Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Working Girl (1988): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Working Girl (1988) movie poster

Working Girl is a 1988 comedy drama directed by Mike Nichols, starring Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $103 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song). Critics gave it 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
worldwide gross
$103M
Oscar won
1
Metascore
73
Working Girl (1988) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
Mike Nichols
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Working Girl About?

The premise of Working Girl without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A resourceful New York City receptionist, Tess McGill, finds her ambitions stifled by a manipulative boss, Katharine Parker. When Katharine is temporarily incapacitated, Tess seizes an opportunity, impersonating her to pursue a major deal with a charismatic investor, Jack Trainer. As Tess navigates the corporate world and a growing attraction to Jack, she must confront the risks of her deception and fight for recognition in her own right.

Working Girl Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • sexual harassment
  • cheating on girlfriend
  • unfaithfulness
  • leg cast
  • secretary
  • caught having sex
  • sex scene
  • female nudity
  • female protagonist
  • condom
  • footsie under the table
  • 1980s
+38 more
  • female executive
  • cinderella story
  • staten island ferry
  • female full frontal nudity
  • garter belt
  • telephone call
  • taking credit for another's work
  • impersonation
  • reference to madonna
  • gender in title
  • nude woman
  • caught cheating
  • cheating boyfriend
  • stretch limousine
  • boyfriend breaks up with his girlfriend
  • world trade center new york
  • romantic betrayal
  • surprise birthday party
  • crashing a wedding reception
  • female boss
  • best friends
  • snorting cocaine
  • male chauvinist
  • false identity
  • falling in love
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • male infidelity
  • cigarette smoking
  • intellectual property theft
  • cunnilingus
  • business acquisition
  • unconscious woman
  • man carrying a woman over his shoulder
  • briefcase
  • engagement party
  • kneeling to propose marriage
  • implied sex
  • facial scar
Where to watch

Where to Watch Working Girl

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Working Girl Cast

Melanie Griffith leads the cast, with Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford. Directed by Mike Nichols.

Ratings

Working Girl Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Working Girl 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

Plot

Working Girl Plot Summary

What happens in Working Girl from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Tess McGill, portrayed by Melanie Griffith, is a determined 30-year-old secretary working at Petty Marsh, a sprawling financial firm in Manhattan. With aspirations to climb the corporate ladder and break free from her secretarial role, Tess eagerly seeks an executive position. However, her path is obstructed; her business degree from a non-elite school disqualifies her from the company’s training program for fresh graduates. To combat this, she enrolls in speech classes in an effort to refine her vocal delivery, sharing her ambitions with her close friend and fellow co-worker, Cynthia, played by Joan Cusack, during their daily ferries across the city.

Full summary

The whole story of Working Girl, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Working Girl Box Office

Working Girl grossed $103 million worldwide. $63.8 million came from the US and Canada and $39.2 million (38%) from the rest of the world.

1988 box office

Worldwide gross

$103M

US & Canada
$63.8M
International
$39.2M
US & Canada 62% Rest of the world 38%
Awards

Working Girl Awards & Nominations

Working Girl won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Song). Its biggest night was the Oscars 1989, with 1 win from 5 nominations.

1 win14 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

Working Girl Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Working Girl.

Throwback Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Working Girl?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Tess McGill's ultimate aspiration in the workplace?

Cars

Cars in Working Girl

21 cars on screen, including the 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Stretched Limousine and the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice.

All 21 cars
  • 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Stretched Limousine in Working Girl 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Stretched Limousine Important role
  • 1986 Chevrolet Caprice in Working Girl 1986 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
  • 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria in Working Girl 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale in Working Girl 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Minor role
Details

Working Girl Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “Secretaria Ejecutiva” and “Uma Secretária de Futuro”.

Also known as
  • Secretaria Ejecutiva
  • Uma Secretária de Futuro
  • Armas de mujer
  • 上班女郎
  • Die Waffen der Frauen
  • Una donna in carriera
  • Деловая женщина
  • Dolgozó lány
  • Εργαζόμενο Κορίτσι
  • Uma Mulher de Sucesso
  • נערה עובדת
  • Podnikavá dívka
+11 more
  • Quand les femmes s'en mêlent
  • Ділова жінка
  • Çalışan Kız
  • O femeie face carieră
  • Pracująca Dziewczyna
  • Работещо момиче
  • 워킹 걸
  • Podnikavé dievča
  • ワーキング・ガール, საქმიანი ქალი
  • เวิร์คกิ้ง เกิร์ล หัวใจเธอไม่แพ้
  • 打工女郎

Seen Working Girl?

FAQ

Working Girl FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Working Girl, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Working Girl?

Working Girl runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Working Girl released?

Working Girl was released on December 23, 1988.

Who directed Working Girl?

Working Girl was directed by Mike Nichols.

More films by Mike Nichols

Who is in the cast of Working Girl?

Working Girl stars Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford.

Where can I watch Working Girl?

In the US, Working Girl is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Working Girl make at the box office?

Working Girl grossed $103 million worldwide ($63.8 million domestic, $39.2 million international).

How is Working Girl rated?

Working Girl has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 73 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

What awards did Working Girl win?

Working Girl won 1 award from 14 nominations, including Music (Original Song) at the Oscars 1989.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app