Roberta is a dissatisfied housewife living in New Jersey. She becomes obsessed with a woman named Susan after reading her personal ads in a newspaper. One day, Roberta decides to follow Susan to a club in Manhattan, where they briefly cross paths. Later, while trying on a jacket in a thrift store, Roberta suffers a head injury and awakens with amnesia having mistaken her identity with Susan.
Roberta's confusion about her identity leads her to experience moments that belong to Susan, which includes her lover, boyfriend, and shady associates - and brings her on a chaotic and comical adventure in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Susan is dealing with a dangerous diamond thief who thinks she has stolen his jewels.
As Roberta tries to understand Susan's life and help her, she discovers things about herself that she never knew existed - including a care-free and spontaneous spirit she'd been yearning for.
Desperately Seeking Susan is a comedic and charming film that explores the themes of personal identity, individuality, and social class. Its scenes around New York City are iconic, and its soundtrack includes hits like Madonna's "Into the Groove."