The Secret of My Success

PG-13

1987

1 hr. 50 min.

Comedy

List

48%

42 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Steven

Imagine Alex P Keaton (Family Ties TV show), finally enters the workforce after college. Michael J Fox delivers in a role that inspired many Gen Xers into corporate positions. If you were lucky to work on Wall Street back in the day then you knew this movie. It's utter nonsense plot but Fox makes it believable and likeable in a 1980s kind of way (if you liked Mannequin you understand). Music track was good, good chemistry between actors, the attitude of "if you can make it here then you can make it anywhere" NY slogan... Best inspirational scene is brief clip of Fox in his hometown telling parents he's determined to make it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

EAZY A

I don't get the low reviews, this was a really enjoyable movie. It is totally 80s and has a great story and acting. Michael J. Fox was PERFECT for this movie, and the music was great too. Definitely give it a watch.👍

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/23

Full Review

Alan G

I like it a lot. It has aged very well. From the awful hairstyles of that era and the making fun of the yuppies. Its a bit madcap and silly but good fun. A pleasant diversion from the serious stuff. The boss's wife got the best part which she plays very nicely. Fox does Fox.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/22

Full Review

Audience Member

It's a great film if you lived during the 80th yr. Otherwise is nothing particular.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Gene Seymour

Philadelphia Daily News

[A] Twinkie of a comedy...

Jun 9, 2021

Full Review

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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
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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