What We Do in the Shadows works because it understands that the funniest monsters are the ones stuck doing chores. By filtering ancient, bloodsucking immortals through the painfully mundane rhythms of a shared household, the series turns supernatural lore into workplace comedy, complete with petty grudges, passive-aggressive roommates, and centuries-old beefs that somehow feel deeply relatable. The mockumentary style doesn’t just frame the jokes, it weaponizes awkwardness, letting every long stare and casual confession land like a stake to the heart.
There’s also a rare alchemy at play in the ensemble. Every character, from the grandstanding vampires to the aggressively normal humans orbiting them, feels essential, sharply defined, and allowed to be stupid in their own specific way. The humor thrives on contrast: high gothic drama deflated by modern bureaucracy, ancient power undercut by emotional insecurity, and immortal beings who can’t figure out group chat etiquette.
If that combination of genre parody, character-first comedy, and low-stakes chaos is your comfort food, you’re not alone. The shows that scratch the same itch tend to blend heightened worlds with grounded personalities, using absurd premises to explore friendship, identity, and the slow horror of coexisting with other people. What follows is a carefully curated binge list for anyone chasing that same delightful mix of weird, warm, and unreasonably funny.
What We Looked For: Mockumentary Chaos, Immortal Roommates, and Ensemble Alchemy
Before diving into the list, it helps to define the specific flavor of funny What We Do in the Shadows perfected. Not every supernatural comedy qualifies, and not every ensemble sitcom understands how to balance absurdity with genuine character work. These picks were chosen because they tap into the same comedic pressure points that make watching immortal idiots argue over chores so endlessly rewatchable.
Mockumentary Energy Without Needing the Fangs
The mockumentary format isn’t just a visual gimmick, it’s a joke delivery system. Shows that earn a spot here understand the power of direct-to-camera confessionals, uncomfortable pauses, and characters accidentally revealing too much because they think they’re the hero of the story. Even when a series isn’t technically a mockumentary, we looked for that same self-aware rhythm, where the comedy feels like it’s winking at you mid-scene.
This kind of chaos works best when characters are convinced they’re being reasonable, even as everything around them collapses. Shadows thrives on that disconnect, and so do the shows that follow in its blood-soaked footsteps.
Heightened Worlds, Painfully Relatable Problems
Vampires, ghosts, demons, gods, aliens, the specific mythology matters less than how casually it’s treated. The best companions to What We Do in the Shadows drop fantastical elements into everyday life and then mine humor from logistics, bureaucracy, and social etiquette. Immortality is funny, but immortality paired with rent, roommates, and unresolved emotional baggage is funnier.
We prioritized shows where genre isn’t the punchline, it’s the setting. The laughs come from characters navigating absurd rules with very human insecurities, whether that means workplace rivalries, found-family dynamics, or centuries of unresolved drama bubbling up during a team meeting.
Ensembles That Let Everyone Be Ridiculous
At its core, Shadows is an ensemble show that refuses to play favorites. Every character gets to be delusional, incompetent, oddly sincere, and occasionally brilliant. That balance is crucial, and every series on this list understands that comedy deepens when no single character is the “normal” one for long.
We looked for casts with chemistry that feels lived-in, where relationships evolve through petty conflicts, unexpected loyalty, and shared disaster. If a show could plausibly spin off an entire episode because two side characters are beefing over something trivial, it was already on the right track.
In short, these recommendations aren’t just about supernatural vibes or documentary cameras. They’re about capturing that sweet spot where absurd premises meet emotional specificity, and where the real joke is watching deeply flawed people try, and fail, to coexist peacefully.
Mockumentary Mayhem: Shows That Nail the Awkward, Deadpan POV
Before it was about vampires squabbling over chores and familiars, What We Do in the Shadows was about perspective. That ever-present camera, the lingering zooms, the uncomfortable pauses after someone says something unhinged and fully expects agreement. Mockumentary comedy lives and dies by that rhythm, and when it works, it turns even the smallest character flaw into a recurring gag.
These shows understand that the documentary format isn’t just a visual gimmick. It’s a weapon. The humor comes from people explaining themselves with complete sincerity, even as the footage quietly proves them wrong.
