Secretary

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Secretary

R

2002

1h 52m

Drama

Comedy

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young woman with a history of severe emotional problems, is released into the care of her overbearing parents following a stay at a mental institution. She finds work as a secretary for a rigid and demanding attorney, E. Edward Grey (James Spader), and starts dating the kind but dull Peter (Jeremy Davies). However, Lee soon realizes she's turned on by Grey's stern demeanor, and begins a sadomasochistic relationship with him.

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Critics Consensus

Maggie Gyllenhaal impresses in this romantic comedy with a kinky twist.

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Barbara Ellen

The Times (UK)

01/02/2018

Spader handles a tricky role beautifully, but this is Gyllenhaals's tour de force. She is remarkable and original.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/11/2017

B

... Secretary shows how one woman stopped at nothing to get her love. But I'm still scratching my head at the whole thing.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

11/01/2007

A feel-good movie about sadomasochism, the seriocomic Secretary manages to be simultaneously subversive and sweet...In the wrong hands, the conceit could have turned ugly and offensive. But Spader and Gyllenhaal have a hushed, hilarious chemistry.

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Jan 13

3/5

This film treats the subject of submission and domination with great seriousness but also with a comic whiff that slyly questions what society accepts as normal.

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

09/30/2022

4.5/5

Feels more like something A24 would release in 2022 than a Lionsgate movie from 2002, even though it's actually the latter (20th anniversary)

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James Croot

The Post NZ

01/06/2022

4/5

A wicked little off-beat love story.

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Isabelle

@isabelleb Jan 20

this movie did wonders for my relationship

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Ed F

@30462115 Dec 23

I kind of get it that they "fixed" (mostly) each other with their true love and understanding of each other and definitely better than 50 shades of grey but a very weird/kinky kind of movie. I guess I'm just not that into S&M.

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Gianna P.

@2bummed Nov 15

This movie is great the intimate tension between Lee and Mr grey is so strong and very powerful and the way this movie shows a very good example of what a healthy sub and dom relationship is really about

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Nov 14

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Tanya W

Oct 21

Powerful! Especially in 2015 when everything started to change…

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Kadie

Jul 30

I had high expectations for this movie and it was a letdown. Hard watch and boring nothing exciting if I could give it less than half a star I would.

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Steven Shainberg

Director

James Spader

E. Edward Grey

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Lee Holloway

Jeremy Davies

Peter

Patrick Bauchau

Dr. Twardon

Stephen McHattie

Burt Holloway

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Synopsis

Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young woman with a history of severe emotional problems, is released into the care of her overbearing parents following a stay at a mental institution. She finds work as a secretary for a rigid and demanding attorney, E. Edward Grey (James Spader), and starts dating the kind but dull Peter (Jeremy Davies). However, Lee soon realizes she's turned on by Grey's stern demeanor, and begins a sadomasochistic relationship with him.

Director: Steven Shainberg
Producer: Andrew Fierberg, Amy Hobby, Steven Shainberg, Michael Roban
Screenwriter: Mary Gaitskill, Steven Shainberg, Erin Cressida Wilson, Erin Cressida Wilson
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Slough Pond, TwoPoundBag Productions, Double A Films
Rating: R (Language|Behavioral Disorders|Some Nudity|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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