Hollywood’s beloved dynamic duo Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda have shared a celebrated personal and professional relationship for over 40 years. The seasoned stars first appeared alongside country legend Dolly Parton in the 1980 cult classic 9 to 5, sparking a wholesome friendship that fans can’t get enough of in the revered comedy hit.
Tomlin and Fonda would go on to collaborate on three additional projects over the years, with their undeniable chemistry and endearing connection attracting their fans to each joint venture. The lovable pair famously headlined the critically-acclaimed Netflix original comedy Grace and Frankie from 2015 to 2017, with their winning friendship front and center in the series. Let’s take a look back at every Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda collaboration so far.
4 80 for Brady
The lovable duo's most recent collaboration was in the 2023 sports comedy 80 for Brady, which also featured the talents of the delightful Rita Moreno and Sally Field, and follows the lifelong pals and ultimate New England Patriots fans as they head to Super Bowl LI in hopes of not only seeing their favorite team emerge victorious but also catch a glimpse of their beloved Tom Brady. The plot of the endearing film was actually inspired by a real-life Patriots fan club "Over 80 for Brady," and the seasoned Hollywood ladies brought all their charisma and charm to capture the members' ultimate love for the team.
Longtime fans of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin already know their chemistry is off the charts whenever they do a project together, and seeing them join forces with fellow silver screen legends Moreno and Field was a treat for audiences. 80 for Brady went on to earn praise for its good-natured humor, high-energy storyline, and irresistible performances by the dazzling lead actresses.
3 Moving On
After former best friends Claire (Fonda) and Evelyn (Tomlin) are brought back together after the death of their other close pal, the once-estranged ladies decide to team up and get revenge on her husband (Malcolm McDowell) for his past wrongdoings in the 2022 comedy Moving On. Along their journey to seek out their own unique brand of justice, Claire and Evelyn reconnect and attempt to make peace with their own shortcomings within their friendship, rebuilding it in the process.
In Moving On, Fonda and Tomlin go on a hilariously wild, vengeance-fueled quest to take down the deplorable man, and the lively flick had its worldwide premiere at the Toronto Film Festival where it garnered widespread acclaim. Critics raved about how effortlessly the actresses play off each other, with RogerEbert.com writing, "Fonda and Tomlin are as good as they have ever been and Moving On proves itself a powerful rumination on the strength it takes to age—mentally, physically, and economically."
2 Grace and Frankie
Tomlin and Fonda decided to switch things up and join their dynamic forces for a television project instead of a film with the Netflix original comedy Grace and Frankie, telling the story of the no-nonsense Grace Hanson (Fonda) and free-spirited Frankie Bergstein (Tomlin) as they find their worlds rocked when their respective husbands shockingly declare their love for one another after a secret, decades-long affair. Co-starring fellow acting greats Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, the fan-favorite series chronicled the titular pair's spectacular transformation from conflicting adversaries to deeply devoted best friends.
Grace and Frankie ran for seven lauded seasons from 2015 to 2022, with each installment of the comedy attracting passionate new viewers and appreciation from critics. The character-driven show highlighted the actresses' undeniable bond and enduring friendship while allowing them to show off both their dramatic and light-hearted sides. Grace and Frankie received numerous accolades and nominations during its celebrated tenure, including multiple Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nods, and remains a knockout Netflix hit.
1 9 to 5
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Undeniably the dynamic duo's most unforgettable and revered collaboration is the 1980 cult classic comedy 9 to 5, in which Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda starred alongside the adored Dolly Parton and portrayed a trio of hard-working secretaries who set out to get revenge against their sexist and domineering boss (Dabney Coleman) by giving him a taste of his own medicine. The scheming ladies end up kidnapping the crude tyrant and keeping him hostage in the side-splitting satire, demonstrating how far more competent they are to oversee the department and help it finally thrive under their secret leadership.
Fonda was the one who came up with the idea for the iconic '80s flick (with her newly-formed production company IPC Films) after desperately wanting to work with Tomlin, and she did a lot of research on women who got into the workforce later in life due to unforeseen circumstances in preparation. 9 to 5 went on to dominate the box office and was a knockout with moviegoers and critics alike, with the trio's phenomenal chemistry, savvy screenplay, and winning humor being praised.
9 to 5 kicked off an enduring and heartwarming friendship between Fonda and Tomlin that is still going strong over forty years later and also helped establish Parton as a mainstream pop culture figure outside of the music industry. It remains a cinematic triumph that continuously receives adoration and passionate fans and serves as a fantastic example of female friendship and power.
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