Paramount Pictures/RatPac-Dune Entertainment/Fox 2000 PicturesUp in the Air (2009, top left); The Intern (2015, top right); The Devil Wears Prada (2006, bottom left); Hidden Figures (2016, bottom right)

Paramount Pictures/RatPac-Dune Entertainment/Fox 2000 Pictures

8 best movies to watch if you miss working in the office

Been working from home for too long? Watch these films on Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar to remind you of office life.

Friday August 13 2021

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Written by Arpiwach Supateerawanitt

Writer

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We all miss how it feels to work in the office—typing away in the confines of our own cubicle, engaging in chit-chat with colleagues during a coffee break, or even sneaking out to take a nap in the toilet or a hidden corner behind the printer (busted!).

To keep you in touch with work-from-office vibes, we’ve rounded up eight movies set in the traditional workplace for you to watch on Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar. Some of them deliver insightful messages about work life, while some may just give you enough motivation to keep working hard during quarantine.

Check them out tonight when working hours are over. (Don’t be sneaky and watch it during the day).

Available on Netflix

The Intern (2015)

Netflix

Don’t judge the movie by its poster! The intern in this movie is not played by Anne Hathaway, which may have been your first thought. Instead, the trainee position is taken by Robert de Niro’s character, retired widower Ben Whittaker. Bored with his monotonous life, the 70-year-old decides to become a senior intern at an online fashion site company run by CEO Jules Ostin (Hathaway).

The Intern depicts the unlikely friendship and special bond that emerges between two generations in a workplace. While the elderly intern learns new ideas from a younger generation, Jules and her co-workers also learn a lot from Ben’s experiences.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Netflix

Dumped by his wife, single dad Chris Gardner (Will Smith) struggles to raise his five-year-old (played by Smith’s own son Jaden) alone. He lands a position as an unpaid intern at a reputable brokerage firm, where he has to prove himself many times over to make the cut and hopefully pursue a better life.

Inspired by a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness shows us the cruelty of being financially pressed and the hardship of raising a child alone. This heartfelt movie, and the brilliant acting of both father and son, will make you smile and cry—and will surely take up a special place in your heart.

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Set It Up (2018)

Netflix

Two overworked assistants connive to bring about a romantic relationship between their demanding bosses, hoping that this will grant them a much-needed reprieve.

If you’re looking for a humorous take on office life for Friday night, Set It Up is a good candidate. The movie reveals the lives of assistants who have to do everything for their workaholic bosses, such as help out with school science projects and even running around the office to achieve 10,000 steps on said boss’ fitness tracker.

Up in the Air (2009)

Netflix

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) travels around the US, firing people for a living and generally enjoying a life that’s free of any commitment. He begins to question his lifestyle, however, when a young enthusiastic co-worker (Anna Kendrick) reminds him of something that’s missing in his life.

Up in the Air, despite its feel-good vibes, is a hugely thought-provoking film that will hit you hard with questions about the most important things in life, and how we’re all controlled by money and society. Plus, the plot takes on an unpredictable twist (wait for it).

Available on Disney+ Hotstar

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

Touchstone Pictures

Despite racking up enormous debts on her credit cards, nothing can stop New York shopaholic Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) from incessantly spending on things she doesn’t need. After missing out on a position at a fashion magazine, she lands a job as a columnist for Successful Savings magazine, which helps her cope with her shopping addiction.

This chick flick is so relatable for many of us who can’t resist the word “SALE” on red banners and can never get enough of shopping. The inner thoughts of Rebecca Bloomwood when she sees clothes in the shop window and the way she describes her love for shopping are some of the movie’s funnier highlights.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Fox 2000 Pictures

Naive recent grad Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) has dreams of becoming a “serious” journalist, but instead finds herself working as a co-assistant for Miranda Priestly (flawlessly played by Meryl Streep), the powerful and ruthless editor-in-chief of high-fashion magazine Runway.

The Devil Wears Prada not only reveals the dog-eat-dog world of the fashion industry, but also reminds you of the thirst for proving yourself to a tough, seemingly implacable boss.
As a bonus, the film offers a glorious montage of iconic fashion ensembles in the 2000s. We’re talking double-breasted Chanel jackets, thigh-high boots and structured boleros.

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Hidden Figures (2016)

Fox 2000 Pictures

This film revolves around the three brilliant black women who played a significant role behind one of NASA's greatest operations: sending astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

This inspirational and heartwarming Oscar-nominated flick provides an insightful look into NASA operations back in the ’60s. Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, and Octavia Spencer beautifully portray African-American women attempting to break the glass ceiling in a field where racial and gender segregation was the norm.

The Proposal (2009)

Touchstone Pictures

Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), a pushy editor-in-chief of a book publishing company in New York, encounters a problem with her work visa, so she asks her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to propose a sham marriage to avoid being deported back to Canada. In the process, they have to travel to Alaska to meet Andrew’s extraordinary family.

The Proposal has elements of a cliched romcom, but the amazing chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds is something we cannot help mentioning. Their excellent comedic chops, plus the fact that they look so cute together, will definitely have you rooting for them throughout the entire movie.