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List of mockumentaries

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This is a list of mockumentaries. Mockumentary or mock documentary is a genre of film and television, a parody presented as a documentary recording real life.

Film

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Television

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Series

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  • 30 minuten (NL, 1995–1997), follows a different fictional character each week, played by Arjan Ederveen.
  • Abbott Elementary (US, 2021–present) follows a group of teachers in a low budget elementary school in Philadelphia.
  • All Aussie Adventures (AU, 2001), follows the Australian outback adventures of Russell Coight, who believes he is one with the land but constantly has mishaps that could only happen to him.
  • American Horror Story: Roanoke (US, 2016) follows supernatural experiences around a haunted house and its surroundings in North Carolina. The first half of the season is presented as a paranormal documentary entitled My Roanoke Nightmare, which reenacts the experiences of a married couple who lived in the house. The second half is presented as found footage and depicts the doomed production of the documentary's sequel.
  • American Vandal (US, 2017–2018) follows an amateur high school filmmaker who believes an expelled senior may be innocent of vandalizing the school with penis drawings.
  • Angry Boys (Australia, 2011), created by Chris Lilley.
  • Arrested Development (US, 2003–2006, 2013–2019), a fly-on-the-wall series filmed in mockumentary style; follows the story of the dysfunctional Bluth family, primarily Michael, after his father is imprisoned.
  • Brass Eye (UK, 1997), series of mockumentaries by Chris Morris.
  • Come Fly with Me (UK, 2010), fly-on-the-wall comedy which follows the antics of many characters on a normal day at a UK airport; most characters are played by comedian duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas.
  • Cunk on Britain (UK, 2016-2018), a comedy series created by and starring Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, a dim-witted and ill-informed interviewer who travels Britain interviewing various specialists and historians. Most of the time Philomena seems vapid and unbothered, entirely missing the point of most interviews. Aired on the BBC.
  • Cunk On Earth (UK, 2022), a comedy series created by and starring Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, who travels the earth interviewing historians and specialists about humanity's greatest inventions and works. As with the other "Cunk" series, her questions are often misguided and have no relevance, she often misinterprets main ideas, and her humor parodies David Attenborough and Brian Cox.
  • The Day Today (UK, 1994), spoof news series created by Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci, often featuring documentary-style inserts such as 'The Pool' and 'The Office'.
  • Death Valley (US, 2011), a horror black comedy mockumentary television series following the Undead Task Force (UTF) as they capture the monsters that roam the streets of San Fernando Valley in California.
  • Documentary Now! (2015–present) series on IFC, created by Saturday Night Live alumni Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and director Rhys Thomas, which spoofs celebrated documentary films by parodying the style of each documentary with a similar, but fictitious, subject.
  • Dog Bites Man, parody of local news coverage; follows the misadventures of a struggling news team as they travel around the country producing news segments.
  • Dora the Explorer (live-action series), adventure series, follows a 16-year-old Dora Marquez and her high school friends, Boots the monkey, and her talking backpack on wild adventures, based on the animated series of the same name. It is being filmed and coming to Paramount+.
  • Dorm Life (US, 2008–2009), webseries following the fictional lives of the inhabitants of the college dorm floor 5 South.
  • Drama Club (2021), a comedy series where students at Tookus Middle School prepare for their musical.
  • The Games (Australia, 1998 and 2000), comedy, follows the mayhem and bureaucratic snafus faced by the organisers of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
  • Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust (US, 2003), travel show following the misadventures of a bumbling German backpacker as he travels the globe in search of reasonably priced culturally enriching experiences.
  • Hardy Bucks (Ireland, 2010), small-town exploits of misbehaving young men.
  • High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-2023), inspired by the High School Musical film series, the East High drama teacher decides to stage a performance of High School Musical: The Musical for her first winter theater production to celebrate the school's affiliation with the original films. The students cast in the musical learn to navigate their interpersonal relationships and form bonds with each other, to overcome the challenges they face in their lives at school and home.
  • Hoff the Record (UK, 2015), fly-on-the wall series starring David Hasselhoff.
  • Human Remains (UK, 2000), a bleak series of fly-on-the-wall insights into dysfunctional couples.
  • In de gloria (Belgium, 2000–2001), a tragicomical sketch show parodying reality television and human interest shows.
  • Les Invincibles (Canada, 2005–2009), French Canadian dramedy about four thirty-year-old men signing a pact that says they have to break up with their girlfriends and embrace a common routine-free life.
  • Ja'mie: Private School Girl (Australia, 2013), 6 episodes about a very rich year 12 schoolgirl prefect called Ja'mie King, and her friends and enemies.
