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The Office

The Office

A comedy for anyone whose boss is an idiot.

2005–2013Ended9 seasons191 episodes~22 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

The everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Office?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Office streaming on Disney+ and Peacock and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

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Highlights

What stands out about The Office?

The Office earns 10 badges, led by Top 1% of shows and Modern classic.

Show 2 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Office worth watching?

The Office's Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all shows, from 863K ratings across 2 sources. 93% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of shows

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)99th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

89 /100

99th percentile of all shows

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

93% liked it

97th percentile of all shows

98th percentile among Comedy98th percentile among 2000s
93% rated it 7–107% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

857K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 43% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a mockumentary about office life with an ensemble of eccentric characters, but they differ on whether this style is endearing or off-putting.

Fans praised

  • Strong character depth and relatability across the ensemble cast
  • Cringe comedy that balances awkwardness with genuine heart and emotion
  • Memorable one-liners and quotable dialogue

Detractors panned

  • Cinematography style: shaky cam and distracting documentary aesthetic
  • Inferior to the British original; loses subtlety and feels like a forced remake

What stands out

CharactersDivisive88

Richly developed, relatable archetypes; detractors call them caricatures lacking depth

HumorDivisive88

Cringe, awkward, and subtle comedy; fans find it hilarious, detractors see unfunny

DialogueDivisive87

Witty one-liners, iconic quotes, natural flow; detractors find some jokes forced

ActingDivisive85

Cast chemistry and natural performances; Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson widely praised, detractors find overacting

Ending85

Satisfying and emotional finale that brings closure

Emotional impactDivisive82

Heartfelt moments and character farewells; detractors find it lacking real emotion

Plot and storyDivisive65

Premise-driven but story arcs are character-focused; post-Michael decline noted by both

OriginalityDivisive60

Divergent from British original after season 1, but detractors see it as derivative

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

9 seasons

Season 9 · 2012 · 23 episodes · 7.6 average across 23 rated episodes

  • S9E1

    New Guys

    Sep 20, 201223 minTMDB rating 7.1
  • S9E2

    Roy's Wedding

    Sep 27, 201223 minTMDB rating 7.2
  • S9E3

    Andy's Ancestry

    Oct 4, 201223 minTMDB rating 7.3
  • S9E4

    Work Bus

    Oct 18, 201222 minTMDB rating 7.4
  • S9E5

    Here Comes Treble

    Oct 25, 201223 minTMDB rating 6.8
  • S9E6

    The Boat

    Nov 8, 201223 minTMDB rating 7.0

Watch experience

What is The Office like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Wry, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
AbsurdWarmMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Cringe humor
Register
Deadpan · 1% of shows: Delivered flat and unsmiling, which is the joke.Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.Warm
Told as
Frame story · 3% of shows: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe series holds its material at a knowing, ironic distance through the mockumentary format, but remains deeply affectionate toward its characters.
The rideEpisodes swing between cringe comedy, heartfelt moments, and occasional melancholy, with the middle seasons carrying the emotional weight of character growth and struggles.
StructureThe mockumentary format frames the series as a documentary about the office, with interviews and direct-to-camera asides.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained comedic situation, typically returning to the status quo by the end, though with some ongoing character development.
Season formatSeasons largely maintain the same cast and setting, with any season serving as a reasonable entry point, though character arcs persist.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you with a warm, feel-good feeling about the characters and their relationships, but also a bittersweet awareness that the office life they shared has ended.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows everyday office life as a mockumentary, with each episode built around a self-contained comedic situation that satirizes workplace dynamics.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipRomantic love · 10% of showsCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the odd, enduring bonds formed among coworkers — from Jim and Pam's romance to the makeshift family of the office.
StanceIt treats its characters and their workplace with affectionate neutrality, satirizing and celebrating the mundane in equal measure.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
PopSupportive music · licensed compilation
SettingA paper company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with occasional scenes in homes, bars, and other offices.
MusicFeatures a mix of indie and pop songs, often used to underscore poignant or comedic moments.

Content guide

Is The Office okay for kids?

TV-14

The Office is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (12/100), sexual content at moderate (47/100), language at moderate (45/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (36/100) and frightening material at minimal (10/100). Overall it is heavier than 22% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 34 other countries
  • UK12
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12
  • New ZealandM
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • Greece12
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaU/A 13+
  • Israel12+
  • ItalyVM12
  • MexicoB-15
  • MYP13
  • Netherlands12
  • NorwayA
  • PhilippinesSPG
  • Poland12
  • Portugal12AP
  • PRTV-14
  • RO12
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeNC16
  • South Africa13
  • Spain13
  • SwedenFrån 11 år
  • THน 13+
  • Türkiye13+
  • VITV-14
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 21% of all showsHeavier than 22% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 10%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 70%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 65%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 47%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 9%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is sexual content, heavier than 70% of TV-14 shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Office have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Office?

Cast

4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 6 award-winning performances in the cast.

Rainn Wilson
as Dwight Schrute
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
newcomer then · star now
John Krasinski
as Jim Halpert
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
newcomer then · star now
Jenna Fischer
as Pam Beesly
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Leslie David Baker
as Stanley Hudson
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Brian Baumgartner
as Kevin Malone
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Angela Kinsey
as Angela Martin
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kate Flannery
as Meredith Palmer
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Phyllis Smith
as Phyllis Vance
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Creed Bratton
as Creed Bratton
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Oscar Nuñez
as Oscar Martinez
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

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What are shows like The Office?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Office include The Office (2001), Less Than Perfect (2002) and W1A (2014).

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What other shows share a tag with The Office?

119 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: mockumentary. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.