Claim: Dolly Parton didn't star in 9 to 5.

9 to 5 -LRB- styled in the opening credits as Nine to Five -RRB- is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Colin Higgins , written by Higgins and Patricia Resnick . It stars Jane Fonda , Lily Tomlin , Dolly Parton as three working women who live out their fantasies of getting even with , and their overthrow of , the company 's autocratic , `` sexist , egotistical , lying , hypocritical bigot '' boss , played by Dabney Coleman .   The film grossed over $ 103.9 million and is the 20th highest-grossing comedy film . As a star vehicle for Parton -- already established as a successful singer and songwriter -- it launched her permanently into mainstream popular culture . Although a television series of the same name based on the film was less successful , a musical version of the film -LRB- also titled 9 to 5 -RRB- , with new songs written by Parton , opened on Broadway on April 30 , 2009 .   9 to 5 is number 74 on the American Film Institute 's `` 100 Funniest Movies '' and has an a 82 % approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes .