Second Act (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Second Act is a 2018 comedy drama directed by Peter Segal, starring Jennifer Lopez as Maya, Milo Ventimiglia and Leah Remini. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $72.3 million worldwide on a $16 million budget. Critics gave it 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Peter Segal
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- STX Entertainment
- Budget
- $16M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Second Act About?
The premise of Second Act without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Maya Vargas, a middle-aged woman working as an assistant manager at a discount store, desires a career change and a promotion. Feeling overlooked despite her experience, she takes a creative approach to her resume, demonstrating that practical skills and determination can be just as valuable as traditional qualifications. The film is a heartwarming comedy-drama about reinvention, proving it's never too late to pursue new opportunities and showcasing the value of life experience.
Second Act Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- adopted daughter
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- two word title
- f rated
- friendship between women
- vertigo
- cosmetics company
- female protagonist
- no title at beginning
- sports metaphor
- shower scene
- assistant manager
+38 more Show fewer
- masters degree in business administration
- reference to duke university
- surprise birthday party
- reference to mount kilimanjaro
- reference to google
- reference to stanford university
- eavesdropping
- cake
- birthday wish
- team building
- job interview
- reference to facebook
- resume fraud
- reference to barack obama
- reference to michelle obama
- reference to cinderella
- reference to cornell university
- reference to massachusetts institute of technology
- sphynx cat
- new apartment
- drinking beer from a bottle
- acrophobia
- product development
- non disclosure agreement
- reference to the peace corps
- meeting birth mother
- christmas party
- reference to atomic bombing of hiroshima
- ginkgo tree
- businessman
- implied sex in shower
- bare chested male
- baseball coach
- computer geek
- cartoon on tv
- job hunting
- friendship
- female friendship
Second Act Cast & Characters
Jennifer Lopez leads the cast as Maya, with Milo Ventimiglia as Trey and Leah Remini as Joan. Directed by Peter Segal; 13 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Peter Segal
-
Jennifer Lopez as Maya -
Milo Ventimiglia as Trey - Leah Remini as Joan
- Dan Bucatinsky as Arthur Coyle
Also Starring in Second Act
· 9 more- Treat Williams Anderson Clarke
- Vanessa Hudgens Zoe
- Charlyne Yi Ariana
- Alan Aisenberg Chase
- Larry Miller Weiskopf
- Dave Foley
- Annaleigh Ashford Hildy Ostrander
- Freddie Stroma Ron Ebsen
- Natasha Romanova
More from Peter Segal
More films directed by Peter Segal, best-rated first: Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Get Smart, Tommy Boy and 50 First Dates.
Second Act Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Second Act 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in story & flow (35).
Second Act Echo Score Breakdown
Second Act exhibits a notably uneven reception among viewers and critics. The film’s amiable tone and appealing lead performance earn intermittent praise, while its predictable plotting and script shortcuts draw consistent criticism. Many observers highlight moments of genuine warmth tempered by a contrived twist that undercuts momentum. Overall, the mixed responses reflect a production that entertains sporadically but lacks cohesive engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 50
In terms of Art & Craft, Second Act presents a blend of retro-chic visuals and occasional inventive touches alongside noticeable directorial unevenness. Observers commend the film’s nods to Nineties aesthetics and a few striking cinematographic moments, yet they also note jarring editing choices and uneven pacing that undercut formal cohesion. Ultimately, the visual design offers charm in places but fails to sustain consistent polish throughout.
- Character & Emotion 65
When it comes to Character & Emotion, performances anchor the film’s appeal despite limited depth in many roles. Jennifer Lopez’s warm and engaging portrayal is frequently cited, and the chemistry with supporting players like Leah Remini garners positive remarks. However, critiques target a lack of sustained emotional resonance and an identity crisis that hampers character development. The mix leaves performances as the primary highlight.
- Story & Flow 35
In terms of Story & Flow, the narrative is commonly criticized for predictability and coherence issues. Viewers point to a contrived midfilm twist that strains credibility and report erratic pacing that diminishes engagement. While the Cinderella framework and humorous interludes provide brief uplift, the overall plot structure feels derivative and uneven. Consequently, the story struggles to maintain momentum or originality.
