The Best Mockumentaries Of All-Time
“What are the best Mockumentary movies ever made?” We looked at 153 of the top Mockumentary films and ranked them so we could answer that very question!
The top 29 films, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Mockumentary” movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 100+ movies, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Top 29 Best Mockumentary Movies Of All-Time
29 .) American Zombie directed by Grace Lee
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- io9
- Ranker
Documents the daily lives of a small community of the living deceased who make their home in Los Angeles.
28 .) Death of a President directed by Gabriel Range
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- io9
- Ranker
A fictional investigative documentary looks back on the “assassination” of George W. Bush and attempts to answer the question of who committed the murder. Perhaps less morbid and disturbing to watch now than during Bush’s presidency, the film doesn’t address Bush’s policies at all, instead focusing on the way a nation assigns blame in a time of crisis.
27 .) For Your Consideration (2006) directed by Christopher Guest
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB 3
- Ranker
Three actors learn that their respective performances in the film “Home for Purim,” a drama set in the mid-1940s American South, are generating award-season buzz.
26 .) Forgotten Silver (1995) directed by Costa Botes
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB 3
- Screen Rant
The life story of Colin McKenzie, a forgotten pioneer of international cinema who was born in rural New Zealand in 1888.
25 .) Hard Core Logo (1996) directed by Bruce McDonald
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB 3
Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick holds the whole magilla together through sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of life on the road come bubbling to the surface.
24 .) Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) directed by Akiva Schaffer
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
When his new album fails to sell records, pop/rap superstar Conner4real goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life begin to collapse. He’ll try anything to bounce back, anything except reuniting with his old rap group The Style Boyz.
23 .) Real Life (1979) directed by Albert Brooks
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB 3
A pushy, narcissistic filmmaker persuades a Phoenix family to let him and his crew film their everyday lives, in the manner of the ground-breaking PBS series “An American Family”.
22 .) Series 7: The Contenders (2001) directed by Daniel Minahan
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- io9
- SBS
A reality TV program selects six contestants to participate in a free-for-all, no holds barred deathmatch, where they must skillfully outwit and kill each other in order to be the last person alive.
21 .) Take the Money and Run (1969) directed by Woody Allen
Lists It Appears On:
- IFC
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
Virgil Starkwell is intent on becoming a notorious bank robber. Unfortunately for Virgil and his not-so-budding career, he is completely incompetent.
20 .) The Big Tease (1999) directed by Kevin Allen
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB 3
Thinking he’s competing in Los Angeles’ hot Platinum Scissors contest, Scottish hairstylist Crawford (Craig Ferguson) leaves Glasgow with a film crew to capture the event. When he learns he’s a mere audience member, Crawford must find a way to become the mane event. Abhorrent Norwegian Stig is his stiff-as-gel competition. Drew Carey and others make cameo appearances in this hysterical mockumentar
19 .) The Blair Witch Project (1999) directed by Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick
Lists It Appears On:
- List Challenges
- SBS
- Smashing Lists
In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary. A year later their footage was found.
18 .) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) directed by Scott Glosserman
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- List Challenges
- Ranker
The next great psycho horror slasher has given a documentary crew exclusive access to his life as he plans his reign of terror over the sleepy town of Glen Echo, all the while deconstructing the conventions and archetypes of the horror genre for them.
17 .) Brüno (2009) directed by Larry Charles
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
Flamboyantly gay Austrian television reporter Bruno stirs up trouble with unsuspecting guests and large crowds through brutally frank interviews and painfully hilarious public displays of homosexuality.
16 .) Incident at Loch Ness (2004) directed by Zak Penn
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- Ranker
The German film director Werner Herzog sets out to the Scottish Highlands to make a documentary, “Enigma of Loch Ness”, exploding the myth of the Loch Ness Monster. Meanwhile, another documentary film crew is making a film about Werner Herzog, and we see the production of “Enigma” from their point of view. Shooting on a rented boat, tensions begin to rise as director Herzog and his producer, Zak Penn, find themselves at cross-purposes on the black surface of Loch Ness. Things get very edgy when the film crew starts seeing shapes in the murky water.
15 .) The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978) directed by Eric Idle
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four.
14 .) C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004) directed by Kevin Willmott
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- io9
- Ranker
Through the eyes of a British “documentary”, this film takes a satirically humorous, and sometimes frightening, look at the history of an America where the South won the Civil War.
