Documentaries are there to teach, to inform, to inspire, they’re a great way to learn about the world, past and present. And then, there’s the mockumentary genre. The one you browse when you want to chill and have a ton of laughs. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite funniest mockumentaries as a possible go-to whenever you have no idea what to watch next.
1. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
A classic mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner, “This Is Spinal Tap” follows the fictional rock band Spinal Tap as they embark on a disastrous tour. They turn the volume up to 11 on their silliness, and their drummer… let’s just say they have a bit of a curse when it comes to keeping drummers. This one went from being a total flop at the box office to being a cult favorite.
2. Best in Show (2000)
Directed by Christopher Guest, “Best in Show” is a mockumentary that focuses on the eccentric personalities of dog owners as they compete in a fancy schmancy dog show. And yes, the characters are like a parade of quirks. Their interactions and interviews are like a comedy sketch brought to life. The improv-heavy script and quirky characters make it a laugh-out-loud experience.
3. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Another gem from Christopher Guest, “Waiting for Guffman” centers around a small town’s community theater group as they prepare for a big performance. We have a bunch of amateurs dreaming big and failing spectacularly, and it’s glorious. Then, there’s the musical they’re putting on – “Red, White and Blaine.” The songs are catchy in that community-theater-meets-kitchen-sink-drama way, and they’re so bad that they’re good.
4. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, this mockumentary follows a group of vampire roommates living in New York. Then there’s the setting – a mockumentary crew following these vampires around their daily (or should we say nightly?) lives. Each bloodsucker brings their own flavor of humor to the overall chaos and we have to admit we’re a bit bummed this series came to an end.
5. Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)
A Canadian mockumentary TV series that follows the misadventures of the residents of Sunnyvale Trailer Park. The mockumentary style captures the day-to-day antics of these petty criminals as they cook up schemes involving petty theft, growing weed, and running various small-time businesses. If you check it out and you’re a fan, there’s also an animated series.
6. Fear of a Black Hat (1994)
Of course we had to have a mockumentary about the hip-hop scene. At the center of it all we have the rise and fall of NWH, Niggaz With Hats, a controversial hip-hop group. There are tons of weird and funny moments, like the scene where a handful of rappers get together and find out they all have “Ice” in their stage name.
7. Popstar Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
A mockumentary musical comedy film, “Popstar” pokes fun at the music industry, being a hilarious take on celebrity culture and the greediness of the music business. Conner4Real, played by Andy Samberg, is the epitome of a self-absorbed pop star with an entourage that includes his childhood friends, as one expects. Whether it’s dealing with the fallout of a flop album or the absurdity of his elaborate stage setups, you won’t’ be bored.
8. Borat (2006)
Sacha Baron Cohen’s iconic character, Borat, a fictional idiot, sexist and so many other “good” traits Kazakhstani journalist, travels to the United States, interacting with real people in unscripted and absurd situations. The film’s comedic genius comes from the poor unsuspecting souls that Borat approaches.
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9. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
A dark comedy mockumentary that takes a hard swipe at beauty pageants. The film follows the contestants of the Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant and their overzealous parents. You get the ex-pageant mom, the inebriated mom, sabotage, a killed contestant, and the good ol’ tax evasion.
10. A Mighty Wind (2003)
Christopher Guest strikes again with this mockumentary that parodies the folk music scene of the early to mid 1960s. The cast is a powerhouse ensemble of comedy gold, featuring some familiar faces known for their work in mockumentaries and improv comedy. We have the Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy duo yet again, they seem to be the mandatory ingredient in most of his mockumentaries. As for the plot, that’s easy, folk music, so yeah. Another music-based mockumentary but it’s worth a shot, we swear.
I’m a passionate writer with an insatiable curiosity for history, obscure facts, and the weird corners of the internet. When I’m not fact-checking bizarre stories or diving into historical mysteries, I’m exploring the strange and unusual to bring you the most fascinating tales.
A self-proclaimed weirdness enthusiast, who loves turning the odd, the quirky, and the unbelievable into engaging stories for curious minds.
My kids sometimes call me the walking Wikipedia, which can get very annoying sometimes.
