The Secret of My Success

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The Secret of My Success

PG-13

1987

1h 50m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

46%

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41 Reviews

58%

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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)

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.

Mar 29, 2023

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

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.

Mar 29, 2023

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Victoria Mather

Daily Telegraph (UK)

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

Mar 28, 2023

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

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

Mar 29, 2023

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

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

Rated: 3/5

Jul 20, 2021

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Gene Seymour

Philadelphia Daily News

[A] Twinkie of a comedy...

Jun 9, 2021

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alan g

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.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

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Robert H

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

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

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Scott H

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/22/24

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Jerry R

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

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Darian M

I remember seeing this movie in the movie theater when it was released back in the late 80's as a 20-something college student. It was a corny, feel-good movie back then (typical 80's) and a much cornier movie today. The movie has a strong 80's sound track and a great performance by Margaret Whitton as Vera which saved the movie from disaster. So I watched it when it was brand new, watched it once again after 35+ years, and I do not feel the need to ever watch it again.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

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Jerad H

Michael J. Fox and Helen Slater were fantastic, but Margaret Whitton stole the show every time she entered the screen. This movie is a classic that stands the test of time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

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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
Producer: 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

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