  • Jonah from Tonga (Australia, 2014), 6 episodes about a year 9 bully of Tongan descent called Jonah Takalua, and his life after he was expelled from Summer Heights High.
  • Jimmy MacDonald's Canada (Canada, 2005), lost episodes of a mid-1960s public affairs show hosted by Jimmy MacDonald who was played by Richard Waugh; combined new segments with authentic news and human interest archive footage.
  • The Life of Rock with Brian Pern (UK, 2014-2017) created by Rhys Thomas stars Simon Day as rock musician Brian Pern, frontman of the progressive rock band Thotch.
  • Little Lunch (Australia, 2015) created by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope on ABC Me set in a suburban primary school in Australia and follows the adventures of six Grade 5 students at recess time.
  • Look Around You (UK, 2002 and 2005), parody of educational TV (season 1) and documentary about "the world and future of science and technology" (season 2), set roughly 25 years before the actual release dates.
  • Lunatics (Australia, 2019–present), the series explores the lives of six different and eccentric characters in their own distinctive settings.
  • Marion and Geoff (UK series, 2000–2003), stars Rob Brydon as a cab driver.
  • Modern Family (US, 2009–2020), about three families living modern American lives.
  • My Generation (US, 2010), about a group of high school classmates ten years after graduation.
  • My Life as Liz (US, 2010–2011), about a seventeen-year-old girl and her senior year in high school.
  • The Muppets (US, 2015–2016), mockumentary style of muppets characters.
  • The Naked Brothers Band (US, 2007–2009), starred two real-life brothers Nat and Alex Wolff and their real life friends.
  • The Office (UK/USA, 2001–2013), British satire on white-collar management, later remade for US, Australia (2024), and other audiences.
  • Operation Good Guys, British satire of an incompetent police force (often seen as a precursor to The Office).
  • Parks and Recreation (US, 2009–2015), follows Leslie Knope, head of the Parks and Recreation department in a small town in Indiana.
  • Paths to Freedom (Ireland, 2000), fly-on-the-wall spoof about two prisoners leaving prison, both from different backgrounds, one an esteemed gynaecologist and the other an inner-city Dublin rapper.
  • People Just Do Nothing, BBC mockumentary following the men who run Kurupt FM, a pirate radio station broadcasting garage and drum and bass in London.
  • People Like Us (UK, radio 1995–1997, and television 1999-2001), British comedy featuring an inept interviewer (played by Chris Langham) who interviews people in various jobs.
  • Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kuwento (Pepito Manaloto: The Real Story) (Philippines, 2010–present), a multi-awarded Filipino comedy series.
  • Players (US, 2022–present) follows a fictional League of Legends esports team trying to win a championship.
  • Prehistoric Park (UK, 2006), six-episode mockumentary that depicts a hypothetical scenario whereby a time machine is used to create a wildlife park.
  • Pure Pwnage, an Internet-distributed show about a gamer followed around by his brother; created by Geoff Lapaire and Jarett Cale.
  • Real Husbands of Hollywood (US, 2013–2016), created by and starring Kevin Hart, shown on BET.
  • Reno 911! (US, 2003–2009), Comedy Central parody of Cops, about an inept police force in Reno, Nevada.
  • Review (US, 2014–2017), Comedy Central show starring Andy Daly as fictional professional critic Forrest MacNeil, who reviews real-life experiences.
  • Sono 'Okodawari', Watashi ni mo Kure yo!! (Japan, 2016), based on a manga series.
  • Summer Heights High (Australia, 2007), about three characters at a public high school.
  • This Country (UK, 2017–present), comedy series about the day-to-day lives of two young people living in a small village in the Cotswolds. Later remade for the US.
  • Total Drama (Canada, 2007–2014), animated parody of reality shows, about a group of teens competing for $1,000,000.
  • Trailer Park Boys (Canada, 2001–present), follows Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles, as they commit crimes and hatch crackpot schemes to make money, most of which are illegal and often involve growing marijuana.
  • Trial & Error (US, 2017–2018), a parody of true crime documentaries which follows the cases of Josh Segal, a New York transplant who moves to East Peck, South Carolina to take the case of Larry Henderson.
  • Twenty Twelve (UK, 2011), a mockumentary following the organisation of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
  • Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (UK, 1985–87), two series of sketch shows with regular five-minute mockumentaries, written by and starring Victoria Wood.
  • W1A (UK, 2014), a mockumentary that satirises the management of the BBC
  • We Are History (UK, 2000-2001), two series of history mockumentaries with Marcus Brigstocke.
  • We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year (Australia, 2005), about five fictitious candidates nominated for the prestigious Australian of the Year Award.
  • Welcome to Flatch (US, 2022), about life in small-town Ohio.
  • Wellington Paranormal (New Zealand, 2018-2022), comedy-horror series about a group of paranormal detectives, spin-off of 2014 film What We Do in the Shadows.
  • What We Do in the Shadows (TV series) (US, 2019–present), comedy-horror series about a group of vampires living in Staten Island, spin-off of 2014 film of the same name.
  • Wildboyz (US, 2003–2006), Jackass spin-off, starring Steve-O and Chris Pontius; mocks nature documentaries.
  • Yacht Rock (US, 2005–2010), Channel 101 series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American soft rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
  • Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous (US, 2013), follows a teenager who hires a camera crew to document his journey to overnight stardom, despite being completely talentless.

