Working Girl

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Working Girl

R

Released Dec 21, 1988

1h 53m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

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48 Reviews

67%

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25,000+ Ratings

Savvy New York City receptionist Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) gives her conniving boss, Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), an excellent business tip, but Katharine simply steals the idea without giving due credit to her secretary. After Katharine winds up in the hospital with an injured leg, Tess decides to exact revenge. Pretending to be her boss, Tess initiates a major deal with an investment broker (Harrison Ford) -- but things turn ugly after Katharine finds out what Tess has been up to.

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Critics Consensus

A buoyant corporate Cinderella story, Working Girl has the right cast, right story, and right director to make it all come together.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Whether intentional or not, Wade composed a story of metamorphosis and rebirth that transcends gender stereotypes.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 25, 2024

Full Review

David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Just as most of us would agree that it's better to be the boss than a secretary, it's also better to be slick than dull. Shallow at it is, Working Girl is the most entertaining American comedy of 1988.

Aug 4, 2022

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

How will the working class be educated to survive and thrive in the computer age? This intoxicating movie has an answer: let her strut her outer-borough wisdom from Wall Street to the Pacific Rim. Watch her fatten portfolios as she melts hearts.

Jan 13, 2010

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Zita Short

InSession Film

If Mike Nichols had just stayed in his lane, we wouldn’t have gotten something that was so lightweight and ineffective.

Feb 3, 2023

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Elegant, sophisticated, frigid, and hot. A nostalgic reminder, between champaign and vision, of the fine delusions of Carey Grant, Irene Dunne, and Myrna Loy in the thirties. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 15, 2022

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

A buoyant, emotionally gratifying underdog story, one that manages to be touching despite any of its minor follies

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2020

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 53 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $62,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/25

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Aye E

An 80's classic! Fantastic cast, and Melanie Griffith at her best. This deserves a much higher rating. Great performances, fun plot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/03/25

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Tom F

Best taken as a time capsule from its period.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Rami A

"Working Girl" never misses a mark whatsoever. It houses very entertaining performances, fun gags, a good plot, and a wonderful cast. This one of those rom-coms that actually work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Nashville I

It gets referenced a lot casual conversation, but what people need to know is that Working Girl is a seriously FUN movie with a relatable but compelling script. Nothing too over the top- just believable plot with excellent personalities and an interesting cast you want to follow along. Not to mention, "Let The River Run" is the guilty pleasure you've been dying for. Work hard or die trying girl.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Farah R

Truly an 80s classic! With fantastic performances and a resonant story, Working Girl is a unique romantic comedy and a compelling piece of writing that doesn’t shy away from portraying the unflinching reality of the corporate world. It’s funny, sad, entertaining, and most importantly, earnest.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

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Mike Nichols

Director

Melanie Griffith

Tess McGill

Harrison Ford

Jack Trainer

Sigourney Weaver

Katharine Parker

Alec Baldwin

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Synopsis

Savvy New York City receptionist Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) gives her conniving boss, Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), an excellent business tip, but Katharine simply steals the idea without giving due credit to her secretary. After Katharine winds up in the hospital with an injured leg, Tess decides to exact revenge. Pretending to be her boss, Tess initiates a major deal with an investment broker (Harrison Ford) -- but things turn ugly after Katharine finds out what Tess has been up to.

Director: Mike Nichols
Producer: Douglas Wick
Screenwriter: Kevin Wade
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $62.2M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround

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