9 to 5 is the quintessential "1980s PG" movie—which means it carries a rating that effectively doesn't exist anymore. If you are expecting a sanitized, modern workplace comedy, you are going to be surprised by the cloud of marijuana smoke and the relentless, non-ironic sexual harassment that drives the entire plot. It is a fantastic film, but the PG label is a relic from an era before the PG-13 rating was created to bridge the gap between "cartoons" and "adults only."
9 to 5 is a sharp, funny revenge fantasy that holds up surprisingly well, but parents should know the PG rating is deceptive. The movie features a prominent scene of the three leads sharing a joint and a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss whose harassment is aggressive and uncomfortable. It is a great pick for kids 11 or 12 and up, but younger kids will likely miss the satire and be confused by the 80s-era "three-martini lunch" culture.
In 1980, the MPAA only had four options: G, PG, R, and X. Since 9 to 5 didn't have gore or explicit sex, it landed in PG by default. If this movie were released in 2026, it would be a locked-in PG-13, mostly due to the drug use and the intensity of the workplace themes.
The movie follows three women—played by Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton—who are pushed to the brink by their boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (played with incredible sleaze by Dabney Coleman). While the tone is a comedy, the stakes are real. Hart isn't just a "mean boss"; he's a predator who spreads rumors about having an affair with his secretary and treats his female employees like disposable furniture.
The most famous scene in the movie involves the three leads getting together after a particularly brutal day at the office to blow off steam. They end up sharing a joint (referred to as "Maui Wowie") and getting high.
It is a long, central sequence. It isn't a "blink and you'll miss it" moment; the entire scene is built around their altered state as they cook dinner and begin to describe their fantasies of how they’d like to kill their boss. While it is played strictly for laughs and the performances are legendary, it’s a level of casual drug use that you almost never see in a PG-rated film today. If your family has a hard "no" on depictions of drug use, this is your heads-up.
Dabney Coleman’s character is designed to be loathed, and he succeeds. He is a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot," and the movie doesn't pull those punches. He routinely makes sexual comments, attempts to touch his secretary (Parton) without consent, and actively prevents women from being promoted.
For an older kid or a tween, this is actually a great entry point into a conversation about power dynamics and how much workplace culture has (and hasn't) changed. But for a younger child, the sheer "grossness" of his behavior can be off-putting or confusing. The movie is a revenge fantasy, so the payoff is seeing him get his comeuppance, but you have to sit through some genuine ugliness to get there.
Once the trio gets high, they each describe a fantasy of how they’d take out Hart. These are stylized sequences:
- The hunting fantasy: One character imagines hunting the boss like a wild animal.
- The Western fantasy: Another imagines a classic shootout.
- The Snow White fantasy: The most famous one, featuring animated birds and a poisoned cup of coffee.
They are cartoonish and slapstick, but the subject matter is, well, premeditated murder. Later in the film, they actually do kidnap him and hold him hostage in his own home. It’s all handled with a light, comedic touch, but the "crime" element is the engine of the second half of the movie.
Despite the 80s grit, 9 to 5 is an empowering, hilarious movie about friendship and standing up for yourself. Dolly Parton is the soul of the film, and her performance (and the iconic title song) makes it worth the price of admission.
It also offers a weirdly fascinating history lesson. Kids today who have grown up with laptops and remote work will be baffled by the rows of typewriters, the massive Xerox machines, and the fact that everyone seems to be drinking or smoking in the office. It’s a window into a different world that feels like ancient history but was only a few decades ago.
- The "Why": Why did the women feel like they couldn't just go to HR or the police about their boss? (This opens up a great talk about how the law and office policies have evolved).
- The Drugs: What do you think about how the movie showed the characters using marijuana? Did it feel different because it was an "old" movie?
- The Changes: What are the things the women changed about the office once they took over? (Flexible hours, job sharing, etc.—things we take for granted now were radical ideas in 1980).
The "fantasy" sequences are the most violent parts of the movie, but they are very clearly separated from reality. The real "friction point" for most families will be the sexual harassment. It is constant, and while the movie clearly frames it as wrong, it can be a lot to take in if you aren't prepared for it.
Q: Is 9 to 5 okay for a 10 year old? It is on the line. A mature 10-year-old will probably enjoy the slapstick and the "girl power" themes, but they will need context for the harassment and the drug scene. If your kid is sensitive to "mean" characters, the boss might be too much.
Q: Is there any nudity in 9 to 5? No. There is a lot of sexual innuendo and some scenes where characters are in robes or towels, but there is no actual nudity. The "sexiness" is mostly in the dialogue and the boss's unwanted advances.
Q: What are the main content warnings for 9 to 5? The big ones are frequent workplace harassment (sexual and verbal), a prolonged scene of recreational marijuana use, and comedic depictions of kidnapping and attempted murder.
9 to 5 is a classic for a reason. It’s funny, the acting is top-tier, and the theme of sticking it to "The Man" is universal. Just don't let the PG rating fool you into thinking it's a "little kid" movie. Save it for the middle schoolers who can appreciate the satire and the history.
If your kid loved the "friends taking charge" vibe of 9 to 5, check out our best movies for middle schoolers list for more picks that hit that sweet spot of maturity and humor. If they are specifically into the 80s aesthetic, you can ask our chatbot for more 80s classics that aren't too intense
.