The Office (2005)

Kernel Score: 97% · 5,006 ratings

Genres: Comedy

First aired: 2005-03-24

Seasons: 9 · 186 episodes

Is The Office worth watching?

Must-watch. A mock-documentary look at the staff of a paper company, full of awkward bosses and slow-building romance. It's endlessly rewatchable, and it earned its place as a modern sitcom benchmark.

Watch it if you

  • like cringe comedy and mockumentary style
  • enjoy character-driven sitcoms
  • want a show to rewatch many times

Skip it if you

  • can't stand awkward, uncomfortable humour
  • want a tightly serialised plot

Best for: Comfort rewatch

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch The Office

  • Stream: Peacock, YouTube TV, TBS
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango At Home

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

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

The Office parents' guide: ages 12+

Parents need to know that this TV-14 workplace mockumentary comedy relies on awkward humor, some crude jokes, and office antics.

  • Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Workplace romance and occasional crude or suggestive humor feature throughout.
  • Language: Some — Moderate language and insults consistent with a TV-14 workplace comedy.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-14 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like The Office

If you liked The Office, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Parks and Recreation (2009) — 90%: Warm, funny mockumentary workplace comedy from a similar mould.
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) — 92%: Workplace sitcom with a sharp, joke-dense ensemble.
  • The IT Crowd (2006) — 90%: British workplace comedy with great characters.
  • The Office (2001) — 87%: The British original that inspired this version.
  • Nathan for You (2013) — 91%: Cringe-heavy comedy built on awkward interactions.
  • Severance (2022) — 96%: Dark take on office life, in a very different tone.

Cast

The Office FAQ

Is The Office worth watching?

Must-watch. A mock-documentary look at the staff of a paper company, full of awkward bosses and slow-building romance. It's endlessly rewatchable, and it earned its place as a modern sitcom benchmark.

Where can I watch The Office?

In the US you can stream The Office on Peacock, YouTube TV and TBS and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is The Office OK for kids?

The Office is rated TV-14. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 12+. Parents need to know that this TV-14 workplace mockumentary comedy relies on awkward humor, some crude jokes, and office antics.

What shows are like The Office?

If you liked The Office, try Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The IT Crowd and The Office.