The mockumentary film is not an easy skill to master, but these five films do it well. The mockumentary style of filmmaking can often be confused with simple parody. However, parody films often entail that there is a previous movie or style to be parodied (i.e. Vampires Suck, which is a parody of the Twilight series). While mockumentaries are films made in a documentary style used to “mock” a societal commonality, a common media trope, or simply the human condition itself. They are not meant to mock a specific piece of media but are made to humorously joke about a specific type or group or people or media while depicting them as if it takes them seriously.
The mockumentaries listed below are included to show the films within that umbrella that are able to “mock” accurately and in a joking manner. These films are not only well-made but entertaining, well-written and easily consumed. The films below are palatable for all types of viewers who are just looking for a good laugh. The mockumentary style of film is often thought of as “offensive” because it mocks the documentary style of film. However, while “mock” is in the title of the style, it is not meant to mock documentaries (which the style respects), it is meant to mock common media tropes through comedy. Mockumentaries are not only hilarious but are also an often breezy watch for (most of) the family.
5 What We Do in the Shadows
Madman Entertainment
What We Do in the Shadows is a much different kind of mockumentary than the classic type of this style. The film follows four vampires as they go about their daily life. Up until this point mockumentaries were about the living, but What We Do in the Shadows brings a horror perspective to the genre. The film frames the vampires as “just like humans,” but they drink blood and only go out at night. The hilarious work of Taika Waititi in this film is what made such a hit for viewers. Waititi not only starred in the film, but he directed, produced, and wrote the story as well. The film was so well-loved that years later it spawned a show on Hulu which has also been widely successful. What We Do in the Shadows also launched Taika Waititi’s career on a much larger scale, helping make him the Marvel master he is today, and thus all fans of his should watch this film if they haven’t already.
4 7 Days in Hell
Andy Samberg is a regular in the mockumentary space, but this one is a bit different, since 7 Days in Hell is a sports mockumentary. It centers around the fictitious tennis players Aaron Williams (Andy Samberg) and Charles Poole (Kit Harrington) who end up playing the longest tennis match in ‘history.’ As an actor known for dramatic roles, Harrington is able to be absolutely hilarious in this film (especially for tennis fans). He and Samberg build on each other to create the most overdramatized and satirized tennis match in the world. The match ends not with a winner but with the two players beginning a physical altercation (cheered on by Queen Elizabeth II) which ridiculously results in (spoiler) both of their deaths. The film is obviously not how most tennis matches go but creates a light-hearted, comedic space within the typically very serious sports documentary space.
3 This is Spinal Tap
This is Spinal Tap is well regarded as the film that created the mockumentary trend as a whole. The film centers around a rock band that could for all intents and purposes be any hair metal group from the 1980s. It follows the band Spinal Tap as they embark on a world tour to promote their new album and, of course, hijinks ensue. The chaos that follows Spinal Tap is almost unbelievable, but it doesn’t have to be believable to be funny. This film is so well regarded that not only is it a cult classic, but it is even in the Library of Congress as a culturally significant film. This is Spinal Tap was not a commercial success, but over time the critical acclaim caused more people to seek out the film, creating one of the most-quoted movies as a result. This is Spinal Tap still stands as one of the best films in the genre, and helped turn Christopher Guest and his friends into the mockumentary masters.
2 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Universal Pictures
Popstar isn’t recognized as a masterpiece, but it seems objectively hilarious whether one is a fan of Andy Samberg or not. This film not only stars Samberg but is produced by his comedy group, The Lonely Island, and centers around the titular star who pursues a solo career after his successful boy band breaks up. Anyone who has ever followed pop culture knows that this is something that happens constantly and is also a very common trope in media. Samberg plays Conner, the aforementioned pop sttar, in a way that emulates and satirizes every male popstar created in the last 30 years. Samberg makes Conner hilarious yet weirdly relatable to viewers, so viewers are able to empathize with Conner’s odd problems and laugh at his crazy antics. As Conner’s star grows, he goes back to his roots and reunites with his former bandmates to learn the “meaning of friendship.” A reunion is what fans of every major broken-up band wants, after all, so the film fulfill the fantasy. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping doesn’t get the mockumentary acclaim it deserves, but with the right amount of love and attention, the film could easily become a fan favorite.
1 Borat
20th Century Fox
Borat is one of the most well-known and beloved mockumentaries ever. The film centers around the titular Borat (played by Sacha Baron Cohen), who has come to America to make a film about the country’s culture for the government of Kazakhstan. As usual for Baron Cohen, ridiculousness follows Borat as he adventures the landscape of this new country. He’s absolutely hilarious here, and Cohen is always a very well-timed comedian, but he is able to capture the mockumentary style of comedy the easiest. Borat is not exactly a politically correct film but for fans is a cult classic that they adore. This love allowed Cohen to create a sequel to the film in 2020 with more modern jokes. No matter what kind of criticism the film receives, Borat will always be one of the most beloved mockumentaries.
