Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- awkward
- nostalgic movie night
- lazy weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly found the premise potentially promising but judged the execution as crude, shallow, and poorly realized, with Fred Ward's performance receiving unusual praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michael, Toni, Deborah, and both sets of parents misunderstand who authored and received the anonymous letters.
Michael initially pursues the glamorous Deborah before recognizing his deeper feelings for Toni, the actual letter writer.
Connie, George, Lou, and Elizabeth interpret the teenagers' letters as evidence of marital betrayal, creating parallel adult and adolescent misunderstandings.
Deborah's status as the most beautiful girl at school is undercut when Michael discovers her superficial dating preferences.
Films like Secret Admirer, and why
Sixteen Candles
teen romantic comedy driven by mistaken identities, secret messages, and awkward adolescent attraction
Can't Buy Me Love
1980s teen romance combining comic misunderstandings, social insecurity, and a sincere underdog love story
The Sure Thing
high-school romantic comedy built around hidden feelings, letter-like declarations, and youthful self-discovery
Movie Details
- Director
- David Greenwalt
- Release Date
- 1985-06-14
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (206)
Cast
- C. Thomas Howell
- Lori Loughlin
- Kelly Preston
- Dee Wallace
- Cliff DeYoung
- Leigh Taylor-Young
- Fred Ward
- Casey Siemaszko
- Courtney Gains
- Corey Haim
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Spectrum On Demand
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Secret Admirer about?
- A lovestruck high-schooler follows a chain of anonymous letters toward an unexpected romance with the friend who understands him best.
- What is Secret Admirer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Secret Admirer as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Secret Admirer violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Secret Admirer.
- What did critics think of Secret Admirer?
- Critics broadly found the premise potentially promising but judged the execution as crude, shallow, and poorly realized, with Fred Ward's performance receiving unusual praise.
- Which films are like Secret Admirer?
- Films with a similar feel include Sixteen Candles, Can't Buy Me Love, and The Sure Thing.
- How long is Secret Admirer?
- Secret Admirer runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Secret Admirer?
- In United States, Secret Admirer streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