Specials and one-offs

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Commercials

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Television specials

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Individual episodes

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Sometimes an episode of an otherwise non-mockumentary series is presented as a mockumentary.

  • 3rd Rock from the Sun
    • "The Loud Solomon Family: a Dickumentary", season 5, an episode presented in an entirely documentary style, taking a look into the lives of the Solomon family.
  • Babylon 5
    • "And Now for a Word" (1995), framed as a documentary by the fictional news network ISN for the Babylon 5 station; every act in the episode starts with effects similar to those used by news channels, and ends with the reporter acknowledging the cut to advertisements; there is also a fake advertisement; this is the first documentary-styled episode in the science fiction genre.
    • "The Illusion of Truth" and "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars", season 4, partially employ documentary style.
  • Blue Mountain State
    • "One Week" (2011), a documentary crew follows the team on and off the field. Episode made to look like a mockumentary and presented as such.
  • Bones
    • "The Movie in the Making" (2016), made to look like an episode of fictional documentary TV show focusing on the work of the FBI and Jeffersonian Institute, including interviews with characters.
  • The Comic Strip Presents
    • "The Comic Strip Presents... Bad News Tour" and its sequel, "More Bad News", following an incompetent rock group on tour.
    • "The Comic Strip Presents... Eddie Monsoon: A Life?", the life story of an offensive talk show host.
  • Community
  • Entourage
    • "Welcome to the Jungle" (2007), an episode as a mock "making of" film about Medellín, the film the characters produce.
  • ER
    • "Ambush", 1997 live episode, portrayed as a documentary.
  • Escape the Night
    • "Monsters of Everlock" (2018), an episode that delves into the different monsters that were featured in the show. It's stated at the start that it takes place before the events of the show and that the crew behind were never seen again.
  • Even Stevens
    • "Band on the Roof", a "rockumentary"-style episode following the band the Twitty-Steven Connection.
  • Family Guy
    • "Inside Family Guy", a "behind-the-scenes"-style episode on the making of the show.
  • Farscape
    • "A Constellation of Doubt", Season 4, Episode 17, most of the episode consists of a fictional documentary detailing humanity's reaction to Moya's recent visit to Earth; it is occasionally seen that John Crichton is watching the documentary on a television set in his quarters on board the ship; end credits of the episode include a trailer to the next episode of the fictional documentary.
  • Grey's Anatomy
    • "These Arms of Mine", a documentary crew visits the hospital six months after a shooting to document the road to recovery for doctors and patients.
  • House
    • "Ugly", Season 4, Episode 7, A camera follows a patient around the hospital as Dr. House treats him. Some of the episode is filmed in the standard format (such times include differentials etc.) but scenes including the patient are mostly viewed through the in-show camera. The cameras are differentiated by the official camera being in colour and the in-show camera being in grayscale.
  • Just Shoot Me!
    • "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn", a faux A&E Biography of the character played by Wendie Malick.
  • Monk
    • "Mr. Monk's 100th Case" (2008) 100th episode featuring a fictional TV special (mockumentary style) about Monk's 100th case including interviews with past characters on the show. Core characters are at a viewing party (standard format) for the special and Monk has second thoughts about his conclusion about the case.
  • Night Court
    • "A Closer Look", 1990 episode showing the affairs of the show from a news TV perspective.
  • Raising Hope
    • "Modern Wedding", Season 3, Episode 14, Sabrina's mother hires the film crew of her favorite show, Modern Family, to document her wedding as a wedding gift to Sabrina and Jimmy.
  • The Simpsons
  • Stargate SG-1 had several episodes mocking itself and the sci-fi genre.
  • WandaVision
  • The West Wing
    • "Access" (2004), fake behind-the-scenes documentary about a day in the White House of President Josiah Bartlet, supposedly released after his term in office has ended.
  • The X-Files
    • "X-Cops" (2000), episode made to look like an episode of the actual show COPS.

