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In this uplifting comedy-drama, Maya Vargas, an unassuming value shop assistant manager, turns 43 and makes a bold wish: a promotion. When her résumé isn't enough to secure the job, she proves that street smarts can rival book smarts, showing Madison Avenue that it's never too late for a second act and that experience beats age.

In this uplifting comedy-drama, Maya Vargas, an unassuming value shop assistant manager, turns 43 and makes a bold wish: a promotion. When her résumé isn't enough to secure the job, she proves that street smarts can rival book smarts, showing Madison Avenue that it's never too late for a second act and that experience beats age.

Does Second Act have end credit scenes?

No!

Second Act does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Second Act

Explore the complete cast of Second Act, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Second Act

See how Second Act is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Second Act stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

46

Metascore

6.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

44%

TOMATOMETER

review

44%

User Score

IMDb

5.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

63

%

User Score

Letterboxd

2.5

From 7 fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.33/5

From 9 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate Second Act Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Second Act with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Second Act Quiz: Test your knowledge about the movie Second Act and its characters' journeys of self-discovery and ambition.

What milestone birthday is Maya Vargas approaching in the movie?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Second Act

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Read the complete plot summary of Second Act, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


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.

During a surprise birthday celebration, Maya reflects on her life and expresses disappointment over her unfulfilled dreams. She shares her deepest birthday wish with Joan and her godson, Dilly, that she could have experienced a more exciting life, perhaps attending a prestigious school. Later, grappling with a frustrating work environment under Arthur, Maya learns from Joan that Dilly—a tech whiz about to head to Stanford—has set up interviews for her at the well-known conglomerate Franklin and Clarke as a gift. Although skeptical, Maya takes the opportunity, only to be startled when she gets called to meet Anderson Clarke, played by Treat Williams.

Anderson is taken aback by Maya’s impressive resume, which boasts experiences from Harvard, Wharton, charity work, and even the Peace Corps. In disbelief yet intrigued, Maya plays along. Anderson introduces her to his daughter, Zoe, who initially treats Maya with skepticism. When Anderson inquires about their product lines, Maya candidly critiques their beauty products, unsettling Zoe. Despite her confusion, Maya finds herself unexpectedly offered a consulting position, but struggles with the idea since her interview was built on a lie. Joan reassures her, emphasizing that she earned the job on her own merit.

As Maya begins her new role, she faces hurdles, including a breakup with Trey—who desires a family, a topic Maya is hesitant to discuss. Adjusting to her new corporate life, Maya is tasked with revamping their beauty line and insists on creating entirely natural products, while Zoe argues for minor updates to their existing lines. This leads to a competitive challenge between teams to develop a new product within ten weeks. With her new gig comes a glamorous wardrobe and a lavish apartment, but Joan pushes Maya to come to terms with her past, especially the infant she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager.

An awkward moment occurs during a company rowing event where Maya inadvertently causes a boat crash, though Anderson takes it lightly. Meanwhile, she misuses her language skills at a dinner which leads to comedic chaos, but eventually, Zoe shows her softer side and offers Maya access to valuable research data. The plot thickens when Maya discovers that Zoe is her daughter, which ignites a heartfelt bond between them. They navigate their complex past together, with Maya encouraging Zoe to pursue her artistic dreams, and Anderson reveals he sought out Maya hoping to connect with Zoe.

As the story unfolds, Maya conceptualizes an innovative all-in-one product, igniting her drive to succeed. The company’s Christmas party brings unexpected romantic advances between her co-workers Ariana and Chase, cutting through the workplace tension. However, when the truth about Maya’s fabricated credentials is on the verge of exposure, she makes a bold decision to disclose everything during a presentation, apologizing to Anderson and Zoe, yet declaring that her life-transforming opportunity stemmed from that very lie.

In the aftermath, Maya, feeling the weight of her decision, resigns and faces hurt from Zoe, who accuses her of abandoning her once again. Though their relationship seems shattered, Maya emphasizes that honesty is crucial for any bond. A year later, Maya has successfully turned “Monday Momz” into a thriving business and app, employing Joan and others from her previous job. Trey revisits, pledging to rebuild their trust, and asks about starting a family, to which Maya affirms that her real family is the one they’ve created together.

In a touching conclusion, Zoe returns home after finishing school in London. Maya seeks to rekindle their relationship, and after a moment of hesitation, Zoe agrees, leading them to take a step forward together, literally.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Second Act

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Second Act. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Second Act | Official Trailer [HD] | Coming Soon

Cars Featured in Second Act

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Explore all cars featured in Second Act, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Acura

2005

RL

Acura

2004

TL

Chevrolet

2002

Blazer

Chevrolet

2014

Impala

Chrysler

2011

Town & Country

Ford

1999

F-Series Super Duty

GMC

2008

W-Series

Grumman-Olson

Kurbmaster

Honda

2006

Civic

Honda

2015

Fit

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


adopted daughterboyfriend girlfriend relationshiptwo word titlef ratedfriendship between womenvertigocosmetics companyfemale protagonistno title at beginningsports metaphorshower sceneassistant managermasters degree in business administrationreference to duke universitysurprise birthday partyreference to mount kilimanjaroreference to googlereference to stanford universityeavesdroppingcakebirthday wishteam buildingjob interviewreference to facebookresume fraudreference to barack obamareference to michelle obamareference to cinderellareference to cornell universityreference to massachusetts institute of technologysphynx catnew apartmentdrinking beer from a bottleacrophobiaproduct developmentnon disclosure agreementreference to the peace corpsmeeting birth motherchristmas partyreference to atomic bombing of hiroshimaginkgo treebusinessmanimplied sex in showerbare chested malebaseball coachcomputer geekcartoon on tvjob huntingfriendshipfemale friendship

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