How a 1987 corporate comedy outperformed action blockbusters like RoboCop and Predator at the box office.
In short: Despite mixed reviews, the Michael J. Fox vehicle The Secret of My Success dominated the 1987 box office. It spent five weeks at number one, ultimately grossing $111 million worldwide. The film’s chaotic blend of boardroom satire and farce remains a curious case study in eighties commercial success.
Directed by Herbert Ross, the film follows Brantley Foster, a recent graduate who finds himself laid off immediately after starting a job in Manhattan. After struggling to find work, he secures a mailroom position at the Pemrose Corporation. He soon begins living a double life, masquerading as an executive named Carlton Whitfield to navigate corporate incompetence and a hostile takeover attempt.
The production was marked by a soundtrack that often diverged from the film itself. While the title track by Night Ranger earned a Golden Globe nomination, several songs featured in the movie—including hits like Walking on Sunshine—were excluded from the official album. Other tracks, such as Restless Heart, appeared on the soundtrack with different titles and lyrics than those heard on screen.
Critical reception was polarized. While some reviewers praised the premise of a man leading two lives, others like Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel dismissed the film as a dated, moral-free sitcom. Despite this, the film was a financial juggernaut, ranking as the seventh highest-grossing movie in the United States in 1987. It even inspired a musical adaptation in 2020, though the production was abruptly halted by the pandemic.
The film's legacy is defined by its ability to resonate with audiences despite its critical shortcomings. It remains a snapshot of 1980s corporate ambition, blending slapstick humor with the era's obsession with climbing the ladder. Whether viewed as a misfire or a clever satire, its commercial performance proved that audiences were eager for the specific brand of energy Fox brought to the screen.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Secret of My Success (1987 film)
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