Maddie's Secret Has an 88 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

By The Backlot

@backlotfriends

Two people sit on a studio floor against a mirrored wall, one in black sportswear and one in a white long-sleeve shirt with a red rose design, in a scene from Maddie's Secret

Maddie's Secret has an 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. John Early wrote, directed, and stars in it. It is still in limited theaters.

On the surface it looks like a basic cable TV movie. It is not a parody of one. It is a completely sincere melodrama about a dishwasher named Maddie who becomes a viral food influencer and very quickly cannot hold her life together. Kate Berlant plays her coworker. She is the funniest part of the film. The whole cast commits to something that takes real courage to make.

If you know either of them from their comedy, this is the film they were building to.

Before this: Would It Kill You to Laugh?, the John Early and Kate Berlant comedy special. Or Wet Hot American Summer for the same energy of taking something absurd completely seriously.

Quick Facts

Maddie's Secret Has an 88 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

DirectorJohn Early

CastJohn Early, Kate Berlant, Eric Rahill, Kristen Johnston, Claudia O'Doherty

GenreComedy

Release2026-06-19

Runtime98 min

Rated8.0/10

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This limited theater film has an 88 on Rotten Tomatoes. John Early wrote, directed, and stars in it. #Comedy #Backlot

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Maddie's Secret has an 88 on Rotten Tomatoes and it is still in limited theaters. John Early wrote, directed, and stars in it. Kate Berlant is the funniest part.

Maddie's Secret has an 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. John Early wrote, directed, and stars in it. It is still in limited theaters.

If you know either of them from their comedy, this is the film they were building to.

Before this: Would It Kill You to Laugh?, the John Early and Kate Berlant comedy special. Or Wet Hot American Summer for the same energy of taking something absurd completely seriously.