The mockumentary genre of movies has been around for a long time, but a sudden spike in interest has led to an uptick in the genre’s relevance.

A mockumentary is a film of some kind that depicts fictional events, but presents them in documentary form. The genre is usually meant to either mock the documentary form itself, or add another layer of comedic value to the film.

Possibly the most recognizable example of this genre is the beloved sitcom The Office.

This style is anything but new as the word “mockumentary” was coined back in the 1960s, but recently the genre has been developing rapidly.

Andy Samberg has been particularly keen in using this technique with many films already out, such as Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, 7 Days in Hell, and Tour de Pharmacy, the last two of which are sports documentaries.

These modest films have been picking up steam and their success is only growing.  Netflix has joined in recently with its successful short series American Vandal.  

Mockumentaries have been around for ages, and they have slowly increased in popularity ever since their conception. This current spike in popularity is the largest that has ever occurred.

The popularity of the style has been shown to fall and rise periodically, so it is just a matter of time to see if this growth can sustain itself. But as of right now, the genre is as successful as ever.

This beloved style of comedy has stood the test of time, and its current success is a positive for film lovers everywhere.