The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Listen to After Watching the Office.
Anyone who’s ever worked in an office (or imagined themselves working in an office) will instantly fall in love with The Office . In fact, we loved the show so much that we’re still watching it, more than a decade after the finale. While moments like the fire alarm, the dinner party, and the revelation that Jim was always Asian will always be funny, you might be looking for a little variety in your viewing. If you’ve already binged all the Scranton-esque shows , here are books, movies, podcasts, and games to help you quench your thirst.
The best books similar to The Office.
Whether you want to learn more about this innovative and hilarious sitcom or immerse yourself in its equally absurd fictional universe, the books are here to help.
The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene.
Want to know how such a perfect show as The Office came to be? Check out Andy Greene’s book . Described as an “oral history,” it details the show’s development and production through interviews with those directly involved. From its origins at the BBC, created by Ricky Gervais, to its nine seasons on NBC in America, you’ll learn all about the challenges, the attempts to cancel the show, and how its funniest moments came to be.
“And Now We Come to the End” by Joshua Ferris
If you’re looking for an absurdist, hilariously funny story set in an office that hides a lot of humanity and emotion beneath its humor, Then We Came to the End is the perfect read. Set in a Chicago advertising agency undergoing a turbulent period of layoffs, you’ll find the eccentric and combative employees in this book’s pages to be the perfect stand-in for the Scranton company. Arguments over chairs, rambling personal grievances, and a growing sense of desperation as layoffs continue until morale improves—all of it blends together to create the perfect stand-in for the office crew .
Several People Typing by Calvin Kasulke
The Office has never been afraid to bend reality a little for the sake of a good joke. The episode “Multiple People Typing” goes much further into madness than the show ever has, but the tone hits the mark. Gerald works at a shady PR firm and somehow finds himself absorbed into their Slack channel. However, no one in his office believes he’s stuck in their chats, so Gerald has to turn to everyone’s least favorite AI, Slackbot, for help. It’s darkly funny and touches on all the horrors of late-stage capitalism that The Office thrived on.
Hope you are well. Author: Natalie Sue.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be Dwight Schrute? Read “Hope You’re Well.” Jolene has never fit in at her office, and she knows she’s being made fun of. To cope, she begins writing caustic insults at her coworkers in tiny white font at the end of her emails. When her passive-aggressive ploy is discovered, a new security system is installed on her computer, but the new software also allows her to read all of her coworkers’ emails and messages, and she immediately begins using this information for personal gain. As in The Office , it all leads to a surprisingly touching ending.
Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
The trope of the dimwitted, casually insulting figure in a position of power has long been around, and Amis’s 1954 novel perfectly complements the series. Jim Dixon is a college professor trying to secure a permanent position at the university where he works, but everything he touches ends in laughter. From stealing academic papers and translating them into Italian to drunkenly setting buildings on fire, Jim’s misadventures are reminiscent of Michael Scott films.
The best movies like The Office.
The Office was not only distinguished by its superb writing but also as one of the best sitcoms of the modern era. If you’re looking for more visual effects in your office comedy, check out these hilarious movies.
Office Space (1999)
The show “The Office” often explored the absurdity and frustration of working in an office with people you might not want to spend eight hours a day with. “Office Space” captures this atmosphere perfectly. When a hypnosis session frees programmer Peter Gibbons from any worries about work, he begins to live and work with greater joy and freedom. Even after the effects wear off, Peter realizes how much work has robbed him of his life. It’s a sharp satire on modern work that fans of the show are sure to enjoy. Watch “Office Space” on Prime Video .
Nine to Five (1980)
Want more stories about terrible bosses? This film, starring Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Dabney Coleman, tells the story of three women working under a sexist boss who thinks way too highly of himself. The comedic scenes depicting the women’s cruel revenge fantasies are incredibly funny, and anyone who’s ever wished someone would finally teach Michael a lesson about how awful he can be will enjoy the unfolding plot. Watch “Nine to Five” on Fubo or rent it on Prime Video .
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
What would life be like if Michael Scott had actually made Threat Level: Midnight or taken improvisational comedy seriously? Waiting for Guffman (or, frankly, any of Christopher Guest’s “mockumentaries”) might come close. In the small town of Blaine, Missouri, a local theater troupe is planning a performance to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary, helmed by director Corky St. Clair, who is as delusional as Michael Scott about his talent and abilities. Like The Office , it’s a character-driven story, where the humor comes from the quirky yet charming personalities of everyone involved. Watch Waiting for Guffman on Prime Video .
The Hudsucker Phantom (1994)
The Coen brothers’ least successful film is a hidden gem, its story of a misguided, somewhat dimwitted mailroom worker’s rise to the board of directors at Hudsucker Industries echoing Michael Scott’s rise from salesman to regional manager. “Hudsucker Proxy” has a different tone—it’s inspired by 1930s screwball comedies and set in the 1950s—but if you enjoy watching Michael Scott bumble through his job like he’s in “Clueless,” you’ll love the way Tim Robbins unfolds the circle and sternly declares, ” You know, it’s for kids! ” Watch “Hudsucker Proxy” on the Roku Channel or rent it on Prime Video .