13 .) CB4 (1993) directed by Tamra Davis
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
A “rockumentary”, covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group “CB4”. We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don’t apear to know as much about rap music as they claim… but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You’ve just got to play the part of a rap star…
12 .) Zelig (1983) directed by Woody Allen
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IFC
- IMDB 3
- SBS
- Screen Rant
Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.
11 .) Bob Roberts (1992) directed by Tim Robbins
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
Mock documentary about an upstart candidate for the U.S. Senate written and directed by actor Tim Robbins. Bob Roberts is a folksinger with a difference: He offers tunes that protest welfare chiselers, liberal whining, and the like. As the filmmakers follow his campaign, Robbins gives needle-sharp insight into the way candidates manipulate the media.
10 .) Fear of a Black Hat (1993) directed by Rusty Cundieff
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- SBS
- Screen Rant
Chronicling the controversial career of bad boys N.W.H. (Niggaz With Hats), this uproarious ‘mockumentary’ lampoons all of hardcore rap’s hot-button issues. This underground laugh riot recounts the rise, fall and resurrection of a clueless bunch of would-be rappers, Ice Cold, Tone-Def & Tasty Taste performing as N.W.H.
9 .) Man Bites Dog (1992) directed by Rémy Belvaux
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- List Challenges
- Paste Magazine
- Screen Rant
- Smashing Lists
The activities of rampaging, indiscriminate serial killer Ben are recorded by a willingly complicit documentary team, who eventually become his accomplices and active participants. Ben provides casual commentary on the nature of his work and arbitrary musings on topics of interest to him, such as music or the conditions of low-income housing, and even goes so far as to introduce the documentary crew to his family. But their reckless indulgences soon get the better of them.
8 .) A Mighty Wind (2003) directed by Christopher Guest
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- Smashing Lists
In “A Mighty Wind”, director Christopher Guest reunites the team from “Best In Show” and “Waiting for Guffman” to tell tell the story of 60’s-era folk musicians, who inspired by the death of their former manager, get back on the stage for one concert in New York City’s Town Hall.
7 .) Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) directed by Michael Patrick Jann
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- SBS
- Screen Rant
In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family in town, the police are pretty relaxed about it all. Despite everything, main rival (but sweet) Amber Atkins won’t give up without a fight.
6 .) I’m Still Here (2010) directed by Casey Affleck
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB
- IMDB 3
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
- Smashing Lists
I’m Still Here is a portrayal of a tumultuous year in the life of actor Joaquin Phoenix. With remarkable access, the film follows the Oscar-nominee as he announces his retirement from a successful film career in the fall of 2008 and sets off to reinvent himself as a hip-hop musician. The film is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads and explores notions of courage and creative reinvention, as well as the ramifications of a life spent in the public eye.
5 .) What We Do in the Shadows (2014) directed by Jemaine Clement
Lists It Appears On:
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- SBS
- Screen Rant
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
4 .) Best in Show (2000) directed by Christopher Guest
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- SBS
- Screen Rant
The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives — the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.
3 .) Waiting for Guffman (1996) directed by Christopher Guest
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- Screen Rant
Corky St. Clair is a director, actor and dancer in Blaine, Missouri. When it comes time to celebrate Blaine’s 150th anniversary, Corky resolves to bring down the house in Broadway style in this hilarious mockumentary from the people who brought you “This is Spinal Tap!”
2 .) Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) directed by Larry Charles
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- SBS
- Screen Rant
- Smashing Lists
Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev travels to America to make a documentary. As he zigzags across the nation, Borat meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences. His backwards behavior generates strong reactions around him exposing prejudices and hypocrisies in American culture.
1 .) This Is Spinal Tap (1984) directed by Rob Reiner
Lists It Appears On:
- Box Office Mojo
- Goliath
- IFC
- IMDB
- IMDB 2
- IMDB 3
- Paste Magazine
- Ranker
- SBS
- Screen Rant
- Smashing Lists
“This Is Spinal Tap” shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.
