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Office Space

Office Space is a 1999 American satirical black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Office Space is a 1999 American satirical black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It follows disaffected employees at a software company as they react to corporate life, management culture, and workplace frustration. The film was a box-office disappointment on release but later became a cult classic.

Premise

The story centers on Peter Gibbons and other employees at the fictional software company Initech as they become increasingly dissatisfied with corporate routine, management pressure, and downsizing.

Production and release

Office Space was written and directed by Mike Judge. It was released in the United States on February 19, 1999, by 20th Century Fox. The film has a runtime of 89 minutes.

Reception and legacy

The film received positive critical attention but performed poorly in theaters, earning about $12 million against a $10 million budget. Over time, it gained a strong cult following through home video and DVD popularity and became widely associated with workplace satire.

Source material

The film grew out of Mike Judge’s “Milton” animated shorts, which introduced the character Milton and helped shape the film’s tone and supporting cast.

Key facts

  • The film satirizes office work life at a 1990s software company.
  • It was released theatrically by 20th Century Fox on February 19, 1999.
  • It was a box-office disappointment, earning about $12 million against a $10 million budget.
  • The film later became a cult classic through home video and DVD popularity.
  • It is based on Mike Judge’s earlier “Milton” animated shorts.
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Canadian context

The film is widely known in Canada through home video, television, and streaming availability, and its depiction of office life has broad relevance to Canadian workplace culture.

Frequently asked questions

What is Office Space about?
It is a workplace comedy about employees at a software company who are frustrated by office culture, management, and layoffs.
Who directed Office Space?
Mike Judge wrote and directed the film.
When was Office Space released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on February 19, 1999.
Was Office Space a box-office success?
No. It underperformed theatrically, but later became a cult film on home video and DVD.
What is Office Space based on?
It was based on Mike Judge’s earlier “Milton” animated shorts.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_Space
    Supports: Release year, premise, cast, runtime, box office, and cult status
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Office-Space
    Supports: Film description, box-office flop, and cult following
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/
    Supports: Director, writer, release date, runtime, cast, and genre
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/office_space
    Supports: Synopsis, director, distributor, release date, runtime, and box office
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/office-space-1999
    Supports: Critical interpretation and workplace-satire themes
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/plotsummary/
    Supports: Basis in Mike Judge’s Milton shorts and cult status
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lumbergh
    Supports: Milton shorts origin and character context