- Sensory Experience 50
When assessing Sensory Experience, the film’s auditory and visual elements elicit a middling response. The retro production design and occasional stylistic flourishes receive favor, yet the soundtrack and sound design remain largely unremarked upon, leaving minimal sensory impact. Some viewers appreciate the lighthearted atmosphere, but the technical execution overall feels serviceable rather than immersive. The sensory presentation is adequate but unremarkable.
- Rewatch Factor 40
In terms of Rewatch Factor, Second Act’s replay appeal is modest at best. While moments of engaging banter and Jennifer Lopez’s charisma offer brief enjoyment, the film’s predictability and lack of narrative depth limit its lasting allure. Several viewers suggest the humor and warmth may entertain devoted fans, yet most find the experience insufficiently memorable for repeat viewings. The rewatch value remains low to moderate.
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IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 44% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 44%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 46 Metascore
User score 6.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.5 /5
7 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Second Act Plot Summary
What happens in Second Act from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Maya Vargas, portrayed by Jennifer Lopez, is on the verge of turning 40. Living in Queens, New York, she works as an assistant manager at a value grocery store, a position she has held for the past 15 years. Throughout her career, she has implemented several successful initiatives, including the inspired “Monday Momz” program. Her boyfriend, Trey, and her best friend, Joan, are both confident that she’ll finally receive a promotion to manager. Thus, Maya is left heartbroken when she finds out that the position goes to an external hire, Arthur, instead, simply because she never attended college.
Full summary
The whole story of Second Act, scene by scene
Second Act Box Office & Budget
Second Act grossed $72.3 million worldwide on a $16 million budget, 4.5 times what it cost. $39.3 million came from the US and Canada and $33 million (46%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$72.3M
4.5× its budget
- US & Canada
- $39.3M
- International
- $33M
- Budget
- $16M
Second Act Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 2 featurettes.
- Teaser Second Act | “Champion” TV Commercial | Now In Theaters
- Clip Second Act | "Maya Speaks Mandarin" Clip | Now In Theaters
- Featurette Second Act | "Empowerment" Featurette | Now In Theaters
- Featurette Second Act | "Friendship" Featurette | Now In Theaters
How Well Do You Know Second Act?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What milestone birthday is Maya Vargas approaching in the movie?
Cars in Second Act
23 cars on screen, including the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer and the 2008 GMC W-Series.
-
2002 Chevrolet Blazer Minor role -
2008 GMC W-Series Minor role -
1999 New Flyer C 40 LF Minor role -
2013 Wright New Routemaster Minor role
Second Act Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “Почни спочатку” and “Seconde Chance”.
- Also known as
-
- Почни спочатку
- Seconde Chance
- Втори шанс
- סיבוב שני
- Álommeló
- Manhattan Queen
- Други чин
- Uma Nova Chance
- Nová šanca
- 職場女王攻略
- Μια Δεύτερη Ευκαιρία
- Начни сначала
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- Teraz albo nigdy
- Jefa por accidente
- Ricomincio da me
- 세컨드 액트
- A doua șansă
- Znovu ve hře
- Hayatım Yalan
- Deuxième acte
- Segundo Ato
- Zdaj ali nikoli
- Antrasis šansas
- 重塑人生, მეორე აქტი
- 她的成功日記
- สาวแซ่บโปรไฟล์แสบ
- Otrā iespēja
- الفصل الثاني
- セカンド・アクト
- Bỗng Dưng Làm Sếp
Seen Second Act?
Movies Like Second Act
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Second Mother, Second Chances and Look Both Ways.
Second Act FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Second Act, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Second Act?
Second Act runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was Second Act released?
Second Act was released on December 21, 2018.
Who directed Second Act?
Second Act was directed by Peter Segal.
More films by Peter Segal Who is in the cast of Second Act?
Second Act stars Jennifer Lopez as Maya, Milo Ventimiglia as Trey and Leah Remini as Joan, among 13 credited actors.
How much did Second Act make at the box office?
Second Act grossed $72.3 million worldwide ($39.3 million domestic, $33 million international) on a budget of $16 million.
How is Second Act rated?
Second Act has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Does Second Act have a post-credit scene?
No. Second Act has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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