What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBoris
Luca Manzi · Series · 2007
If you loved Boris, start with Fantozzi: White Collar Blues (Luciano Salce, 1975) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Boris across media.
You appreciate how Boris uses sharp, cynical humor to expose the absurdity and systemic incompetence found within rigid professional environments.
Books on the same thread
Gomorrah
Roberto Saviano · Book · 2007
Explores: Mafia, Corruption, Crime.
Like Boris, this work provides a searing look at Italian institutional rot, shifting the lens from the television set to the brutal reality of organized crime and systemic corruption.
History
Elsa Morante · Book · 2015
Explores: the plight of the subaltern, history from below, the dehumanizing effects of war.
While Boris finds dark comedy in media production, this epic captures the dehumanizing impact of systemic failure, grounding the Italian experience in the harsh realities of historical trauma.
The Suicide
Nikolaĭ Ėrdman · Book · 1979
Shares 2 threads with Boris: Bureaucracy, Satirical Comedy.
This play mirrors the bureaucratic nightmare of Boris, as it uses dark, satirical comedy to highlight how individuals are trapped and exploited by the absurd demands of society.
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Dario Fo, Gavin Richards · Book · 1987
Explores: Police Corruption, Abuse of Power, Political Conspiracy.
If the political farce of Boris resonated with you, this play offers a similar biting critique of institutional incompetence and the blatant abuse of power within Italian authority.
Films on the same thread
Fantozzi: White Collar Blues
Luciano Salce · Film · 1975
Shares 2 threads with Boris: Workplace Comedy, Bureaucracy.
This film is the spiritual ancestor to Boris, perfectly capturing the soul-crushing experience of the Italian workplace through the eyes of an underdog navigating endless, nonsensical red tape.
The Second Tragic Fantozzi
Luciano Salce · Film · 1976
Shares 3 threads with Boris: Bureaucracy, Incompetence, Workplace Comedy.
Mirroring the workplace desperation found in Boris, this film excels at depicting the frustrating, humiliating cycle of incompetence and exploitation that defines the life of a humble office worker.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Larry Charles · Film · 2006
Shares a thread with Boris: Satirical Comedy.
Just as Boris exposes the artifice of the television industry, this mockumentary uses a fish-out-of-water structure to pull back the curtain on cultural prejudices through uncomfortable, satirical encounters.
Bo Burnham: Inside
Film · 2021
Explores: Mental Health, Isolation, Internet Culture.
The existential dread and isolation found in Boris during its most introspective moments are mirrored here, as a lone creator struggles to maintain sanity while working under restrictive conditions.
Podcasts on the same thread
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: absurdism, unfiltered opinion, camaraderie.
The irreverent, unfiltered camaraderie that defines the troupe in Boris translates perfectly to this podcast, where absurdism and cynical commentary become the primary tools for navigating the professional world.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
This anthology series shares the experimental spirit of Boris, using short-form storytelling to probe the human condition and moral ambiguity with the same sharp, cinematic focus on narrative.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of the television series Boris?
Boris is a satirical portrait of the Italian television industry. The series focuses on the behind-the-scenes chaos occurring on the set of a production titled Gli occhi del cuore 2, highlighting the dynamics and struggles of the troupe involved in shooting the fiction.
When was Boris originally produced and released?
The Italian television series Boris was initially produced and aired from 2007 to 2010. Following this original run, the show returned for a revival season that premiered in 2022, continuing its exploration of the television production environment.
Who are the creators of the show Boris?
Boris was created by Luca Manzi and Carlo Mazzotta. The series is known for its satirical look at the television networks in Italy and the specific challenges faced by the crew while filming the show within the show, Gli occhi del cuore 2.
Is Boris a recent television production?
Boris is not a recent production, as it first debuted in 2007. While the original run concluded in 2010, the series saw a revival in 2022. It remains a notable satirical look at the behind-the-scenes reality of Italian television fictions.