10 Shows and Movies Like The Office (2005) You’ll Love

Description: Arrested Development shares The Office's mockumentary style and use of cutaway interviews. Both shows rely on clever, layered humor and running gags that reward attentive viewers. The dysfunctional family dynamic in Arrested Development mirrors the dysfunctional workplace in The Office, with both shows finding humor in the characters' flaws and quirks.

Fact: The show was canceled after three seasons but was revived by Netflix years later. Ron Howard, the narrator, was also an executive producer. The show's dense, joke-packed scripts often required multiple takes to get all the timing right.

Description: 30 Rock, like The Office, is a workplace comedy that thrives on the eccentricities of its characters. Both shows feature a mix of absurd humor and sharp wit, with a focus on the behind-the-scenes chaos of their respective settings (a paper company and a TV show). Tina Fey's writing style, much like that of The Office, includes rapid-fire jokes and meta-humor.

Fact: The show is loosely based on Tina Fey's experiences as head writer at Saturday Night Live. Alec Baldwin was initially hesitant to take the role of Jack Donaghy but was convinced by his wife. The show won multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series three times.

Description: Parks and Recreation shares a mockumentary style with The Office, featuring a similar format of characters speaking directly to the camera. Both shows focus on the mundane yet hilarious aspects of workplace life, with a strong ensemble cast that delivers deadpan humor and heartfelt moments. The show was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who also worked on The Office, ensuring a similar comedic tone and storytelling approach.

Fact: The character of Ron Swanson was inspired by a real-life libertarian who worked in local government. Amy Poehler was initially only supposed to guest star but became the lead after the pilot. The show was originally conceived as a spin-off of The Office but evolved into its own entity.

Description: Community, like The Office, features a diverse ensemble cast with distinct personalities that play off each other brilliantly. Both shows excel in blending humor with heartfelt moments and have a strong focus on character development. Community's meta-humor and genre-bending episodes are akin to The Office's playful experimentation with format and style.

Fact: The show was inspired by creator Dan Harmon's experiences at community college. The iconic 'Paintball' episodes were conceived as a way to save money on location shoots. The show was canceled twice but saved by fan campaigns each time.

Description: Modern Family shares The Office's mockumentary format and focus on everyday family life, much like The Office focuses on workplace life. Both shows use talking-head interviews to provide insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. The humor in both shows is derived from relatable, character-driven situations, and both balance comedy with heartfelt moments.

Fact: The show was inspired by creator Christopher Lloyd's own large, blended family. The actors who play Haley and Alex Dunphy are sisters in real life. The show won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series five times in a row.

Description: Veep shares The Office's mockumentary style and cringe humor, though it focuses on the political world rather than a corporate office. Both shows feature a self-absorbed, incompetent boss (Michael Scott and Selina Meyer) and a staff that must navigate their absurd behavior. The fast-paced, improvisational dialogue in Veep is reminiscent of The Office's naturalistic humor.

Fact: Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six consecutive Emmys for her role as Selina Meyer. The show was originally set to focus on the U.S. President but was changed to the Vice President. Many of the show's insults were improvised by the cast.

Description: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like The Office, is a workplace comedy that thrives on the dynamics of its quirky ensemble cast. Both shows blend humor with moments of genuine emotion and character development. The show's use of cold opens and running gags is reminiscent of The Office's style. Additionally, it shares a similar balance of absurdity and relatability in its storytelling.

Fact: Andy Samberg was the first and only choice for the role of Jake Peralta. The show was canceled by Fox after five seasons but was revived by NBC due to fan outcry. Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt, had never done comedy before this role.

Description: Silicon Valley, like The Office, is a workplace comedy that satirizes its setting (tech startups vs. paper sales). Both shows feature a mix of awkward and absurd humor, with characters who are both lovable and flawed. The show's mockumentary-style interviews and focus on the minutiae of office life are direct parallels to The Office.

Fact: Many of the show's tech scenarios were based on real Silicon Valley stories. T.J. Miller (Erlich Bachman) was written out of the show due to personal issues. The show's creators consulted with real tech entrepreneurs to ensure accuracy.

Description: Superstore mirrors The Office in its setting of a mundane workplace (a big-box store) and its mockumentary-style presentation. The show excels in highlighting the absurdity of everyday work life, much like The Office. It also features a will-they-won't-they romance akin to Jim and Pam's, and a diverse cast of characters who each bring their own unique humor to the table.

Fact: The show was inspired by creator Justin Spitzer's experiences working at a big-box store. America Ferrera was pregnant during the first season, which was written into the show. The show often addresses real-life issues faced by retail workers, such as low wages and unionization.

Description: While The Good Place has a more high-concept premise than The Office, both shows share a creator in Michael Schur, ensuring a similar comedic sensibility. Both series excel in character-driven humor and have a knack for turning seemingly small moments into big laughs. The Good Place also features a tight-knit group of characters navigating their relationships, much like the employees of Dunder Mifflin.

Fact: The show's philosophy consultant, Todd May, helped ensure the accuracy of the philosophical concepts discussed. The twist at the end of the first season was kept secret from the cast until the table read. The show was originally pitched as a six-season arc but was condensed to four by Schur.