Let’s be real for a second. Most Hollywood friendships are about as deep as a puddle in a Los Angeles heatwave. You see two actors hugging on a red carpet, and you just know they haven't spoken since the wrap party three years ago. But then you have Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
These two are different. They aren't just "industry friends." They are a legitimate, high-octane comedic engine that has been humring for over forty years. Honestly, if you look at the trajectory of jane fonda and lily tomlin movies, you aren't just looking at a filmography. You’re looking at a masterclass in how to stay relevant, sharp, and slightly rebellious while the rest of the world is trying to put you out to pasture.
It all started with a cup of "ambition" and a very sexist boss.
The 9 to 5 Revolution: Where it All Began
Back in 1980, Jane Fonda had an idea. She had been inspired by a real-life organization called 9to5, which was basically a group of fed-up female office workers in Boston. She wanted to make a movie about the "pink-collar" ghetto—the world of secretaries who did all the work while the guys in suits took all the credit.
But Jane knew she couldn't just make a dry, preachy drama. Nobody wanted to be lectured in 1980. She needed funny. She needed edge.
She saw Lily Tomlin’s one-woman show on Broadway and was immediately floored. She basically told her production partner, "I'm not making this movie if Lily isn't in it." Then they added Dolly Parton, and the rest is literal history.
Why the 9 to 5 Chemistry Worked
The thing about 9 to 5 is that it shouldn't have worked as well as it did. You had a serious activist (Fonda), a legendary character comedian (Tomlin), and a country music superstar who had never acted before (Parton).
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- The Character Dynamics: Tomlin played Violet Newstead, the hyper-competent supervisor who keeps getting passed over for promotions. Fonda was Judy Bernly, the "new girl" who has never held a job and is terrified of the Xerox machine.
- The Fantasy Sequences: Remember the scenes where they imagine killing their boss, Franklin Hart Jr.? Tomlin’s Snow White-inspired fantasy involving poison in the coffee is still one of the weirdest, darkest, and funniest things ever put in a mainstream 1980s comedy.
- The Real Stakes: Underneath the slapstick and the accidental kidnapping, the movie was actually radical. It touched on equal pay, flexible hours, and childcare.
It was a massive hit. It grossed over $100 million in 1980 dollars. That’s insane. But more importantly, it forged the bond between Jane and Lily. They realized they didn't just like each other; they actually made each other better on screen.
The Long Gap and the Grace and Frankie Renaissance
For a while, the jane fonda and lily tomlin movies list stayed short. They did their own things. Jane won Oscars and revolutionized the fitness industry. Lily won Tonys and Emmys and basically became a deity of American comedy.
They stayed close, though. You'd see them at protests together. You'd see them at awards shows. But we didn't get that specific duo energy again until Netflix stepped in with Grace and Frankie in 2015.
Now, I know it’s a TV show, not a movie. But it’s impossible to talk about their cinematic partnership without it. It ran for seven seasons. It’s the longest-running original series on Netflix. Why? Because it treated older women like actual human beings with sex lives, ambitions, and complicated anger.
It basically paved the way for their recent string of feature films. It reminded Hollywood that people actually want to watch women over 70 do things other than bake cookies for their grandchildren.
The Modern Era: 80 for Brady and Moving On
In the last few years, we’ve seen a sudden explosion of Jane and Lily on the big screen. It’s like they decided to make up for lost time.
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80 for Brady (2023)
This one is a total popcorn flick. It’s inspired by a true story about a group of older New England Patriots fans who are obsessed with Tom Brady. It’s fluffy, sure. But seeing Jane, Lily, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field together in one frame is like watching the Avengers of Hollywood royalty.
Tomlin plays Lou, the heart of the group, while Fonda plays Trish, a woman who writes Gronkowski-themed erotica. It’s ridiculous. It’s broad. But it worked because the chemistry is un-fakeable. You can’t hire four legends and expect them to click like that unless there’s real history there.
Moving On (2022/2023)
If 80 for Brady is the light dessert, Moving On is the main course. This movie is much darker, and honestly, it’s where their acting chops really shine.
The plot is simple: Two old friends reunite at a funeral and decide to kill the widower (played by Malcolm McDowell) because of something horrible he did decades ago.
- Genre: It’s a "revenge comedy," but it leans hard into the trauma.
- The Tone: It’s prickly. It’s uncomfortable.
- The Performance: Fonda is the one driven by cold fury, while Tomlin is the one trying to keep some semblance of a life together.
Critics were a bit split on the tonal shifts, but almost everyone agreed that the "Fonda-Tomlin" shorthand is a powerful tool. They don't have to explain their friendship to the audience; we’ve been watching it for forty years. They can skip the introductions and go straight to the bone.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Partnership
A lot of people think their movies are just "cute" or "wholesome." That is such a misunderstanding of what they do.
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Jane Fonda once said she comes from a "long line of depressives." She’s serious, cerebral, and incredibly disciplined. Lily Tomlin is the opposite—she’s intuitive, improvisational, and has a "funny bone" that seems almost biological.
When they work together, it’s not just two friends hanging out. It’s a collision of styles. Jane provides the structure and the grounded emotion; Lily provides the spark and the unpredictability. That’s why their movies don't feel like "senior citizen" cinema. They feel alive.
The Impact: Why You Should Care
We’re living in a time where ageism is still rampant in entertainment. But jane fonda and lily tomlin movies act as a direct rebuttal to the idea that performers have an expiration date.
They’ve used their films to talk about things that matter. In 9 to 5, it was workplace equity. In Moving On, it was the long-term effects of sexual assault and the complexities of queer identity in old age. They use the "trojan horse" of comedy to smuggle in some pretty heavy social commentary.
Actionable Takeaway for Film Fans
If you want to truly appreciate this duo, don't just watch the highlights. Do a "Fonda-Tomlin Deep Dive" in this specific order:
- Start with 9 to 5 (1980): You have to see where the fire started. Pay attention to how they interact with Dolly Parton—it’s a masterclass in trio dynamics.
- Watch the 2015 TED Talk: They did a talk titled "The lifelong power of female friendship." It’s basically the "director’s commentary" on their real-life bond.
- Finish with Moving On (2022): It shows you how far they’ve come. It’s less "wacky" and more "weathered."
The legacy of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin isn't just about the box office numbers. It’s about the fact that they’ve managed to maintain a creative partnership that spans generations. They’ve proven that you can be an activist, a comedian, an icon, and a friend—all at the same time—and that the most powerful thing you can bring to a film set is four decades of shared history.
To get the most out of their filmography, look for the moments where they aren't talking. It’s in the quiet glances and the shared sighs that you see the real magic of this duo. Their work reminds us that while careers might peak and valley, a genuine partnership is a constant. Check your local streaming listings for Moving On or 80 for Brady to see how they are still redefining what it means to be a leading lady in the 2020s.