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Comedy drama

Second Act (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Second Act (2018) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
44%
worldwide gross
$72.3M
Echo Score
48
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Second Act (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Director
Peter Segal
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$16M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Second Act

· 9 more
From the director

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.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

48 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$72.3M

4.5× its budget

US & Canada
$39.3M
International
$33M
Budget
$16M
US & Canada 54% Rest of the world 46%
Videos

Second Act Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 2 featurettes.

Second Act | Official Trailer [HD] | Coming Soon
  • 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
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What milestone birthday is Maya Vargas approaching in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Second Act

23 cars on screen, including the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer and the 2008 GMC W-Series.

All 23 cars
  • 2002 Chevrolet Blazer in Second Act 2002 Chevrolet Blazer Minor role
  • 2008 GMC W-Series in Second Act 2008 GMC W-Series Minor role
  • 1999 New Flyer C 40 LF in Second Act 1999 New Flyer C 40 LF Minor role
  • 2013 Wright New Routemaster in Second Act 2013 Wright New Routemaster Minor role
Details

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
+18 more
  • 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?

FAQ

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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