Honestly, if you go back and watch the 9 to 5 movie trailer today, it feels like a weird time capsule of a world that was just starting to snap. It’s 1980. You’ve got Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. It’s Dolly's first movie. That alone is a massive deal, but the trailer doesn't just sell a comedy; it sells a full-on revenge fantasy that resonated so hard it’s still getting quoted forty-five years later. People forget how radical it was. The trailer starts off making it look like a standard office sitcom, but then it takes a sharp, dark turn into kidnapping and light blackmail. It’s wild.
The footage is grainy. The fashion is peak late-seventies polyester. But the energy? It’s electric. When the 9 to 5 movie trailer first hit screens, audiences weren't used to seeing "the girl next door" (Parton), "the serious activist" (Fonda), and "the dry wit" (Tomlin) team up to literally string up their boss. Franklin Hart Jr., played by Dabney Coleman, is the ultimate "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot." The trailer makes sure you know exactly why these women want him gone. It’s not just about a bad boss; it’s about a broken system.
The genius of the 9 to 5 movie trailer and that iconic theme song
You can’t talk about the trailer without talking about that beat. You know the one. The typewriter clacking. Dolly Parton famously used her acrylic nails to create that rhythmic "click-clack" sound while she was on set, and that sound drives the entire pace of the promotional footage. It’s a brilliant marketing move. The trailer uses the song—which Dolly wrote specifically for the film—as a heartbeat. It tethers the humor to a relatable struggle. Most movie trailers from that era were slow and narrated by a guy with a voice like gravel, but this one felt like a music video before music videos were really a thing.
It’s actually kinda funny how the trailer handles the "darker" elements. It shows the girls laughing while they’re basically committing multiple felonies. There's a shot of Lily Tomlin in a Snow White costume, looking absolutely unhinged. There’s Jane Fonda trying to handle a runaway Xerox machine that’s spitting out paper like a machine gun. These images were designed to show that office work was a literal war zone. The 9 to 5 movie trailer didn't just promise laughs; it promised catharsis for every person who had ever been passed over for a promotion by a less-qualified man.
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Why the 1980 marketing worked better than the remakes
There’s been talk of sequels and reboots for years. We saw the 2022 documentary Still Working 9 to 5, and there’s always a rumor about a New York-based spin-off. But the original 9 to 5 movie trailer had something the modern era struggles to replicate: authentic chemistry. You can see it in the way the three leads interact in those brief clips. They weren't just "co-stars." They became a symbol of female solidarity. In the trailer, there’s a specific focus on the "fantasy sequences." This was a risky move back then. Showing Jane Fonda as a big-game hunter stalking her boss or Lily Tomlin poisoning his coffee (in her head, anyway) could have turned people off. Instead, it made the movie a smash hit.
The trailer also leans heavily into Dolly Parton’s charisma. Remember, in 1980, Dolly was a country superstar, but nobody knew if she could act. The 9 to 5 movie trailer was her proof of concept. When she tells Hart, "I'm gonna get a gun and turn you from a 'it' to a 'was'," the audience lost it. It’s one of the most famous lines in cinema history, and the marketing team was smart enough to put it front and center. It showed she had teeth. It showed the movie had teeth.
The reality behind the "Living Death" office life
What the 9 to 5 movie trailer subtly highlights—and what many people miss—is the genuine sociological research that went into the film. Jane Fonda’s production company, IPC Films, didn't just wing it. They talked to a group called "9to5, National Association of Working Women." These were real clerical workers who were sick of the "coffee and copies" lifestyle. When you watch the trailer now, look at the background. Look at the rows of desks. It looks like a factory. That was the point. The trailer sells a comedy, but it’s built on a foundation of real-world frustration.
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The trailer also masks some of the more serious plot points to keep the tone light. It doesn't tell you that the movie addresses sexual harassment in a way that was pretty much unheard of for a "lighthearted" comedy at the time. It frames the kidnapping of the boss as a wacky adventure. But the underlying message in the 9 to 5 movie trailer is clear: things have to change. This wasn't just a movie; it was a manifesto wrapped in a slapstick comedy.
Looking back at the legacy of the promotional footage
If you find the trailer on YouTube now, the comments are a mix of nostalgia and depressing realization. People say things like, "We're still dealing with this in 2026." The trailer promised a world where workers took control, and while we have better HR departments now, the core "9 to 5" grind hasn't changed as much as we’d like to think. The trailer is a reminder of a moment in time when Hollywood actually took a swing at corporate culture without being too "preachy." It just showed the absurdity of it all.
The editing is tight. It moves fast. It’s got that 1980s warmth in the film stock that makes everything look a little bit like a dream. But it’s the stakes that keep it relevant. The trailer doesn't just show the women winning; it shows them being smart. They didn't just kidnap their boss; they ran the company better than he ever did. They implemented flexible hours. They created an on-site daycare. These were radical ideas in 1980, and the trailer hints at this "new world order" that the women create in the boss's absence.
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How to watch and analyze the 9 to 5 movie trailer today
If you want to get the most out of watching the 9 to 5 movie trailer, don't just look at the jokes. Look at the power dynamics. Note how Dabney Coleman is framed. He’s often shot from a low angle to look imposing, or he’s literally towering over the women until the tables turn. Then, in the later parts of the trailer, he’s the one who looks small. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling for a 2-minute clip.
For anyone interested in film history or workplace rights, the trailer is essential viewing. It’s a bridge between the gritty cinema of the 1970s and the glossy, high-concept comedies of the 1980s. It’s got the DNA of both.
- Check the "9 to 5" 40th Anniversary editions: Many of these include the original theatrical trailers and TV spots, which provide even more context on how the film was sold to different regions.
- Compare it to the Broadway musical clips: If you want to see how the tone shifted over decades, watch the 1980 trailer and then watch the 2009 musical trailer. The shift from "gritty comedy" to "celebratory anthem" is fascinating.
- Watch the documentary Still Working 9 to 5: This 2022 film features the original cast and discusses the impact the movie (and its marketing) had on the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) movement.
The biggest takeaway from the 9 to 5 movie trailer isn't the big hair or the vintage tech. It’s the fact that the struggle for respect in the workplace is universal. Whether it’s 1980 or 2026, the idea of finally standing up to a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" is always going to sell tickets. It’s the ultimate underdog story, and the trailer captures that lightning in a bottle perfectly.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts
To truly appreciate the cultural impact, start by watching the original 1980 theatrical trailer on a high-quality archive site. Pay close attention to the sound mixing—specifically how the "typewriter" rhythm interacts with the dialogue. After that, look up the history of the 9to5 organization (now part of SEIU) to see how the real-life activists influenced the script's specific grievances. Finally, track down the "fever dream" fantasy sequences in the full film; they are the heart of what the trailer promised and remain the most visually inventive parts of the entire project.