Twelve years on from the final episode of The US Office, Greg Daniels and NBC have given fans a chance to return to the world of Dunder Mifflin with The Paper: a brand new comedy series that not only takes place in a similar setting—the offices of the Toledo Truth Teller, a local paper that was bought up by the same company that bought D.M.—but also features some familiar faces (including Oscar Nuñez among the main cast).
Starring Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore (from White Lotus Season 2), The Paper is another high point in a long line of sitcom mockumentaries: a now formidable comedy genre that came to prominence in the 1980s after being adopted by directors like Albert Brooks and, most significantly, Christopher Guest. It continues to hold sway on the big screen, with Spinal Tap: The End Continues currently in cinemas.
With The Paper’s first season already winning fans and warm reviews, and a second season already on the way, what better time to round up the most hilarious mockumentaries in TV and movie history? Read on to discover more and use the guide below to watch each one on platforms like AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video and elsewhere.
The Office (2005 - 2013)
Ricky Gervais wouldn’t claim to have invented the format, but nothing has done more to popularise the mockumentary (especially in sitcom format) than the UK Office and, perhaps even more so, Greg Daniels’ American remake. If you’ve yet to see either one, you’re in for a treat—especially if you’ve just watched The Paper or other recent shows on this list, like Abbott Elementary.
We’re going to point out the US version here, as it has a whopping 201 episodes compared to the UK version’s 14—but of course, they are both essential viewing.
Parks and Recreation (2009 - 2015)
Similar in so many ways to The Office (Greg Daniels is again at the helm here), no list of sitcom mockumentaries will ever be complete without Amy Poehler’s Parks and Recreation, which is a delightfully good-spirited and genuinely laugh-out-loud show that even found things to say about local representation. This is a show I could recommend to anyone, but especially fans of Abbott Elementary (for its municipal themes) or shows like The Good Place.
This is also the show that made stars of Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman and, for better and worse, Chris Pratt. If you’re a fan of any one of them, it’s another reason to check it out.
(Just FYI: similar to the US Office, Parks only really finds its footing in Season 2, but the first run of eps is still worth a watch.)
Trailer Park Boys (2001 - 2017)
One of the earliest TV adopters of the mockumentary format comes via the hard-drinking, hard-swearing, delightfully Canadian world of Trailer Park Boys—a show that is, in my opinion, one of the funniest ever made. This is one you might like if you appreciate the puerile humour of stuff like Jackass and South Park; similar to those shows, it’s one of those things that turns stupidity into a kind of art form.
We should also say that, unlike the titles we’ve mentioned so far on this list, this is a show that’s a bit rough around the edges. Maybe take a look on your own before deciding who you’ll be watching it with.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019 - 2024)
After the great success of Flight of the Conchords, and long before directing Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi brought his unique brand of humour to What We Do in the Shadows, a hilarious mockumentary movie from 2015 about vampires sharing a house in Wellington, New Zealand. Waititi then managed to do the unlikely: adapting the story to a sitcom, recasting it flawlessly, and moving the action to Staten Island in New York.
The show ran for six fantastic seasons, ending in December 2024. The regular cast (which includes the great Matt Berry alongside Kayvan Novak and Natasia Demetriou) is impeccable, but keep an eye out for the ridiculously cool cameos, including Alexander Skarsgard, appearing as his character from True Blood, Jim Jarmusch, Sofia Coppola and even Tilda Swinton.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)
It was tough to pick between the two Borat movies here. The first one was unbelievably successful, earning 200 times its budget at the box office (making it the most successful big-screen mockumentary ever) and a nomination for best screenplay at the Oscars; but 20 years is a long time in political comedy, and some of the movie’s jokes understandably haven’t aged that well. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, however, came out in 2016 (basically Trump’s America) and still feels as relevant as ever.
This is one for a slightly older audience, particularly fans of Sacha Baron Cohen’s work (especially Da Ali G Show), and theatrical political satire, like the great Team America: World Police.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Akiva Schaffer recently brought Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers and The Naked Gun back to the big screen, and if you like of either of those excellent comedies, we highly recommend going back and checking out Schaffer’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, a hilarious Andy Samberg movie from 2016.
Thanks to the huge influence of behind-the-scenes docs and shows like VH1 Behind The Music, the mockumentary format has long been used as a tool to satirise the music business. Samberg and Schaffer’s movie, which roasts the world of pop rap artists, is one of the funniest to do so.
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
And speaking of mockumentaries that satirise the music business, no mockumentary list would be complete without the legendary This Is Spinal Tap—a movie so beloved that it managed to release a sequel (currently in cinemas) a whopping 41 years after its initial run.
This is a mockumentary for fans of ‘80s hair metal and dad rock, but also just for comedy fans in general. You’ll be reminded of the timeless humour of classic Simpsons episodes here, and not just for the presence of Harry Shearer. Indeed, there’s a reason why it’s considered one of the best comedies ever made.
Theatre Camp (2023)
Written and directed by Molly Gordon (who you’ll probably know from The Bear) and Nick Lieberman, two old friends who also play the lead roles, Theatre Camp is an offbeat and funny indie mockumentary set in a theatre-focused summer camp in upstate New York.
With its theatre kid energy, this one might appeal to fans of Greta Gerwig, especially her Francis Ha and Lady Bird. It’s also inspired by Gordon and Lieberman’s memories of growing up together, so there’s a nice personal vibe to go along with the laugh-out-loud humour—and hey, even the tunes are pretty good!
Arrested Development (2003 - 2019)
Similar to Parks and Recs, Arrested Development is not only one of the funniest mockumentaries ever made but also just one of those shows where almost everyone involved when on to have an incredible career. Fans of Jason Bateman (Ozark), Michael Cera (Superbad), Alia Shawkat (Search Party) or Will Arnett (BoJack Horseman), to mention a few, are going to love it.
This one doesn’t have the interviews direct-to-camera that provide the narrative backbone to a lot of the titles on this list, but Ron Howard’s iconic narration is just as good and provides many of the best punch lines.
Abbott Elementary (2021- )
We end our list with a show that’s still on the air. Abbott Elementary has, for four seasons now, been receiving rave reviews and bags of awards for taking the comedy mockumentary format to the delightful setting of a public school in Philadelphia. The story focuses on a ragtag gang of teachers doing their best to make things work in spite of varying outside forces and budgetary constraints.
This is definitely on for the Parks and Recs fans out there, but also one that I think even younger viewers will warm to—just be warned, this also means it can be a little too cute. The themes that the show explores can also sometimes be a little North American-centric, but the humour is basically universal.
