Maddie's Secret

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Maddie's Secret

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1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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80 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

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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Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

Jul 16

Like all great art does in one way or another, Maddie’s Secret leads with its heart to create something unexpected and necessary, finding the point where humor and tragedy graze each other in passing, making a home there.

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Kimber Myers

Crooked Marquee

Jul 11

B+

Maddie’s Secret is a perfectly pitched satire that targets both the Lifetime films of the ‘80s and ‘90s and contemporary influencer culture while simultaneously being an effective exercise in empathy for its heroine ...

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Jul 2

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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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jul 15

It’s always watchable, with an admirable level of narrative ambition, and vivid performances from a cast of mostly comedic talents.

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Dino-Ray Ramos

DIASPORA

Jul 15

3.5/5

Kate’s Secret walked so Maddie’s Secret could run.

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Margot Harrison

Seven Days (VT)

Jul 15

10/10

Rather than skewer recovery melodramas, Early deploys their comfortingly familiar story beats with affection. The film’s gentle humor buffers the uncomfortable truth at its core: Despite foodie culture and body positivity, eating disorders persist.

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Anita M

Jul 9

I did not like watching a man playing a woman. I believe homosexuality is a sin. There was a lot of it in this movie. I did not like how the mother had a cross around her neck and she was portrayed as a villain.

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Eric

Jul 4

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

Jul 3

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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Vince S

@Vcs5015 Jul 18

We went to a screening tonight with Q&A w/ John Early himself. I had such a blast watching this movie - it felt SO refreshing to watch something as outrageous yet emotionally intact as Maddie’s Secret. A movie like this hasn’t been made in a long time, and I suggest you don’t miss it. The negative reviews I’ve read on here about the film are clearly from people who don’t understand comedy outside of the quips made in Avengers.

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Michael M

@RT55865362 Jul 17

A shame, good subject matter, however possibly the worst acting I’ve seen, each line was delivered like a nervous high schooler in their first play. Nearly unwatchable.

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John Early

Director

John Early

Maddie Ralph

Kip Reynolds

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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
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2026
Runtime: 1h 38m