Buzz
Mockumentaries are a film genre that presents fictional events in the format of a real-world documentary. These films often use humor to poke fun at or satirize real-life occurrences, common themes, or even the documentary genre itself. They can also enhance a film's believability.
Mastering the mockumentary genre is no easy task. However, the films listed here, ranging from outrageous comedies to provocative horror flicks, each excel in their own way.
10. The Delicate Art of Parking (2003)
Directed by Trent Carlson, this 2003 Canadian comedy stars Dov Tiefenbach as Lonny Goosen, a documentary filmmaker grappling with $3,000 in unpaid parking fines and a towed car. Seeking revenge, he decides to create a mockumentary targeting Vancouver’s parking enforcement. Lonny recruits a crew of friends, and as he interviews others who share his frustration, the situation takes a shocking turn after an encounter with a parking enforcer results in a violent confrontation that leaves the enforcer in a coma.
The Delicate Art of Parking may seem like a simple film with a basic concept, targeting one of the world’s most despised professions. However, as Ryan Cracknell highlighted in his favorable review, the film succeeds due to its strong character development. The characters are not only amusing and eccentric but also relatable and realistic.
9. Cult (2019)
This indie mockumentary, set in 1999, chronicles the chaotic lives of a cult called Friends at the End (F.A.T.E), who believe that an impending comet will signal the end of the world, and they are the chosen ones whose souls will survive. The story bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Heaven’s Gate cult, which ended tragically. Despite its dark premise, Cult remains a surprisingly humorous and heartwarming experience.
Written and directed by Luke Ibbetson, who also plays the role of the filmmaker documenting the cult, the film follows his discovery of a group of eccentric and vulnerable outsiders simply searching for belonging. However, they are being exploited by the cult's matriarch and its secretive, enigmatic leader, which leads to a tense and emotional finale.
8. 7 Days in Hell (2015)
Directed by Jake Szymanski and written by Murray Miller, 7 Days in Hell is a sports comedy about two tennis rivals, Aaron Williams (Andy Samberg) and Charles Poole (Kit Harington), who face off in an epic 7-day match that becomes the longest in history. The film is inspired by the real-life marathon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut during the 2010 Wimbledon Championships.
7 Days In Hell may take inspiration from real events and employ a documentary style, but it takes comedy to an exaggerated extreme. Among its outrageous moments is the appearance of a foul-mouthed and violent Queen Elizabeth (June Squibb). While undeniably silly, as critic Karen Han puts it, the film is a 'Pitch-perfect [parody] of how self-serious such documentaries can sometimes be.'
7. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Another mockumentary starring Andy Samberg that humorously critiques modern documentaries is Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, and written by and starring The Lonely Island trio (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone), this musical comedy follows the chaotic journey of former music prodigy-turned-fading pop star Conner Friel.
The plot of the film, revolving around Conner's desperate (and often disastrous) attempts to stay relevant, may not be the most original. The jokes are straightforward and often predictable. However, the cast's boundless energy and catchy pop music elevate Popstar into something more. Moreover, the film’s focus on spoiled, indulgent megastars remains as timely as ever.
6. Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
This satirical sports comedy, directed by Steve Barron, features Ricky Tomlinson as Mike Bassett, a manager from a lower-tier English football club who unexpectedly lands the role of managing the national football team after it becomes clear that no one with more experience is interested in the position. With a coaching team consisting of former assistant manager-turned-car salesman Lonnie Urquart (Philip Jackson) and the overly compliant coach Dave Dodds (Bradley Walsh), Bassett’s mission is to lead his team to World Cup qualification and beyond. However, from the outset, it’s clear that nearly everything is going wrong for the squad.
Mike Bassett: England Manager initially received lukewarm reviews, but over time, it has grown into a cult classic beloved by both football fans and non-fans. The film even inspired a TV spin-off series, Mike Bassett: Manager, in 2005.