Wellington Paranormal
If Shadows has a true sibling series, it’s Wellington Paranormal, and not just because it spins out of the same creative DNA. The show follows two painfully earnest police officers who treat ghosts, demons, and occult nonsense with the same bureaucratic seriousness as parking violations. The mockumentary style is bone-dry, letting the absurdity sit in frame without commentary.
For Shadows fans, the appeal is immediate. Supernatural chaos is routine, authority figures are wildly unqualified, and the characters remain convinced they’re doing an excellent job. It’s a masterclass in letting mundanity make the paranormal even funnier.
The Office (UK)
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s original series remains one of the purest expressions of mockumentary discomfort. David Brent’s desperate need to be liked, admired, and considered funny mirrors the same delusional confidence that fuels Shadows’ immortals. The camera doesn’t mock him outright; it simply observes and waits.
Fans who love watching vampires justify centuries of bad behavior will recognize the thrill here. The laughs come from self-mythologizing, from people constructing a heroic version of themselves that reality stubbornly refuses to support. It’s brutal, intimate, and endlessly influential.
Parks and Recreation
While sunnier than Shadows, Parks and Recreation uses the same documentary grammar to elevate its ensemble. The talking heads, the glances to camera, and the escalating absurdity of local government all feel rooted in character rather than punchlines. Everyone is deeply committed to their worldview, no matter how impractical.
For Shadows devotees, the joy comes from watching an ensemble where no one is truly grounded. Even the most competent characters are operating on intense personal logic, which makes the mockumentary lens feel essential rather than decorative.
Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementary proves how flexible the format can be when paired with strong character writing. The mockumentary setup allows teachers to narrate their own chaos, often undercutting themselves mid-sentence. It’s warm, sharp, and acutely aware of how institutions grind people down.
While it trades vampires for underfunded classrooms, the comedic engine is familiar. Passionate people are trapped inside flawed systems, convinced their approach is the right one. For Shadows fans, it scratches the same itch of watching sincerity collide with reality, one awkward cutaway at a time.
People Just Do Nothing
This cult favorite follows a group of aspiring pirate radio DJs who believe they’re underground legends. The mockumentary style lets their confidence play out uninterrupted, which only makes their mediocrity more pronounced. The comedy thrives on silence, missed cues, and total lack of self-awareness.
It’s not supernatural, but the delusion level rivals any centuries-old vampire. Like Shadows, the show understands that the funniest characters are the ones who would absolutely narrate their own downfall without realizing it’s happening.
Supernatural Satire & Genre Comedy: Vampires Optional, Absurdity Required
If What We Do in the Shadows works for you because it treats the supernatural as just another workplace nuisance, this is where things really click. These shows don’t just parody genre tropes; they live inside them, poking holes with deadpan sincerity and deeply committed ensembles. The monsters may change, but the comedic philosophy remains the same: take the absurd seriously, and let the characters do the rest.
Ghosts (UK)
Ghosts takes the mockumentary-adjacent intimacy of Shadows and applies it to a haunted house filled with spirits who died in wildly inconvenient ways. Each ghost is trapped in the era and personality they died with, resulting in centuries of unresolved grievances and pettiness. The supernatural rules are clear, but the comedy comes from how rigidly the characters cling to them.
For Shadows fans, the appeal is immediate. Immortal beings bicker over territory, relevance, and respect, all while utterly failing to adapt to the modern world. It’s gentler than Shadows, but just as character-obsessed.
Wellington Paranormal
A direct cousin to What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal follows two deeply underqualified police officers tasked with investigating supernatural disturbances. The show treats ghosts, demons, and possessed objects as minor administrative headaches rather than existential threats. Bureaucracy is the real monster.
The humor mirrors Shadows’ deadpan delivery and institutional satire. Watching official protocols collide with ancient curses scratches the same itch as seeing vampires argue about house chores while ignoring looming doom.
Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death swaps vampires for pirates but keeps the same comedic DNA of historical absurdity filtered through modern sensibilities. The show thrives on anachronistic dialogue, emotionally earnest characters, and a refusal to treat its setting with traditional genre seriousness. It’s a workplace comedy in period costume.
Shadows fans will recognize the joy of watching legendary figures reduced to insecure, emotionally messy weirdos. Like the vampires of Staten Island, these pirates are more concerned with feelings and status than actual survival.