The 100+ Additional Best Mockumentaries Ever Made
| # | Movies | Directors | Lists |
| 30 | Brothers of the Head (2005) | Keith Fulton | IMDB 3 |
| – | – | – | Ranker |
| 31 | Chalk (2006) | Mike Akel | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 32 | Comic Book: The Movie (2004) | Mark Hamill | IMDB 3 |
| – | – | – | Ranker |
| 33 | Confetti (2006) | Debbie Isitt | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 34 | Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee (2007) | Justin Lin |
Box Office Mojo
|
| – | – | – | IMDB |
| 35 | Gamers (2006) | Christopher Folino | IMDB 3 |
| – | – | – | Ranker |
| 36 | Ghostwatch (1992) | io9 | |
| – | – | – |
List Challenges
|
| 37 | Kenny (2006) | Clayton Jacobson | IMDB |
| – | – | – | SBS |
| 38 | Lake Mungo (2008) |
List Challenges
|
|
| – | – | – |
Smashing Lists
|
| 39 | LolliLove (2004) | Jenna Fischer | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 40 | Man of the Year (1995) | Dirk Shafer |
Box Office Mojo
|
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 41 | Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) | Steve Barron | IMDB 3 |
| – | – | – |
Smashing Lists
|
| 42 | Punishment Park (1971) |
List Challenges
|
|
| – | – | – |
Smashing Lists
|
| 43 | Surf’s Up (2007) | Ash Brannon | IMDB |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 44 | Sweet and Lowdown (1999) | Woody Allen | Goliath |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 45 | The Grand |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| – | – | – | Ranker |
| 46 | We Make Movies (2016) | Matt Tory | IMDB 2 |
| – | – | – | IMDB 3 |
| 47 | [REC]² (2009) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 48 | [REC]³ Genesis (2012) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 49 | 102 Minutes That Changed America (2008) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 50 | 2gether (2000 TV Movie) | Nigel Dick | IMDB 3 |
| 51 | 7 Days in Hell (2015 TV Movie) | Jake Szymanski | IMDB 3 |
| 52 | A Day Without a Mexican (2004) | Sergio Arau | IMDB 3 |
| 53 |
Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)
|
List Challenges
|
|
| 54 | Alive in Joburg | io9 | |
| 55 | Alone With Her (2006) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 56 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 57 | And God Spoke |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 58 | August Underground (2001) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 59 | August Underground’s Mordum (2003) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 60 | August Underground’s Penance (2007) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 61 | Babylon 5, “And Now for a Word” | io9 | |
| 62 | Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 63 | Cannibal Holocaust | Ranker | |
| 64 | Children of the Revolution |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 65 | Chronicles of an Exorcism (2008) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 66 | Cloverfield (2008) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 67 | Confessions of a Porn Addict (2008) | Duncan Christie | IMDB 3 |
| 68 | Corked! |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 69 | Dadetown |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 70 | Dick Ho: Asian Male Porn Star (2006) | Jeffrey Lei | IMDB 3 |
| 71 | District 9 (2009) | Neill Blomkamp | IMDB 3 |
| 72 | Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie (2016 TV Movie) | Jeremy Konner | IMDB 3 |
| 73 | Exit Through the Giftshop (2010) |
Smashing Lists
|
|
| 74 | Farce of the Penguins |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 75 | Farscape, “A Constellation of Doubt” | io9 | |
| 76 | Fellowship of the Dice (2005) | Matthew Michael Ross | IMDB 3 |
| 77 | First on the Moon (2005) | Aleksey Fedorchenko | IMDB 3 |
| 78 | Fubar (2002) | Michael Dowse | IMDB |
| 79 | Fudge 44 (2006) | Graham Jones | IMDB 3 |
| 80 | G-Sale (2003) | Randy Nargi | IMDB 3 |
| 81 | Gang Tapes (2001) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 82 | Gangsta Rap: The Glockumentary (2007) | Coke Daniels | IMDB 3 |
| 83 | Get Ready to Be Boyzvoiced (2000) | Espen Eckbo | IMDB 3 |
| 84 | Ghosts with Shit Jobs | io9 | |
| 85 | How to Be a Serial Killer |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 86 | Husbands and Wives |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 87 | Il Mistero Di Lovecraft – Road to L. (2005) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 88 | In Memorium (2005) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 89 |
In the Jungle: The Making of Cannibal Holocaust (2003)
|
List Challenges
|
|
| 90 | Invasion (2005) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 91 | It’s All Gone Pete Tong |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 92 | Killing Gunther (2017) | Taran Killam | IMDB 3 |
| 93 | Les mercredis de l’histoire (1999– ) Episode: Dark Side of the Moon (2002) | William Karel | IMDB 3 |
| 94 | Lifetime Gross |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 95 | Love Possibly (2018) | Michael Boccalini | IMDB 3 |