Apartment (1960)
The Office has always been a rich source of humor and drama. This 1960 classic, written and directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, follows the work of a huge New York insurance company. Employee C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is a bachelor who offers his apartment to executives for extramarital affairs in order to get a promotion, and, yes, hilarious situations ensue. Like The Office , the humor is balanced by a warm and kind heart that sees the humanity in each character, and the writing remains sharp and funny six decades later. Watch The Apartment on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
The best video games like The Office.
Looking for a game that will immerse you in the atmosphere of The Office ? Surprisingly, an official PC game based on the show was released in 2007, and a game for the Meta Quest VR headset was also announced , though its release was apparently delayed because no one actually owned a Meta Quest VR headset. If you’re looking for games you can actually play, these games are excellent substitutes for The Office .
Office: Somehow we cope
This official mobile game is a cozy way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Scranton office, playing as a real-life salesperson working at Dunder Mifflin. The game is free, but a bit overloaded with in-app purchases and ads. Each level is based on a classic episode of The Office , and all the favorite characters are featured, making it a great way to play The Office in a lo-fi style.
Platforms: Android, iOS
Dale & Dawson Stationery
Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies is a mashup of the TV series “The Office” and the survival video game ” Among Us .” You play as an employee of the company of the same name, but you also have other roles: manager, specialist, or slacker. Managers are tasked with figuring out who’s slacking off, specialists are just trying to do their jobs, and slackers will slacker. Managers try to figure out who the slackers are and fire them, slackers try to avoid it and maybe even persuade their coworkers to vote to fire the manager, and you can participate in various pranks and other fun activities. It’s as close to a game as you can get to “The Office.”
Platforms: Steam
Send
Yes, it’s a superhero game (of sorts), but don’t let that fool you: the tone and gameplay are perfect for fans of The Office . You play as Robert Robertson, a former superhero working at the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) emergency communications center, managing a group of reformed supervillains trying to make the city a better place. The game’s tone is very reminiscent of The Office , with plenty of comedy and office family interactions. If you’re looking for something to replace the show in your life, definitely give it a try!
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
The Stanley Parable
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the absurdity of an office job, where you have to sell years of your life for a pittance just to make ends meet, then The Stanley Parable is the deranged answer to your prayers. You play as Stanley, employee #427 at an unnamed company. When your computer breaks down one afternoon, you leave the office to find the entire premises abandoned. A sarcastic narrator accompanies you on this increasingly bizarre and consistently funny adventure, which definitely takes you in unexpected directions.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Steam
The last one sitting
If your favorite moments on The Office were when the employees stopped working and just went nuts, holding office Olympics or concocting elaborate pranks, then give Last Man Sitting a try. It’s absurd—and incredibly fun. In this roguelike, you play as office workers who ride around like chariots on swivel chairs and use a variety of weapons to battle each other. There are robots, a sinister entity, and lots and lots of destruction as you destroy corporate buildings—so maybe there’s a cathartic aspect to it, too.
Platforms: Steam
The best podcasts like The Office.
One of the best things about The Office is the ability to rewatch, discuss, and share it with everyone (because everyone is at least a little familiar with The Office ). Podcasts are the perfect way to extend that experience.
Office ladies
If you’re an Office fan and haven’t listened to the Office Ladies podcast, what are you doing? Hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey (who, by the way, starred in the show), it’s a true insider podcast. The ladies break down each episode and share tons of insider information, funny behind-the-scenes stories, and generally engaging conversations on a wide range of topics. After a detailed analysis of each episode, they move on to in-depth character studies and even discuss the new Office spinoff, The Paper .
Michael Scott’s podcast company
In its current form , The Michael Scott Podcast Company covers a variety of films and TV series, but it began as a podcast dedicated to reviewing The Office , hosted by three friends (Sean Roney, Edwin Janes, and Alex Ward) who absolutely adored the show. It has a relaxed atmosphere that makes it a fun and engaging podcast, and it offers plenty of insightful analysis and funny moments that any fan of the show will appreciate.
The Office: Deep Dive
If you enjoy the behind-the-scenes side of the show ” Office Ladies” and want to learn more, Brian Baumgartner’s book , “Deep Dive into the Office,” is just what you need. This expanded version of his excellent book, “An Oral History of the Office,” not only includes Brian’s unique insight into every aspect of each episode but also features numerous other cast and crew members who are happy to share their secrets with an old friend. It’s the perfect way to become a true office insider.
Wooden coats
If you want to recreate the unbridled madness of The Office in audio format, listen to “Wooden Overcoats.” This British podcast is set in a small village in the Channel Islands, where Rudyard and Antigone Fann have run the only funeral home for years. When a new undertaker opens a competing business, the Fanns find themselves caught in the chaos. Many of the Fann siblings’ plans to defeat their new rivals will remind you of Michael Scott—in a good way, not in a “Scott’s Tots” kind of way.
Teacher’s room
Love how Michael Scott’s incompetence, social awkwardness, and egotism were always a laughing matter in Scranton? Then check out the four Hamilton High School teachers played by Drew Tarver, Dan Lippert, John Mackey, and Ryan Rosenberg on the podcast “The Teachers’ Room.” They’re not particularly dedicated to their jobs and aren’t particularly good at teaching, but they’re consistently funny as they share their wacky adventures in a podcast format.