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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%

Tomatometer

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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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

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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

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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