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Parents' Guide to

Office Space

By Alyssa Ellsworth, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Funny but dark '90s comedy has lots of cursing, some sex.

Movie R 1999 89 minutes
Office Space Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Chris G.
Chris G. Parent of 9, 17 and 18+-year-old
March 9, 2023
age 16+

Very intelligent humor but silly at the same time. For those that have ever had a dead end job.

A very intelligent comedy from an unlikely Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead. 16+ is safe but unless you've had a job, and a crappy boss, this will be difficult to understand the humor. I actually found it funnier when I watched it later in life, 20's, and understood what PC Load Letter meant lol. I've seen it about 5 times and still thoroughly enjoy it. I also now know that Swingline staplers are much better than Bostich.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
simpleseth
simpleseth Adult
July 20, 2013
age 16+

Quirky Masterpiece

A very good comedy about office life and the reality of problems that people must face. Mike Judge really knows how to put the audience in an amusing yet welcoming environment. If you're going to watch this movie with the family, be sure your kids are accompanied, so that you can pause and explain any complex adult situations to them. You won't forget memorable characters such as Drew, Milton, or even Lumbergh after viewing this cult classic!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Peter (Ron Livingston) passively despises his job, his insufferable boss Lumbergh (Gary Cole), and the small gray cubicle where he spends most of his waking life. When he undergoes hypnosis, he loses his fear of what other people think about him, and his nonchalance frees him to change his life. He asks out the attractive waitress Joanna (Jennifer Aniston) and he stops taking work so seriously. When consultants are brought in to fire many of the company's employees, Peter teams up with colleagues Samir (Ajay Naidu) and Michael (David Herman) to hatch a plan for defrauding the company of its petty change. Meanwhile, mumbling Milton (scene-stealing Stephen Root) is reaching the end of his tether, and if he's pushed, his actions might change everything.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (18 ):

Ask 20- or 30-somethings about this hilarious comedy and you'll be deluged by movie quotes, references, and the term "a cubicle classic." Most people who have worked in an office will agree that individual scenes in this movie are among the most humorous exposés of cubicle life ever put on screen. While teens will certainly get the jokes, they probably won't identify with the situations as much as a young adult who has experienced office life.

There's no doubt that creator/director Mike Judge has an uncanny eye for revealing the humorous realities and hypocrisies of office life. The banal and often inexplicable tasks that people do, as well as the defeating weight of bureaucracy, are mocked with deadpan humor in a series of interviews between employees and the consultants. While some parents might find the end scenes problematic, the sketches that comprise the bulk of the movie are painfully funny observations on office life that will leave many saying "too true, too true." Still, given the language and sex here, this movie is best for older teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the sources of humor that this movie draws from, including the stereotypes of different office types (the Pollyanna, the self-important boss, etc.), the hallmarks of suburban culture such as the restaurant where "flair" is required, and the venting of frustrations on a piece of office equipment. If you were hypnotized not to care about what other people thought, would you act differently?

  • How does this movie explore the idea of living the life you would like to live versus the practical realities of having to earn a living?

  • Years after its release, how has this movie held up? Is it still relevant? What aspects of it ground it in the time in which it was released?

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