Nine to Five (1980)

Nine to Five is the rare studio comedy that still feels like a crowd-pleaser and a small act of rebellion at the same time, powered by the irresistible chemistry of Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and a scene-stealing Dolly Parton who arrives on screen like she was born to do it. The movie’s genius is how it turns workplace frustration into bright, buoyant fun—snappy, mischievous, and endlessly quotable—without losing sight of why the characters’ anger matters. Its tone is breezy and high-energy, with cartoonish comeuppance and a surprisingly satisfying sense of momentum as the office transforms in ways you’ll cheer for. If you don’t like broad, slightly zany comedies of the era, it may feel dated in spots, but if you’re on the fence, this one earns its laughs and sends you out grinning.

Nine to Five is trying to be a crowd-pleasing workplace revenge comedy with a pointed feminist edge, and you can feel how much it wants to cheer for women taking back power from a cartoonishly awful boss. The catch is that the satire is very broad and the plot gets increasingly far-fetched, leaning on goofy misunderstandings and exaggerated schemes that can drain the bite if you’re hoping for sharper, more realistic commentary. It also loses some momentum after the initial setup, so if you need tight pacing and a consistent tone, you may find it more laborious than hilarious. Still, the trio’s chemistry (especially Tomlin’s dry control and Parton’s natural charm) and the upbeat wish-fulfillment energy make it an easy watch if you’re in the mood for a playful, old-school crowd pleaser rather than incisive satire.