Working Girl

New York secretary Tess McGill has brains, grit, and a hunger for more than quiet approval in a male dominated office. When the boss steals a breakthrough idea Tess helped develop, she refuses to stay on the sidelines. A bold plan forms: she steps into the power circle by presenting as her boss and pitching the concept herself. Along the way she teams up with a suave mentor turned ally and learns the ropes of corporate maneuvering, power dressing, and timing. The city becomes a character as Tess tests limits, negotiates with wary colleagues, and weighs loyalty against ambition. The result is a witty collision of romance and professional ascent that stays rooted in wit and resilience throughout the ascent.

Mike Nichols directed Working Girl with a sharp wit and a polished style, adapting Kevin Wade's screenplay. Released in 1988, the film pairs brisk humor with a look at ambition and corporate life in New York for a broad audience.

Box office tallies show Working Girl earned about 103,173,635 worldwide against a 28 million budget. The film resonated with wide audiences, performing strongly in domestic markets and abroad, reaffirming the appeal of its workplace comedy romance for many viewers everywhere.

Culturally the movie helped define a late 80s wave of professional comedies about women balancing brains and charm. Tess's ascent paired with a stylish New York backdrop and a charismatic romance left a mark on fashion, workplace dialogue, and the idea that ambition can be both smart and stylish today.

Critics generally praised its humor, warmth, and sharp performances though some saw it as glossy. The film foregrounds themes of empowerment, mentorship, and pragmatic ambition, showing a woman navigating gatekeeping and salary gaps while leveraging opportunity, alliances, and savvy negotiation to redefine success on her own terms within its era.