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.
2025, 98 Minutes, USA, Directed by John Early, Not Rated
“An extremely accomplished debut and one of the boldest American movies I have seen in years.”
– Sam Bodrojan, Indiewire
“Early aces his own high-degree-of-difficulty assignment by leveraging his alt-comic instincts against a reverent (and revelatory) cinephilia.”
– Adam Nayman, The Ringer
“A sincere and surprising comedic triumph.”
– Mark Asch, Little White Lies
“Every aspect of Maddie’s Secret is indeed made with love, showing reverence for the stylistic flourishes that made TV movies so memorable.”
– Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter
“This generation’s answer to “Cry-Baby””
– Chase Hutchinson, TheWrap
“Early, who also wrote and directed this high-wire act, couldn’t be better for a John Waters light delight that lampoons handwringing specials that used to dominate TV.”
– Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News