Resident Alien
Resident Alien leans more sci-fi than supernatural, but its central gag feels spiritually aligned with Shadows. An alien sent to destroy humanity gets sidetracked by small-town life and his own growing emotional complications. The comedy comes from watching someone misunderstand humanity with absolute confidence.
For Shadows devotees, the pleasure lies in the outsider perspective. Much like vampires trying to pass as roommates, the alien’s attempts to blend in only highlight how strange everyone already is. The show balances heartfelt moments with genre-aware humor that never winks too hard.
The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh abandons realism entirely in favor of surreal fantasy logic, musical numbers, and talking animals. Its supernatural elements aren’t explained so much as accepted, creating a world where anything can happen if it’s funny enough. Narrative consistency is optional; commitment is not.
While it’s far more abstract than Shadows, the shared sensibility is clear. Both shows trust their audience to follow wildly specific, deeply strange characters without grounding explanations. If you love Shadows at its weirdest, this is essential viewing.
Workplace & Roommate Comedies with Unhinged Energy
If What We Do in the Shadows works because it treats immortality like a petty group project gone wrong, these shows hit a similar nerve. They thrive on shared spaces, bruised egos, and characters who should absolutely not be left alone together. The supernatural may fade into the background here, but the chaos remains gloriously intact.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is essentially What We Do in the Shadows without the capes and with significantly worse people. The Gang operates their bar like vampires run their house: incompetently, selfishly, and with total confidence that they’re in the right. Every episode feels like watching centuries-old grudges play out in real time, just fueled by beer instead of blood.
Shadows fans will appreciate the ensemble chemistry and the show’s commitment to letting characters be irredeemable. Like Nandor or Laszlo, these people never learn, and that’s exactly the point. The humor comes from repetition, escalation, and the comfort of knowing growth is never coming.
Community
Community starts as a scrappy sitcom but slowly reveals itself as a genre-bending ensemble comedy that thrives on meta humor and emotional absurdity. Greendale Community College operates less like a school and more like a cursed house where reality bends depending on the episode. The characters treat shared spaces as battlegrounds for identity, pride, and increasingly elaborate bits.
Fans of Shadows will recognize the pleasure of watching a group dynamic calcify into something beautifully dysfunctional. The show’s love of parody and commitment to character-driven chaos makes even its wildest episodes feel grounded. Much like the vampires, the study group is united less by affection and more by mutual emotional damage.
Party Down
Party Down is a workplace comedy built on the quiet despair of people stuck together while pretending they’re headed somewhere better. Each episode drops the same group of caterers into a new event, forcing their unresolved resentments to surface in public. The humor is sharp, awkward, and deeply character-focused.
For Shadows fans, the appeal lies in watching people who absolutely should not be doing customer service interact with the world. Like immortal vampires forced to attend city council meetings, the Party Down crew is permanently miscast for their environment. The comedy thrives on that tension, mining endless laughs from small humiliations and long-simmering bitterness.
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys shares Shadows’ mockumentary style and its affection for lovable disasters who insist they’re in control. Life in Sunnyvale Trailer Park is a never-ending cycle of bad plans, worse execution, and intense loyalty among deeply flawed people. The handheld realism only makes the absurdity feel more immediate.
Much like Staten Island’s undead residents, these characters treat chaos as routine. There’s comfort in the familiarity of their schemes, even when everything predictably collapses. If you love Shadows for its lived-in world and ensemble rhythm, Trailer Park Boys offers that same sense of dysfunctional community turned up to eleven.
Cult Favorites with Big ‘Shadows’ Energy (Even If They’re Not About Vampires)
Not every show that scratches the What We Do in the Shadows itch needs fangs, coffins, or ancient curses. Sometimes it’s enough to have a deeply weird ensemble, a heightened reality, and a commitment to treating the ridiculous as deadly serious. These cult favorites channel the same off-kilter spirit, even when the genre trappings look very different.
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords feels like Shadows’ emotional ancestor, especially in its deadpan approach to absurdity. Bret and Jemaine navigate New York City with the confidence of men who are wildly unprepared for everything it throws at them. The humor comes less from punchlines and more from how calmly they accept failure as a way of life.
