Working Girl (released in theaters on December 21, 1988) is the quintessential “making it” movie, trading glass slippers for sneakers and power suits, and remains one of the most intelligent explorations of class and gender dynamics in the American workplace.
Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is a bright, ambitious secretary from Staten Island with a “head for business and a bod for sin.”
Despite her intelligence, she is stuck in a cycle of demeaning administrative roles until she lands a job with Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), a seemingly supportive female executive.
Katharine encourages Tess to share her ideas, only to secretly steal Tess’s savvy plan for a major corporate merger.
When Katharine breaks her leg during a skiing trip, Tess discovers the betrayal and seizes the opportunity by moving into her boss’s office and wardrobe to pitch the deal herself.
She teams up with Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford), a ruggedly charming investment banker who is unaware of her true status.
As the two navigate the high-pressure world of mergers and acquisitions, they fall in love, while Tess’s best friend Cynthia (Joan Cusack) provides hilarious, big-haired moral support from the sidelines.
The cast is rounded out by a stellar ensemble, including Alec Baldwin as Tess’s unfaithful boyfriend, Olympia Dukakis and early turns from Kevin Spacey, Oliver Platt, David Duchovny and Nora Dunn.
With the looming threat of Katharine’s return, Tess must prove that she belongs in the executive suite before her ruse is exposed by the intimidating corporate elite, represented by Oren Trask (Philip Bosco).
Mike Nichols delivered a sharp, satirical, yet deeply romantic look at the glass ceiling of 1980s Manhattan.
Working Girl was also made into a short-lived NBC television series that ran for 12 episodes in 1990, starring Sandra Bullock as Tess McGill.
Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford in Working Girl (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for Working Girl
Working Girl grossed $4.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $103 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave Working Girl four out of four stars in his review.
Working Girl won big at the Golden Globes, capturing Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Griffith), Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy (Weaver) and Best Original Song (Simon).
Legacy
The legacy of Working Girl is defined by its empowerment narrative, which resonated with a generation of women fighting for a seat at the table.
It moved beyond the “battle of the sexes” tropes of the era to highlight the often-overlooked friction between different classes of women in the workforce.
Carly Simon’s Oscar and Grammy-winning anthem “Let the River Run” became a permanent shorthand for urban ambition, perfectly capturing the film’s soaring optimism.
The movie also cemented Griffith as a major star and showcased Ford’s rare ability to play a romantic lead who is both vulnerable and supportive.
The film is remembered as a masterclass in tone—balancing broad comedy with a grounded, realistic look at the sacrifices required to climb the corporate ladder. It remains a timeless reminder that while clothes might open the door, it is guts and intelligence that keep you in the room.
