Next month, audiences across the country will be able to watch Dolly Parton make her feature film debut all over again as 20th Century Studios re-releases 9 to 5 in theaters. The 1980 comedy will return to the big screen for one week between Oct. 9 and 15. Net proceeds from each ticket sale will benefit the Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
9 to 5 stars Parton alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as office workers looking to get some sweet revenge against their grating boss. Colin Higgins directed the film produced by Bruce Gilbert with a screenplay by Higgins and Patricia Resnick.
Prior to Parton’s death in late August at the age of 80, the country icon revealed she and her co-stars were toying with ideas for a sequel for years, but “it never happened,” she told Huff Post. In 2024, it was reported that a remake of the movie was in the works under Jennifer Aniston’s production company, though few updates on the project have been shared since.
“We have no plans to be in that,” Parton said at the time. “But I do wish her the best, because the script I read, I thought, was really good and a new and different take that really brings the office up to date the way that people live now.” Parton was at least open to the idea of providing some original songs for the film, or rewriting her accompanying hit single “9 to 5” for modern times.
The announcement of the 9 to 5 theatrical re-release comes on “Dolly Parton Day” in the state of California, the city of Nashville, and other places across the U.S. that have dedicated the day to celebrating the late icon.
Under the Dollywood Foundation, Sept. 25 (or “9 2 5”) is “Give Like Dolly Day,” described by the foundation as “a global day dedicated to supporting local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Programs and honoring Dolly’s extraordinary legacy of inspiring children to dream big and develop a lifelong love of reading.” Middle Tennessee is celebrating Give Like Dolly Day with a combined $200,000 in contributions being put directly towards 21 Middle Tennessee nonprofits.
“Dolly showed us that generosity isn’t just about how much you give. It’s about seeing a need and choosing to do something about it,” said Hal Cato, CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “These incredible community leaders are helping launch Give Like Dolly in exactly that spirit. Their generosity will make a real difference for these organizations, and we hope it inspires others across Middle Tennessee to find their own way to give like Dolly.”