For Shadows fans, the appeal is in the social awkwardness elevated to an art form. The characters treat minor inconveniences with the gravity of epic struggles, much like immortal vampires losing an argument over household chores. It’s dry, self-aware, and deeply committed to its own strange rhythm.
People of Earth
People of Earth centers on a support group for alien abductees, which already puts it squarely in Shadows territory. The show balances sincere emotional beats with comedy rooted in how utterly unremarkable these people are, despite their extraordinary claims. Aliens exist, yes, but the real focus is on loneliness, insecurity, and the need to feel believed.
Shadows fans will recognize the pleasure of supernatural beings portrayed as petty, bureaucratic, and deeply flawed. The aliens are less cosmic overlords and more middle managers with egos and performance reviews. That blend of cosmic weirdness and human smallness feels like it belongs in the same universe as Staten Island.
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a cult classic that revels in intentional incompetence. Presented as a rediscovered ’80s horror series, it features bad acting, worse effects, and an unshakable belief in its own brilliance. Every creative failure is treated as a triumph.
This is perfect for Shadows fans who love watching characters take themselves far too seriously. Like Laszlo delivering a dramatic monologue about something deeply stupid, Darkplace thrives on misplaced confidence. It’s niche, aggressively silly, and endlessly quotable once it gets its hooks in you.
Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death swaps vampires for pirates, but the DNA is unmistakable. A crew of misfits, a heightened historical setting, and a tone that swings effortlessly between heartfelt and absurd make it a natural companion piece. The show finds comedy in masculinity, identity, and the fantasy of reinvention.
For Shadows devotees, it’s the ensemble chemistry that seals the deal. These characters are terrible at piracy in the same way the vampires are terrible at blending in. The show understands that found family, when filtered through genre nonsense, can be both hilarious and surprisingly tender.
The Definitive Top 10 List: Ranked Picks and Why Each One Scratches the Same Itch
#7 Wellington Paranormal
If What We Do in the Shadows is the vampire mockumentary gold standard, Wellington Paranormal is its proudly ridiculous police procedural cousin. Following two painfully earnest cops dealing with ghosts, demons, and possession paperwork, the humor comes from watching authority figures who are wildly unqualified for the supernatural chaos around them. The deadpan delivery and documentary framing feel instantly familiar.
What really sells it for Shadows fans is the tone. The show treats paranormal events as minor workplace inconveniences, not existential threats. It’s that same joy of seeing the extraordinary filtered through painfully ordinary personalities.
#6 Documentary Now!
Documentary Now! isn’t supernatural by default, but its mockumentary DNA makes it essential viewing for Shadows devotees. Each episode lovingly skewers a different documentary style, capturing not just the format but the ego, self-importance, and obliviousness of its subjects. The jokes are precise, nerdy, and deeply committed.
Fans of Shadows’ talking-head confessionals will appreciate how Documentary Now! weaponizes sincerity. Watching characters bare their souls while completely missing the point is half the fun. It’s satire with a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
#5 The Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh operates on pure dream logic, blending fantasy creatures, musical numbers, and surreal nonsense into something that barely resembles a traditional sitcom. Episodes unfold like strange bedtime stories told by unreliable narrators. It’s weird for the sake of being weird, and proudly so.
Shadows fans who love the show’s willingness to derail a plot for a bizarre character moment will feel right at home. This is the kind of comedy that commits fully to its own mythology, no matter how nonsensical. It rewards viewers who enjoy living in a strange world rather than understanding it.
#4 Flight of the Conchords
At first glance, Flight of the Conchords seems grounded compared to vampires and ghosts. But its humor is built on the same foundation of social awkwardness, inflated self-image, and painfully mundane struggles. Bret and Jemaine treat their musical ambitions with the same misplaced grandeur the vampires give immortality.
Like Shadows, the show thrives on understatement. The jokes are often quiet, awkward, and devastatingly precise. If you love watching characters earnestly fail while believing they’re succeeding, this scratches that itch perfectly.
#3 Ghosts (UK)
Ghosts takes the ensemble supernatural comedy and gives it a cozy, British spin. A young couple inherits a haunted house populated by spirits from wildly different eras, each with their own unresolved baggage. The humor comes from personality clashes as much as paranormal mechanics.
For Shadows fans, the appeal lies in the ghosts themselves. They’re petty, needy, emotionally stunted, and completely obsessed with their own issues. Immortality, once again, turns out to be less glamorous than advertised.