| 96 | Man with a Plan |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 97 | Mascots (2016) | Christopher Guest | IMDB 3 |
| 98 | Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful (1992 TV Movie) | Julie Brown | IMDB 3 |
| 99 | Morris: A Life with Bells On (2009) | Lucy Akhurst | IMDB 3 |
| 100 | Never Been Thawed |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 101 | Off the Beaten Path (2004 Video) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 102 | Operation Avalanche (2016) | Matt Johnson | IMDB 3 |
| 103 | Paranormal Activity : Tokyo Night |
List Challenges
|
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| 104 | Paranormal Activity (2007) |
List Challenges
|
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| 105 | Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) |
List Challenges
|
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| 106 | Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) |
List Challenges
|
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| 107 | Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) |
List Challenges
|
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| 108 | Parks and Recreation (2009–2015) | Amy Poehler | IMDB 2 |
| 109 | Pauly Shore is Dead |
Box Office Mojo
|
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| 110 | Quarantine (2008) |
List Challenges
|
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| 111 | Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011) |
List Challenges
|
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| 112 | R2-D2: Beneath the Dome | io9 | |
| 113 | Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance (2007) |
Screen Rant
|
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| 114 | REC (2011) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 115 | Sons of Provo (2004) | Will Swenson | IMDB 3 |
| 116 | Strawberry Estates (2001) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 117 | Surviving Eden |
Box Office Mojo
|
|
| 118 | Tanner ’88 (1988) | IFC | |
| 119 | The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down (2006) | Paul Sapiano | IMDB 3 |
| 120 | The Clowns (1970 TV Movie) | Federico Fellini | IMDB 3 |
| 121 | The Collingswood Story |
List Challenges
|
|
| 122 | The Delicate Art of Parking (2003) | Trent Carlson | IMDB 3 |
| 123 | The Falls | io9 | |
| 124 | The Flying Scissors (2009) | Jonah Tulis | IMDB 3 |
| 125 | The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) | Jamie Uys | IMDB 3 |
| 126 | The Heavenly Kings (2006) | Daniel Wu | IMDB 3 |
| 127 | The Incident at Loch Ness | io9 | |
| 128 | The Last Broadcast (1998) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 129 | The Last Polka (1985 TV Movie) | John Blanchard | IMDB 3 |
| 130 | The Magician |
List Challenges
|
|
| 131 | The Making of ‘…And God Spoke’ (1993) | Arthur Borman | IMDB 3 |
| 132 | The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human | Ranker | |
| 133 | The Mother of Invention (2009) | Andrew Bowser | IMDB 3 |
| 134 | The Office (2001-2003; 2005-2013) | IFC | |
| 135 | The Office (2001-3) | SBS | |
| 136 | The Office (2005–2013) | Steve Carell | IMDB 2 |
| 137 | The Old Negro Space Program | io9 | |
| 138 | The Old Negro Space Program (2004) | Andy Bobrow | IMDB 3 |
| 139 | The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) |
List Challenges
|
|
| 140 | The St. Francisville Experiment |
List Challenges
|
|
| 141 | The Trip | Ranker | |
| 142 | The War Game | io9 | |
| 143 | The Wicksboro Incident (2003) |
List Challenges
|
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| 144 | The X-Files, “X-Cops” | io9 | |
| 145 | The Zombie Diaries (2006) |
List Challenges
|
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| 146 | Tour de Pharmacy (2017 TV Movie) | Jake Szymanski | IMDB 3 |
| 147 | Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day |
Paste Magazine
|
|
| 148 | Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006) | Mike Clattenburg | IMDB 3 |
| 149 | Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story |
Box Office Mojo
|
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| 150 | Trollhunter (2010) | André Øvredal | IMDB 3 |
| 151 | Welcome to the Jungle (2007) |
List Challenges
|
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| 152 | WW III: World War III (1998 TV Movie) | Robert Stone | IMDB 3 |
| 153 | Zero Day (2003) |
List Challenges
|
13 Best Mockumentary Film Sources/Lists
| Source | Article |
| Box Office Mojo | Mockumentary Movies at the Box Office |
| Goliath | The 10 Best Mockumentaries Of All Time |
| IFC | 10 Mockumentaries That Turn Up the Hilarity to Eleven |
| IMDB | The Best Modern Mockumentary Films |
| IMDB 2 | The 10 Funniest Mockumentaries Ever Made |
| IMDB 3 | Memorable Mockumentaries |
| io9 | 15 Scifi Mockumentaries That Will Leave You Questioning Reality |
| List Challenges | Top Found Footage/POV/Mockumentary Movies |
| Paste Magazine | The 12 Funniest Mockumentaries |
| Ranker | Mockumentary Movies |
| SBS | The 11 best mockumentaries of all time |
| Screen Rant | 15 Funniest Mockumentaries Of All Time |
| Smashing Lists | Top 10 Mockumentaries |
