Secret is genuinely touching, largely because it engages very earnestly with melodrama as a genre—like Douglas Sirk–level earnestness—instead of approaching it as parody.

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

1d

Tonally uneven but still intriguing, Maddie's Secret zig zags between being a weepy melodrama and a satirical comedy. John Early's engaging lead performance carries this movie about an aspiring culinary influencer with mental health issues.

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Kiko Martinez

The Cinesnob Podcast

1d

D

Lacks the wit needed to make the uncomfortable comedy work.

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Robert Denerstein

Denerstein Unleashed

1d

Early mostly succeeds in mixing humor and melodrama as he leads the story to Maddie's hospitalization after an eating disorder-induced heart attack.

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Eric

4d

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

5d

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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Moody C

@MoodyC 56m

This has a low budget campy, quirky comedy feel & tone but wants to be highly dramatic & at times melodramatic as well so doesn’t really gel. Acting by lead is really bad. I was confused whether he’s a trans character but it comes off as comedy that I’m not sure if it’s to be taken seriously sometimes or at all.

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Tom W

@WelchysGripe 18h

A refreshing approach to comedy, and legit issues people actually deal with. Every character, and almost every moment, in this film is bonkers and ridiculous. But only to the audience. The characters, themselves, are so earnest in their portrayal of the story and its classic tropes. Even when that story takes an unexpected turn. The tropes, and reactions, stay genuine.

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michael C

@MichaelC2 23h

Really enjoyed it. Good story.

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Maddie's Secret: Trailer 1

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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
Runtime: 1h 38m