Maddie's Secret
Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 19, 2026 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
1
Negative:
1

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
IndieWireSam BodrojanSep 17, 2025
Maddie’s Secret renewed my hope that this corner of the industry can go to new places, outside of what is edgy or trendy. It is an extremely accomplished debut and one of the boldest American movies I have seen in years. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesJoshua RothkopfJun 26, 2026
When we’re just focused on Early, hoping to outrun Maddie’s demons in manic aerobics sessions of deliriously complex choreography, the movie feels like a spell. All of the things that make him an unlikely ingénue — the flop sweat, the slight chunkiness, the desire to pass for a cute foodie — click into place. She couldn’t be more perfect. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)Alison WillmoreJun 20, 2026
It’s a strange, strange movie, but a thoroughly compelling one, thanks in large part to Early’s performance as Maddie. Read full review
80
Next Best PictureDan BayerSep 17, 2025
John Early's unique sensibility bursts onto the big screen with huge laughs in this loving recreation of '80s-'90s Lifetime movies that's just as heartfelt as it is hilarious. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comPeyton RobinsonJun 19, 2026
Maddie’s Secret possesses a tenacious commitment to clichés and stylistic hyperbole, and while it is certainly a parody, it is undeniably delivered with reverence: an ode to the idolatry bestowed upon characters like Rory Gilmore. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleBob StraussJun 23, 2026
Early claims a number of influences for his movie, with the most prevalent seemingly the overwrought, problem-of-the-week TV specials he watched as a gay kid with his female friends in the 1990s. But with its colorful yet shadowy lighting (the cinematographer is Max Lakner) and Gordon Landenberger’s vibrantly painted, hipster Los Angeles production designs, “Maddie’s Secret” is a real work of cinema. Read full review
88
Slant MagazineKyle TurnerJun 22, 2026
The film at once lampoons a spectatorship culture that drives creators to madness and cherishes the naïvete of everyday people who want to share their passions with people on the internet. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubMonica CastilloJun 18, 2026
Wickedly sharp and surprisingly moving, John Early’s Maddie’s Secret is a melodramatic comedy like few others. Read full review
91
The Film StageJake Kring-SchreifelsSep 17, 2025
In a satire like this, the laughs start heavy, but Early’s best trick is ending this journey in an earnest, emotionally authentic place. He’s not playing a punchline so much as a humorous, painful truth. Read full review
90
The Hollywood ReporterJourdain SearlesSep 17, 2025
Packed with visual gags and a cast of gifted comedic actors, Maddie’s Secret straddles the line between comedy and melodrama, creating a wholly unique cinematic experience. Read full review
100
The New York TimesNatalia WinkelmanJun 18, 2026
Brimming with style and spirit up to the final scene, Maddie’s Secret is among the most daring movies I’ve seen this year. That it simultaneously guarantees a giddy good time is a minor miracle. Read full review
67
The PlaylistGregory EllwoodSep 10, 2025
What Early, who also wrote the screenplay, has his sights on is the hilarious tropes of the movie-of-the-week genre. And he almost completely pulls it off. Read full review
75
The Travers TakePeter TraversJun 19, 2026
I think you’ll love John Early as a dishwasher who becomes a bulimic food influencer. I know I did. Read full review
80
TheWrapChase HutchinsonSep 17, 2025
It’s this generation’s answer to “Cry-Baby” and also distinctly Early. Read full review
70
VarietyPeter DebrugeSep 17, 2025
As wild as things can get (tamer than you might expect), Early keeps the film emotionally grounded. Can Maddie be cured? Maybe not, but her secret’s safe with him. Read full review
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