"I have a head for business and a bod for sin" — Working Girl (1988)

When a secretary’s idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss’ job.

Film: Working Girl. Year: 1988. Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance. Rating: R. Director: Mike Nichols

Forget glass slippers — this Cinderella is strutting into the office in Louboutins, ready to take on Wall Street. Working Girl is a perfect little time capsule of the ’80s, packed with ambition, big dreams, and even bigger hair. But don’t let the Aqua Net and shoulder pads fool you — this movie still hits decades later.

Melanie Griffith plays Tess McGill, a Staten Island secretary with the brains, the hustle, and the ideas to make it big — she doesn’t have the connections (or the correct zip code). Stuck in a cycle of bad bosses and worse job prospects, she finally gets her chance when her sleek, snake-in-heels manager (Sigourney Weaver, playing an ice-cold corporate queen) conveniently ends up out of commission. So, Tess does what any scrappy, ambitious woman in the ’80s would do: she fakes it till she makes it. Stealing a little confidence from her boss’s closet, she steps into her power — literally and figuratively — pretending to be the one calling the shots in a high-stakes deal.

That’s when things get fun.

There’s boardroom drama, secret identities, and a little romance with Harrison Ford — who is equally charming, flustered, and unfairly good-looking in a suit. But this isn’t just a love story (though their chemistry is a chef’s kiss). It’s about Tess proving to herself — and everyone else — that she belongs in the room, not just answering the phones.

The supporting cast is gold. As Tess’s best friend, Joan Cusack is the human embodiment of a Staten Island pep talk — equal parts sarcasm, eyeshadow, and heart. And, of course, there’s that iconic line:

“I have a head for business and a bod for sin.”

It’s bold, funny, and perfectly sums up what makes this movie unique: that you don’t have to change who you are to succeed. Tess is intelligent, ambitious, and totally herself, and that’s exactly what gets her ahead in a world that’s constantly telling her she doesn’t belong.

Sure, some things haven’t aged perfectly — the tech is ancient, and the hair is aggressively large — but the themes? It’s still completely relevant. Sexism in the workplace? Check. Classism? Check. The struggle of trying to break into an industry that feels wholly rigged? Double check.

At its core, Working Girl is about grit. It’s about knowing your worth, taking risks, and refusing to let people write your story for you. And honestly? It’s just an enjoyable watch.