10 Mockumentary Series That Aren't The Office, But Might Be Better

1. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)

The other Michael Schur masterpiece. Located in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, this series follows the daily grind of the Parks and Rec Department. You've got Leslie Knope, the overly enthusiastic deputy director who loves waffles more than most humans. Then there's Ron Swanson, her meat-loving libertarian boss, and Tom Haverford, the aspiring entrepreneur who's more about swagger than work. They all interact with townsfolk in hilarious and often bizarre public forums. There's a pit, they want to make it a park. Enough said.

2. Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

Ever wondered what life's like in a Canadian trailer park? Meet Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles, a trio of petty criminals. These guys are scheming non-stop to make a quick buck, usually illegally and always disastrously. Mr. Lahey, the alcoholic park supervisor, is out to get them. Whether they're stealing gas or growing weed, the mockumentary style captures their slapstick, profane lifestyles perfectly.

3. Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Before you say anything—yes, this isn't a pure mockumentary, but it uses a lot of the same storytelling techniques, like cutaway gags and narrator intervention. We follow the Bluth family, once wealthy but now broke as a joke. Michael Bluth is the sane one trying to keep the family business afloat, while the rest are a mix of clueless, narcissistic, and downright weird. Think frozen banana stands, never-nudes, and an oddly specific aversion to the British.

4. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

We're going way back to the '80s for this one. This mock-rockumentary follows the British heavy metal band Spinal Tap on their American tour. These guys are the epitome of clueless rock stars, from getting lost backstage to playing Stonehenge-themed sets with embarrassingly small props. It's hilariously cringe and was so convincing that people initially thought Spinal Tap was a real band. Dialing it up to 11 long before it was cool.

5. Modern Family (2009-2020)

This show introduced us to the Pritchett-Dunphy clan and we've never looked back. There's Jay, the patriarch, his much younger Colombian wife Gloria, and their blended family. Mix in Jay's neurotic daughter Claire, her goofball husband Phil, and their three kids. Don't forget Mitchell, Jay's gay son, and his husband Cam, who are raising an adopted Vietnamese daughter.

6. What We Do in the Shadows (2019-present)

Ever wondered what a vampire's day-to-day life is like? Forget Twilight; this is the real deal. This mockumentary series follows three ancient vampires, Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja, who live in modern-day Staten Island. They struggle hilariously with mundane tasks like paying rent, attending neighborhood meetings, and figuring out what the internet is. Oh, and they have a human "familiar", Guillermo, who dreams of becoming a vampire but mostly just ends up cleaning up their messes.

7. Documentary Now! (2015-present)

You've got to give it to Fred Armisen and Bill Hader; these guys know how to spoof. Each episode parodies a famous documentary, ranging from the journalism thriller The Thin Blue Line to the band profile History of the Eagles. The show captures the essence of each film it mocks, all while spinning it into something absurdly funny.

8. The Comeback (2005, 2014)

This series stars Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish, a washed-up sitcom actress who agrees to star in a reality show about her return to acting. It's a show within a show within a show, kind of like those Russian nesting dolls. She's desperate for fame but woefully oblivious to how she's portrayed, which makes for cringe comedy at its finest.

9. People Just Do Nothing (2014-2018)

You may not have heard of this British series, but it's about time you did. It's set in West London and centers around a pirate radio station, Kurupt FM. The "station" is managed by a group of self-proclaimed garage music stars. They're utterly clueless but supremely confident, making failed attempts at fame and fumbling through their personal lives. It's like 'The Office,' but with terrible rappers.

10. Nathan for You (2013-2017)

Nathan Fielder using his "business degree" to give struggling companies ridiculous advice. Ever thought of advertising a gas rebate that's almost impossible to claim? Nathan did. He gets real business owners to buy into absurd marketing stunts that, weirdly enough, sometimes actually work. It's both a parody of the 'help-my-business' reality genre and a genius comedic experiment.