5. Best in Show (2000)
Directed, co-written, and starring Christopher Guest (along with Eugene Levy), Best in Show is a comedy that follows the quirky lives of five entrants competing in a prestigious dog show. While the dogs are the main attraction, it’s their often neurotic and dysfunctional owners who steal the spotlight in this hilarious portrayal of the world of competitive dog shows.
The film, which stars Catherine O’Hara, Jennifer Coolidge, John Michael Higgins, and Jane Lynch, was widely praised by critics at the time of its release. David Ansen, a critic, described it as 'smart, quiveringly alert, and fleet of foot, like a purebred pointer on the scent of fresh game.' The spontaneous performances, clever improvisation, sharp humor, and realistic feel were also highlighted in reviews.
4. Ghostwatch (1992)
Unlike most mockumentaries, which usually lean toward comedy, in 1992, writer Stephen Volk and director Lesley Manning joined forces to create a BBC Halloween special that would become one of the most terrifying and controversial broadcasts in British TV history: Ghostwatch.
Although filmed weeks before its airing, Ghostwatch was presented as a real-time paranormal investigation inside a family home in Northolt, London, where a mysterious entity was allegedly tormenting the residents.
To make it feel more authentic, the special featured well-known presenters, such as BBC’s long-time host Michael Parkinson, instead of actors. It included studio-filmed segments and even a phone hotline for viewers. The goal was to reassure callers that the broadcast was fictional. However, the phone line was overwhelmed by so many calls that only a few managed to get through, leaving many viewers uncertain about the show’s authenticity.
Although some audiences embraced it, the airing of Ghostwatch sparked a massive backlash, with national tabloids inflaming public anger. A vicar suggested that the BBC had potentially unleashed demonic entities, rumors spread about two children suffering from PTSD, and tragically, one 18-year-old viewer with learning disabilities took his own life shortly after the broadcast. This caused the BBC to avoid airing the special again. However, the film has developed a devoted online following since then.
3. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Also referred to as This Is Spın̈al Tap: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi, this mockumentary, directed and co-written by Rob Reiner, chronicles the turbulent journey of the band Spinal Tap, widely considered 'one of England’s loudest bands.' Their chaotic tour serves as both a satire of rock bands’ self-indulgence and of the glorification typical in music documentaries.
Despite receiving critical acclaim, This Is Spinal Tap was only a modest commercial hit at first. Over time, however, it has become a cult classic. Today, it's regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and is credited with pioneering the mockumentary genre, as well as coining the phrase 'up to eleven.' In 2002, the film was chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance, as recognized by the Library of Congress.
2. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
This quirky 2014 New Zealand horror comedy centers around a group of vampire roommates living together in a Wellington flat. Despite being centuries old, the vampires struggle to fit into the modern world, constantly bickering with the town’s other supernatural residents, including a strangely polite werewolf pack. Their nights become even more chaotic with the arrival of Nick, a new member of the group who is adjusting to his newly acquired vampiric lifestyle.
Written, directed, and produced by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, What We Do in the Shadows serves as a hilarious satire of both vampire lore and reality television. The film was both a critical and commercial success, leading to the creation of two television spin-offs: the FX series of the same name and the New Zealand-based Wellington Paranormal.
1. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Directed by Larry Charles, this dark comedy special stars Sacha Baron Cohen in the iconic role of Borat Sagdiyev, a journalist from Kazakhstan on a mission to document American life. Along the way, Borat falls for Pamela Anderson, creates chaos at a rodeo, and has a nude altercation with his producer in a hotel lobby. While the film features plenty of outrageous skits, it’s the real-life unscripted interactions with Americans who believe Borat is unfamiliar with American culture that make it truly hilarious.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Borat earned him a Golden Globe, and the film became both a critical and commercial hit. Despite this, it sparked considerable controversy. The government of Kazakhstan condemned the film, and it was banned in several countries. Some of the people involved in the film even tried to sue the creators. Nevertheless, it remains a fan favorite and would eventually lead to a sequel in 2020, titled Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
