The Secret of My Success

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The Secret of My Success

PG-13

1987

1h 50m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

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41 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Recent college graduate Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) travels from his home in Kansas to New York City to pursue a new finance job. However, when Brantley arrives, he learns that his position has been eliminated, and he's forced to take a job working for his inept Uncle Howard (Richard Jordan), who became a company president through marriage. Brantley starts as a mere mailroom worker, but quickly climbs the corporate ladder when he begins posing as an executive.

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Critics Consensus

A miscast Michael J. Fox gives The Secret of My Success all the madcap energy he can muster, but it isn't enough to overcome confused direction and a recycled plot.

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Sheila Johnston

Independent (UK)

03/29/2023

The latest in a line of American films endorsing the merits of being worldly, ruthless and rich, it wears its heartlessness proudly on its sleeve.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

03/29/2023

The Secret of My Success has too obvious an eye for the main box-office chance to be really successful either as farcical comedy or ironic social comment. But it's kind of fun.

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Victoria Mather

Daily Telegraph (UK)

03/28/2023

This is a yuppie farrago about corporate raids and corpulent businessmen in which Fox plays the puppy.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

03/29/2023

The picture has no remotely critical attitude towards its characters or their milieu. It merely celebrates the acquisitive world of unprincipled workaholic yuppies.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

07/20/2021

3/5

...without much details of business, morals or anything much, it's a bland, corporate-headed confection...

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Ciaran S

@TrainMultifan26 Jan 5

2 Years after "Back To The Future" Michael J. Fox tried with other movies to recapture the same success, what this movie an improvement? Well yes & no. The Secret of My Success can have some catchy music and romantic moments it unfortunately can suffer from a lackluster story with weak writing, unnecessary plot holes and questionable acting speaking of the acting Michael J. Fox tries his hardest but hardest but he was given very little to work with, Helen Slater may be a decent actress but the filmmakers try way too hard to make her look like Princess Diana also why do you have Carol Ann Susi of all people? While it's not the worst nor best film i've seen it's just that this isn't exactly my cup of tea.

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Dominic B

@Dommo Jan 4

I watched this as a kid and loved it, 35 years later its still a lot of fun to watch, feel-good rags to riches with some of the funniest scenes in a movie, I love the bed hopping scenario, and Fox running between guises getting changed in the elevator, comedy genius. This is crying out for a modern remake.

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alan g

@agenser May 16

Tame remake of "How to Succeed.." with the songs or energy. Typical proto yuppie 80s movie. Unfortunately it is right for these times of unparalleled excess.

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Robert H

@RT67230581 01/18/2025

I think movies like this is what killed Rock & Roll.

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Scott H

@RT07417204 08/22/2024

I enjoyed the last 1/3 of the movie more than the first 2/3.

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Jerry R

@RT68621272 06/17/2024

Movie is not bad, however I have NEVER watched a movie where the sound track music is so over bearing. Simply stated it ruins a decent story. I would immediately fire the sound director and perhaps make this a decent production, which he ruined by loud obnoxious music.

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Herbert Ross

Director

Michael J. Fox

Brantley Foster

Helen Slater

Christy Wills

Richard Jordan

Howard Prescott

Margaret Whitton

Vera Prescott

John Pankow

Fred Melrose

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Synopsis

Recent college graduate Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) travels from his home in Kansas to New York City to pursue a new finance job. However, when Brantley arrives, he learns that his position has been eliminated, and he's forced to take a job working for his inept Uncle Howard (Richard Jordan), who became a company president through marriage. Brantley starts as a mere mailroom worker, but quickly climbs the corporate ladder when he begins posing as an executive.

Director: Herbert Ross
Screenwriter: Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., A.J. Carothers
Production Co: Rastar Pictures, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $65.3M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround