6 Movie Bosses That Are Worse Than Miranda Priestly
Having a terrible boss would fill anyone with a sense of dread. And Miranda Priestly in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada practically turned that feeling into an art form. Played with terrifying precision by Meryl Streep, Miranda isn't your typical explosive tyrant. She is quiet and controlled, which is somehow so much worse. A raised eyebrow could ruin your entire day. A pause could end your career.
And with The Devil Wears Prada 2 set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, it feels like the right time to revisit the many impossible bosses who have existed on-screen. They're the kind of people who make you question your life choices before 9 a.m. So if Miranda made your eye twitch, these films (available on platforms like Netflix, HBO Max and Disney+) will likely evoke a similar response.
9 to 5 follows Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda), Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin), and Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton). They all work under the sexist, arrogant Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman), who refers to all the female employees on his floor as his "girls." When the trio is pushed to breaking point, they end up kidnapping him and taking control of the office.
Hart is almost cartoonishly awful. But that doesn't make him any less horrible. He's sexist, incompetent, and completely out of touch, yet still clings to power. He is dismissive of his employees and creates a workplace that feels actively hostile. The fact that everything runs better without him says a lot. 9 to 5 is perfect for fans of comedies like 2001's Legally Blonde.
Wall Street follows ambitious young stockbroker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), who convinces corporate titan Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) to be his mentor. But as Bud's career starts to soar, he's pulled deeper into morally questionable territory to prove his loyalty. Gekko isn't just an over-demanding boss; he expects total ambition and absolutely no conscience.
And the scariest part is that he makes it all look glamorous. Working for Gekko doesn't just mean doing your job, it means becoming someone else entirely, because unlike Miranda, who just controls your time, Gekko rewires your entire brain. Wall Street is ideal for viewers who enjoy character dramas like The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
Working Girl follows secretary Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith), who dreams of becoming a stockbroker. Despite her qualifications and excellent ideas, her boss Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver) treats her poorly and steals her business ideas. When Katharine is unexpectedly injured, Tess seizes the opportunity to reclaim what is rightfully hers.
Katharine is a different kind of terrible since she only pretends to be supportive. She creates a false sense of trust, encourages Tess to open up, and then takes credit for everything. She knows exactly what she's doing, and that level of awareness makes her the worst. But Working Girl is incredibly satisfying because it lets Tess fight back. This movie is ideal for fans of The Secret of My Success (1987).
Office Space follows Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston), who is stuck in a monotonous programming job where every day feels exactly the same, largely thanks to his manager, Bill Lumbergh (Gary Cole). When Peter stops caring about his job entirely, he oddly becomes more successful at work. Meanwhile, his coworkers plan revenge against the company after realizing that layoffs are on the cards.
Lumbergh is a masterclass in passive-aggressive management because he hovers, micromanages, and casually drops weekend work on Peter like it's no big deal. He represents the type of boss who doesn't think he's doing anything wrong. There's no villain speech, just endless, soul-numbing control. The movie is perfect for fans of workplace comedies like Employee of the Month (2006).
The Proposal follows Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), who works as an assistant to demanding New York editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock). When Margaret suddenly faces deportation to Canada, she forces Andrew into a fake engagement so that she can stay in the country. What follows is a trip to Alaska to visit Andrew's parents that blurs their strictly business arrangement.
Margaret is controlling, dismissive, and completely comfortable using her authority to get what she wants, which includes manipulating Andrew's personal life. Her casual disregard of his life feels very real. She doesn't think of him as an equal, at least not at first, and that imbalance drives everything. But the movie is a must for fans of rom-coms like 27 Dresses (2008).
Horrible Bosses follows Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis), and Dale Arbus (Charlie Day), who all work for terrible people. But it's dental assistant Dale who has the worst set-up of the three. His boss, Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston), sexually harasses him. One day, a frustrated Dale and his friends come up with a plan to deal with their terrible bosses.
Dr. Harris is genuinely destabilizing. She abuses her power constantly, crosses every boundary, and puts Dale in a position where he can't even complain without risking his job. And because she's unpredictable, there's no way for Dale to manage the situation. That lack of control makes her beyond awful. The movie is perfect for fans of dark comedies like 2018's Game Night.
