Guide Note

Office Space is a 1999 comedy about a disgruntled office worker, Peter Gibbons, and his quest to find happiness in the workplace. It has become a cult favorite despite its poor box office performance.

Fast Facts

1. Released: February 19, 1999
2. Tag line: "Work Sucks."
3. Written/Directed By: Mike Judge
4. Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston
5. Budget: $10 million
6. Domestic Gross: $10.8 million

The film follows Peter Gibbons, played by Ron Livingston, who is far from interested in his job as a software programmer. After some urging from his girlfriend, he visits a hypnotist in an attempt to brighten his outlook on life. The hypnotist however dies shortly after putting Peter to sleep, leaving him in a state of euphoria. Peter starts missing work, showing up late and goofs off all day when he does make it in. The company is going through downsizing and rather than firing Peter, the consultants are impressed with his free spirited approach to the job and promote him. His two friends however are not so lucky and are laid off. Peter and his two friends develop a plan to rip off the company. Much like what was attempted in Superman III, they design a computer program to round off fractions of pennies in bank transactions, dropping all the penny parts into an account the men have set up. The plan works as intended, but possibly too well.