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What to Stream Over Labor Day Weekend Throw yourself a Labor Day film festival by streaming these great workplace and work-related films over the long weekend.

By John Boitnott Edited by Jessica Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Ah, Labor Day. The extra day off, the national recognition of our collective work efforts and the role we all play in keeping the country's economy churning along. It's also the last gasp of the neighborhood pool in many places … what's not to love?

And with a long weekend to enjoy, your thoughts may also turn to the perennial question: What should I stream next?

Enjoy your indoor time while simultaneously observing Labor Day in all of its effects on workers and entrepreneurs alike by hosting your own holiday watch party with the following suggested titles.

Each movie listed below is available for viewing through at least one streaming site as of the time of this writing. You might not be able to see each movie for free, as some do require an additional fee for rental or purchase. Double-check the streaming sites mentioned, as changes can and do occur regularly.

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9 to 5

Released in 1980, this satirical comedy features Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as a trio of secretaries with the Worst. Boss. Ever (Dabney Coleman) shows what happens when the women discover they're just as capable, if not more so, of running the company than their sexist, terrible boss.

This movie features Parton's classic song, which has the same title as the movie and is still one of the most catchy tunes you'll ever hear.

9 to 5 is available for streaming through YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Working Girl

Melanie Griffith gives a career-best performance as smart, ambitious and kind Tess McGill, a receptionist in a big-city company who finds out the hard way that her seemingly empathetic and equally ambitious (but not so kind) boss, played by Sigourney Weaver, doesn't have her back at all. With a little help from Harrison Ford, she goes after her goals despite the backstabbing boss, and … well, I won't spoil it for you.

Featuring an Oscar-winning theme song from Carly Simon, Working Girl might be a bit visually dated by now, but the hard-working plot still holds up even after all these years.

Catch this classic from 1988 on Hulu, Google Play Movies, Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

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Clerks

This 1994 black and white workplace/buddy comedy from Kevin Smith showcases a day in the life of friends and workers in adjacent businesses, Dante and Randal — even though Dante is "not even supposed to be here today." Further plot description seems irrelevant, as this is truly a movie that turns on its fine-tuned characterizations and everyman working milieu. Smith filmed it on a shoestring budget of less than $30,000 and it became a popular cult classic, selected for preservation by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.

This movie's much-loved soundtrack is a classic as well, featuring alt-rock, punk and grunge from artists like Alice in Chains and Bad Religion.

Stream Clerks on Paramount+, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and Apple TV.

Norma Rae

With labor unions enjoying a renaissance moment lately, thanks to many high-profile unionization attempts by service workers, Norma Rae might be an essential watch this year. This 1979 classic is based on a true story depicting Norma Rae Webster (in real life, Crystal Lee Sutton) and her struggles to help protect the health of coworkers due to their abysmal working conditions in a North Carolina factory. Starring Sally Field, Beau Bridges and Pat Hingle among others, it was directed by Martin Ritt and won its leading lady the Best Actress Prize at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.

You can watch Norma Rae on Roku and Amazon Prime Video.

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Robocop

The ultimate "work until you're dead … and then keep working more" nightmare, Robocop is a science fiction action flick directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Peter Weller and Nancy Allen, among many others.

It's 2043, and a Detroit police officer gets gunned down on the job — but then wakes up to learn he's been turned into a robot cop (get it?) by Omni Consumer Products. The company has built Robocop to fight crime using brutal methods that get results and win over the city's residents. This 1987 film launched several followups, none of which ever earned the same love that the '87 cult classic inspires.

Watch Robocop, the original, on Showtime, Roku, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, Apple TV and Vudu.

Inside Llewyn Davis

In his breakthrough film role from 2013, now-famous Oscar Isaac stars as Llewyn Davis, a 1960s folk singer struggling to climb the ladder of success. The film follows him during a particularly absurdist week as things go from bad to worse and Davis keeps trying to pursue his dream.

Catch this black comedy that sends up creative work and the attention economy of days gone by on Showtime, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV.

Mr. Mom

What happens when the breadwinning dad loses his job and his wife resumes her advertising career? The evolution of a stay-at-home dad and how he learns to manage the ridiculous amounts of work his wife made look so easy as a homemaker is genuinely funny and insightful in equal measure.

Watch Michael Keaton and Teri Garr in this mid-80s classic comedy on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and Apple TV.

Risky Business

It might be a bit risqué, but this 1983 classic essentially introduced the world to a very young Tom Cruise who, as Joel, launches his budding career as an entrepreneur with some unusual ideas on unique value propositions and business models. It includes scenes of sex work and isn't for everyone, but you have to admire the entrepreneurial creative spirit at work here.

Watch Risky Business on HBO Max, Vudu, Apple TV and Google Play Movies.

Related: Offer These 8 Terms in Your Employee Relocation Packages to Make Your Offers More Competitive

The Social Network

Another, more modern take on the entrepreneurial journey, The Social Network tells the (allegedly true) story of Mark Zuckerberg and the rise of Facebook. With Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Sean "Napster" Parker, Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins, and Rooney Mara as Mark's soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, the film might not be completely accurate, but it tells more essential truths about the occasional costs of developing and shepherding a big idea into reality.

Watch The Social Network on Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies and Apple TV.
John Boitnott

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Journalist, Digital Media Consultant and Investor

John Boitnott is a longtime digital media consultant and journalist living in San Francisco. He's written for Venturebeat, USA Today and FastCompany.

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