#2 The IT Crowd
While entirely non-supernatural, The IT Crowd shares Shadows’ love of extreme personalities trapped in a workplace that barely tolerates them. Moss, Roy, and Jen are exaggerated to the point of absurdity, yet the show grounds them in recognizable social discomfort. Every situation escalates because no one knows how to behave like a normal human.
Shadows fans will appreciate the unapologetically broad comedy paired with deep character commitment. These people live in their own realities, and the world keeps rudely interrupting. It’s farce fueled by confidence and obliviousness.
#1 Wellington Paranormal
At the top of the list, and for good reason, Wellington Paranormal feels like the closest sibling to What We Do in the Shadows. Spun directly from the same creative lineage, it shares not just the mockumentary format but the worldview. The supernatural exists, it’s everywhere, and it’s mostly annoying.
What makes it the perfect follow-up binge is how effortlessly it captures that balance of absurdity and affection. The characters are never mocked for being small, strange, or bad at their jobs. Like Shadows, the joke is that this is just how the world works, and somehow, that makes it even funnier.
Where to Stream Them and Which to Watch First Based on Your Favorite Character
Now comes the practical question every Shadows fan eventually asks: where do I watch these, and which one should I hit play on first? The good news is that most of these shows are readily available on major streaming platforms, and the even better news is that your favorite vampire roommate can guide your next obsession.
Think of this as less of a checklist and more of a personality test, with streaming links.
If You Love Nandor’s Earnest Chaos and Ancient Confusion
Start with Wellington Paranormal, streaming on Max. Like Nandor, its central figures are deeply sincere, wildly underqualified, and completely unaware of how ridiculous they appear. The humor comes from watching authority figures face supernatural nonsense with total confidence and zero competence.
If you want something adjacent but more philosophical, The Good Place on Netflix scratches a similar itch. Replace vampiric conquest with moral enlightenment, and you get the same joy of watching someone desperately try to improve while misunderstanding everything along the way.
If Nadja’s Theatrical Meltdowns Are Your Favorite Part
You should absolutely queue up Our Flag Means Death, available on Max. It shares Nadja’s love of big emotions, romantic chaos, and heightened personalities who feel everything at maximum volume. The comedy thrives on dramatic overreaction and deeply felt pettiness.
Ghosts (UK), streaming on Paramount+, is another strong pick here. Its ensemble of emotionally stuck spirits delivers Nadja-level grievances with British restraint, which somehow makes the insults and tantrums land even harder.
If Laszlo’s Confidence, Horniness, and Delusions Speak to You
The IT Crowd on Netflix is your best bet. While there’s no supernatural element, the show operates on the same comedic fuel: characters who believe they are gods among mortals while the world repeatedly humiliates them. Laszlo’s swagger lives on in every terrible decision Roy and Moss make.
Flight of the Conchords, streaming on Max, also fits this lane perfectly. It’s built on deadpan bravado, misplaced confidence, and men who think they’re irresistible while clearly not being that at all.
If Colin Robinson Is Your Dark Mirror
Congratulations, you understand the true horror of modern existence. For that specific flavor of emotional endurance comedy, Parks and Recreation and The Office-style mockumentaries often get mentioned, but within this list, Wellington Paranormal again reigns supreme for its commitment to banal absurdity.
The Good Place also earns points here for turning philosophical debates into comedy about social exhaustion. It understands that nothing drains a soul faster than people who think they’re being helpful.
If Guillermo’s Quiet Competence Is What Keeps You Grounded
Ghosts (UK) should be your first stop. Like Guillermo, the living characters are often the only ones capable of real growth, forced to manage supernatural chaos while everyone else stays stubbornly the same. The humor comes from responsibility clashing with immortality.
Our Flag Means Death also rewards Guillermo fans with characters who slowly discover their own agency, competence, and self-worth beneath layers of comedy and incompetence.
In the end, the best follow-up to What We Do in the Shadows depends on what you love most about it. Whether it’s immortal narcissists, workplace incompetence, mockumentary realism, or supernatural problems treated like minor inconveniences, these shows understand the same core truth: eternity is funny, authority is meaningless, and living forever doesn’t make you any better at being a person.