The first labor day parade in 1882 was captured in illustration in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper 12 years before it became a federal holiday to recognize the nature and power of organized labor. Over 140 years later so many of the messages still ring true.

Labor Day is one of those holidays for which it is especially difficult to build a comfortable, celebratory, collection of watching. It is very close to the end of summer/back to school celebration, and also lacking in a dearth of movies taking place during or about the holiday.

• 9 to 5 (1980) : this is more thematic than actually aligned with the holiday, but sometimes that is just how things have to be
• Newsies (1992): also more thematic, but even more aligned with the holiday including unionization, strikes and the power of the workers.Humongous (1982) : labor day weekend vacationers being stalked by a slasher/monster
• Dirty Dancing (1987) : tells the tale of an entire summer adventure, but does actually culminate on Labor Day