Other mock films and television

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Reality shows

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  • The Comeback (US, 2005), a reality show type following the life of former "it" actress Valerie Cherish.
  • Double the Fist, fictional version of Jackass.
  • Drawn Together, cartoon version of The Surreal Life.
  • Late Night with the Devil, a 1970s talk show, who on Halloween night invites a purportedly possessed girl onto the program in an attempt to boost ratings, accidentally unleashing evil into the nation's broadcasting.
  • V/H/S/99: Ozzy's Dungeon (2022), A dangerous children's TV game show called "Ozzy's Dungeon," whose prize is a wish granted by the mysterious Ozzy, is cancelled after a contestant is brutally injured due to the show's host doesn't stop the challenge. Years later, the parents of the injured contestant kidnap the host and force him to endure a similar, yet deadlier, obstacle challenge in their basement — and discover the true nature of Ozzy.
  • Series 7: The Contenders, a movie is presented as a marathon of the seventh series of an American reality television show in which six people, picked at random from a national lottery, are each given a gun and forced to hunt and kill each other for the camera.
  • Siberia, a horror/drama series about a fictional reality television show in which 16 contestants must survive in the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska for a 500,000 dollar prize; things go horribly wrong and the contestants are left stranded in a dangerous forest full of things they don't understand.

News programs

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  • Countdown to Looking Glass (1984), a cable-TV docu-drama presented as a series of news reports concerning an escalation in the Middle East between the US and the USSR, that eventually leads to nuclear war (not completely a documentary/mockumentary, as it includes dramatic interludes).
  • Ghostwatch (1992), BBC television special in which a fictitious "live" paranormal investigation goes awry.
  • Local 58 (2015–present), a web series and spin-off of Kris Straub's Candle Cove, hosted on the YouTube channel LOCAL58TV, each video in the series is presented as footage of a fictional public access television channel, which is continuously hijacked over a period of decades with a series of ominous and surreal broadcasts.
  • Not For Broadcast (2022), a full-motion simulated video game in the form of a national television news program, developed by British video game studio NotGames; set in an unnamed European country (resembling the United Kingdom) in the mid-1980s, where a new populist political party named Advance has won a surprise landslide election victory and begins to handle the country in an increasingly authoritarian dystopian fashion.
  • Special Bulletin (1983), NBC made-for-TV movie, portrayed a live broadcast from a fictional American broadcasting network on a nuclear terrorism incident in Charleston, South Carolina as it occurred; its realism caused a minor panic in Charleston at the time of its first airing, despite disclaimers shown after each commercial break.
  • V/H/S/94: Storm Drain (2021), a film segment in the form of cable news reports; covered the details of an urban legend cryptid known as the "Rat Man" who lives in the storm drains, only to be attacked by sewer-dwelling people who worship the humanoid and bring the news crew to it for sacrifice.
  • Without Warning (1994), TV film in the form of a mock newscast, produced by CBS; covered an apocalyptic alien attack scenario as seen through the eyes of a network TV news crew; like Special Bulletin, reports of panic were also associated with its broadcast.

