Tells the real-life story behind the landmark campaign that transformed office work — and women’s rights — in the United States. Directed by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, the film revisits the 1970s moment when millions of women worked as secretaries, typists, and clerks in jobs that were considered “white-collar,” yet offered little power, low pay, and no respect.

At the time, most professional paths were closed to women. Few were allowed into management or technical roles, and even fewer could enter the trades. By the early 1970s, there were more women office workers than construction workers in the U.S., yet they remained largely invisible — expected to serve coffee, smile, and stay silent. These “office wives,” as many were called, formed the backbone of the corporate economy but had almost no say in how it functioned.

From this invisibility, the 9to5 movement was born. In Boston, a small group of women began meeting after work to share stories of being underpaid, harassed, and denied promotions. Those gatherings sparked a national movement that demanded equal pay, fair treatment, and dignity at work. Black and Latina office workers were central to shaping the movement’s strategy, pushing 9to5 to address racial inequities in pay, hiring, and advancement. Their leadership helped ensure that the campaign linked gender justice to racial and economic justice — a foundation that made it one of the most inclusive labor movements of its time.

Using wit and creativity, the women of 9to5 held press events, staged theatrical protests, and launched hotlines for women facing discrimination — transforming private frustrations into public power. Their bold organizing even inspired the hit Hollywood comedy 9 to 5, starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin, which helped broadcast their message to millions.

The film blends interviews, archival footage, and personal stories to reveal how 9to5 connected feminism to the workplace — linking the fight for gender equality with labor organizing and racial justice. It reminds audiences that these women were not only changing office culture, but reshaping the idea of what a worker’s movement could look like.

Today, 9to5: The Story of a Movement echoes in the new wave of organizing among care workers, teachers, retail clerks, and gig workers. Movements like Fight for $15, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and campaigns for equal pay and workplace safety continue the legacy of those early organizers, connecting their vision of fairness to modern labor justice struggles. Its humor, warmth, and accessibility make it ideal for older teens and families exploring how ordinary people can unite across race, gender, and class to transform workplaces — and society itself.