Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- retro movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, sharply observed screwball comedy driven by Rosanna Arquette and Madonna's performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Roberta is mistaken for Susan after acquiring Susan's distinctive jacket and possessions.
Roberta's apparent amnesia and Susan persona give her freedom from an emotionally stagnant marriage.
Susan's attire, the downtown Manhattan milieu, and the film's 1980s countercultural atmosphere shape the story.
Priceless Egyptian earrings bring Wayne Nolan into conflict with Susan, Roberta, and the people around them.
Films like Desperately Seeking Susan, and why
Something Wild
screwball mistaken-identity comedy with romantic entanglements and an exuberant urban setting
After Hours
offbeat 1980s romantic comedy pairing restless characters with crime-driven complications
Working Girl
stylish new york comedy about identity, desire, and unconventional female characters
Movie Details
- Director
- Susan Seidelman
- Release Date
- 1985-03-29
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (539)
Cast
- Rosanna Arquette
- Madonna
- Aidan Quinn
- Mark Blum
- Robert Joy
- Laurie Metcalf
- Anna Thomson
- Will Patton
- Steven Wright
- John Turturro
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Desperately Seeking Susan about?
- A restless New Jersey housewife slips into a stranger’s glamorous identity, finding romance and danger amid Manhattan’s eccentric nightlife.
- What is Desperately Seeking Susan like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Desperately Seeking Susan as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Desperately Seeking Susan violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Desperately Seeking Susan as mild.
- What did critics think of Desperately Seeking Susan?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, sharply observed screwball comedy driven by Rosanna Arquette and Madonna's performances.
- Which films are like Desperately Seeking Susan?
- Films with a similar feel include Something Wild, After Hours, and Working Girl.
- How long is Desperately Seeking Susan?
- Desperately Seeking Susan runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Desperately Seeking Susan?
- In United States, Desperately Seeking Susan streams on Criterion Channel.
