Looking for corporate life movies

September 21, 2006 11:08 AM

My goal is to find scenes from movies (or tv shows) that show funny/ironic employees/managers/customers interactions. Similar to Office Space or The Office. Any ideas? Thank you!
posted by krisobi to media & arts (35 comments total)

News Radio
posted by nathan_teske at 11:10 AM on September 21, 2006

Clerks.
posted by availablelight at 11:12 AM on September 21, 2006

The show Dead Like Me has some good moments between the main character George and her Happy Time boss Dolores Herbig. The interplay between George as a Reaper and her boss Mandy Patinkin is also great.

Fawlty Towers?
posted by Constant Reader at 11:13 AM on September 21, 2006

Oooh, on preview - News Radio is perfect.
posted by Constant Reader at 11:13 AM on September 21, 2006

Blake: We're adding a little something to this month's sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize?
[Holds up prize]
Blake: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.

From Glengarry Glenn Ross. The dark comedy Swimming With Sharks (with Kevin Spacey as an almost literally evil boss) might also have some scenes in the vein you're looking for.
posted by Iridic at 11:14 AM on September 21, 2006

It took this long for someone to mention the Cheese Shop and Parakeet sketches from Monty Python? Or are they just assumed?
posted by GhostintheMachine at 11:25 AM on September 21, 2006

Black Books and The IT Crowd.
posted by hot soup girl at 11:30 AM on September 21, 2006

There's some funny office bits in the beginning of Fight Club.

You should also check out Clockwatchers, which is about lowly temps.

There's plenty of funny "office" skits from Kids in the Hall, but I don't know that there's an easy way to sift through all their material.
posted by O9scar at 11:34 AM on September 21, 2006

Friends had a fair amount scenes like that, especially between Chandler and his officemates (i.e., the episode with the guy that called Chandler by the wrong name).
posted by gatorae at 11:39 AM on September 21, 2006

Haiku Tunnel
posted by trip and a half at 11:41 AM on September 21, 2006

The first half hour of Joe vs. the Volcano.
posted by Gary at 11:41 AM on September 21, 2006

Ghost World
posted by hydrophonic at 11:41 AM on September 21, 2006

Gonna ditto "Dead Like Me." Lots of good office interactions.
posted by limeonaire at 11:42 AM on September 21, 2006

And gonna say a big no to "Ghost World" and Monty Python.

(Sorry. I don't think they're really what the poster's looking for. I also greatly dislike both of them.)
posted by limeonaire at 11:44 AM on September 21, 2006

I just remembered the "Downsizing" sketch from "Mr. Show."
posted by Iridic at 11:44 AM on September 21, 2006

Lots of customer interaction in High Fidelity.
posted by MegoSteve at 12:05 PM on September 21, 2006

There's plenty of funny "office" skits from Kids in the Hall, but I don't know that there's an easy way to sift through all their material.

- "You've got a bit of food in your moustache."
- "You're fired." "What are you trying to say?"
- "Girl Drink Drunk."
- "And many, many Armani..."

You can comb through the episode guides here.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:18 PM on September 21, 2006

Brazil?
posted by parilous at 12:41 PM on September 21, 2006

More Kids in the Hall:

Monique the Pyromaniac -
Dave: Do you - do you like it here?
Mark as Monique: Oh yes, everyone is so flammable!

The Cathy's etc...
posted by Constant Reader at 12:49 PM on September 21, 2006

Sports Night was about nothing if if wasn't about How to Behave Quirkily With Your Professional Colleagues, Especially When You Have to Pull Rank.
posted by hsoltz at 12:51 PM on September 21, 2006

Mary Tyler Moore had a lot of this, if I recall correctly.
posted by kc0dxh at 12:54 PM on September 21, 2006

Scrubs? It's not an office, but it's definitely a workplace comedy.
posted by SoftRain at 12:57 PM on September 21, 2006

Billy Wilder excelled at this. See "The Apartment," "One, Two, Three", and "The Front Page."
posted by grumblebee at 1:02 PM on September 21, 2006 [1 favorite]

9 to 5. I'm suprised no one's mentioned it yet.

I never watched it, but wasn't there a Fred Savage office sitcom called Working?
posted by metabrilliant at 1:03 PM on September 21, 2006

oh, and also: Drew Carey
posted by metabrilliant at 1:08 PM on September 21, 2006

"American Beauty"
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:44 PM on September 21, 2006

Forty Year Old Virgin has a lot of management/staff/customer scenes in a sales environment.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 1:59 PM on September 21, 2006

I highly recommend the somewhat obscure CBC comedy Made in Canada, which aired in the US as "The Industry" on PBS. It's The Office - by Machiavelli. Season one is available on DVD.
posted by Urban Hermit at 2:13 PM on September 21, 2006

Krisobi?!? Sorry to derail - but I gotta say hello to an old friend! Back to the topic at hand...
posted by daveleck at 3:10 PM on September 21, 2006

Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
posted by zoinks at 5:08 PM on September 21, 2006

Every ep of Are You Being Served?
posted by rob511 at 8:48 PM on September 21, 2006

The Big Kahuna is about salesmen rather than office workers, but it may have some of what you're looking for.
posted by concrete at 10:53 PM on September 21, 2006

Thank you for the great suggestions! I can't believe I didn't think of 9 to 5 myself...

Hey Dave! :)
posted by krisobi at 6:00 AM on September 22, 2006

Lot of excellent recommendations here: I definitely second Sports Night, Dead Like Me, and NewsRadio.
posted by WCityMike at 8:07 AM on September 22, 2006

I agree, Black Books.
posted by nuclear_soup at 1:04 PM on September 22, 2006