Desperately Seeking Susan

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Desperately Seeking Susan

PG-13,

1985,

1h 44m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

86%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette) spices up her boring life by reading personal ads, especially a series of them being placed by a mysterious denizen of New York City named Susan (Madonna). When one of Susan's ads proposes a rendezvous with her suitor (Robert Joy) at Battery Park, Roberta secretly tags along. But when her voyeuristic jape ends in permanent memory loss and a new jacket, Roberta begins to gather a lot of unwanted attention from some unsavory characters.

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Critics Consensus

Desperately Seeking Susan works with its fairy tale depiction of New York and the fun, frothy chemistry generated by its two leads.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Jun 21, 2024

4/5

Madonna remains the movie’s megawatt performance and drips with the knowing charisma of a star whose time has come.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Dec 31, 2019

A few scenes are very funny, but the picture would have worked much better if Seidelman had thrown away half the dialogue and built some momentum.

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Kirk Ellis

The Hollywood Reporter

Apr 9, 2019

An attractive, energetic young cast and some witty, off-center visual humor make the resultant laughs more than worth the wait.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Oct 6, 2025

4/5

…this is a slick, bouncy, highly-individual indie film written, produced, directed by and starring women; Madonna was the big draw, but Desperately Seeking Susan was some way ahead of the curve for those smart enough to get into the punky, feminist groove

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Jun 30, 2025

3.5/5

New York in the Eighties contributes some of the film’s iconic imagery, but it’s Santo Loquasto’s costumes that are perhaps the most memorable element.

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Aug 5, 2024

3/4

Blessed with the right script and cast, Seidelman crafts the perfect tone – a grounded whimsy that allows the fairy tale elements to take flight.

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Jan 31, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Into the Groove!

George W

Oct 5, 2018

Recommended for those who like the same movies I do.

Finn R

Jun 2, 2018

A very good/bordering on great independent film that's populated with likable characters and an extremely engaging plot. Susan Seidelman sprinkles her movie with a charming innocence missing from most New York stories. A true 80's classic.

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Kylo R

May 24, 2018

Good goin' stranger...

Rey L

Apr 30, 2017

About the most farcical plot, at least of the 80s.

Finn S

Jan 3, 2017

One of the little 80's gems I could watch more than once :)

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Susan Seidelman

Director

Rosanna Arquette

Roberta Glass

Madonna

Susan

Aidan Quinn

Dez

Mark Blum

Gary Glass

Robert Joy

Jim

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Synopsis

New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette) spices up her boring life by reading personal ads, especially a series of them being placed by a mysterious denizen of New York City named Susan (Madonna). When one of Susan's ads proposes a rendezvous with her suitor (Robert Joy) at Battery Park, Roberta secretly tags along. But when her voyeuristic jape ends in permanent memory loss and a new jacket, Roberta begins to gather a lot of unwanted attention from some unsavory characters.

Director: Susan Seidelman
Producer: Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford
Screenwriter: Leora Barish
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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