Found footage

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Some films and shows take the form of (fake) raw footage.[6]

  • Be My Cat: A Film for Anne, 2015 horror movie about a young man in Romania who goes to shocking extremes to convince Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway to play in his film.[7][8][9][10]
  • The Blair Witch Project, 1999 horror film about three student filmmakers who disappear while hiking to film a documentary about a local legend, the Blair Witch.
  • Cannibal Holocaust, 1980 horror film about an anthropologist from New York University who leads a rescue team into the Amazon rainforest to locate a crew of filmmakers.
  • Chronicle, 2012 science fiction movie about three high-school seniors who form a bond after gaining telekinetic abilities from an unknown object.
  • Cloverfield, 2008 monster thriller film following six young New Yorkers attending a going-away party on the night a gigantic monster attacks the city.
  • Creep (film series) (2014–2017), American psychological horror films about videographers recording eccentric people. A third film, currently titled Creep 3, is being made.
  • The Devil Inside, 2012 horror movie tracing the purported exorcism of a possessed woman convicted of a triple murder.
  • End of Watch, 2012 action thriller film focused on the day-to-day work of two Los Angeles Police Department officers.
  • Gang Tapes, 2001 When a brutal carjacking yields a videocamera, a teenage boy decides to document his life and the lives of his fellow gangbangers.
  • The Last Exorcism, 2010 horror film about a fictional evangelical minister who participates in a documentary that films his exorcism.
  • Paranormal Activity, 2007 supernatural horror film centered on a young couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home.
  • Project X, 2012 comedy film whose plot follows three friends who plan to gain popularity by throwing a party, a plan which quickly escalates out of their control.
  • [•REC] (film series) (2007–2014), Spanish supernatural zombie horror film franchise. Mainly the first two ones – [•REC] (2007) and [•REC]² (2009) – are found footage films.
  • September Tapes, 2004 movie about a man who hunts down Osama bin Laden.
  • The Troll Hunter, 2010 Norwegian comedy-drama film made by a team of film students, documenting the work of a troll hunter with the secret Norwegian Troll Service.
  • V/H/S (film series) (2012–present), American anthology horror films featuring a series of found-footage shorts.
  • Zero Day, 2003 American indie film by Ben Coccio based on the Columbine High School shooting.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Romanski, Philippe; Sy-Wonyu, Aïssatou (2002). Trompe (-)l'oeil: Imitation & Falsification. Publications de l'Université de Rouen. Vol. 324. University of Le Havre Press. p. 343. ISBN 2-87775-334-4.
  2. ^ "Theater Camp review: an affectionate mockumentary". BFI. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  3. ^ Walsh, Katie (2023-07-15). "Review: A true passion project, 'Theater Camp' is a comedic gem". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  4. ^ "20 Out-of-This-World Facts About Galaxy Quest". Mental Floss. 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  5. ^ Bahar, Narin (2011-09-24). "Best Sci-Fi TV Mockumentaries". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  6. ^ Kang, Inkoo (May 4, 2012). "The Ten Best Mockumentaries". Boxoffice. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  7. ^ "Be My cat: A Film for Anne". IMDb. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Pinto, Vitor. "Be My cat: A Film for Anne competing at Fantasporto". Cineuropa. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. ^ Millican, Josh. "Be My cat: A Film for Anne". Dread Central. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "Be My cat: A Film for Anne". Nashville Film Festival. Retrieved April 13, 2016.