What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Internship
Shawn Levy · Film · 2013
If you loved The Internship, start with The League (Jeff Schaffer, 2009) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Internship across media.
You enjoyed The Internship because it captures the awkward, funny, and rewarding friction of navigating professional environments as an outsider.
Books on the same thread
Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson · Book · 2011
Explores: Innovation, Leadership, Silicon Valley.
If the Silicon Valley setting of The Internship fascinated you, this biography offers a deeper look at the actual perfectionism and intense innovation driving that industry's most iconic figures.
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Sheryl Sandberg · Book · 2013
Explores: Gender equality, Workplace dynamics, Female empowerment.
Following the workplace dynamics in The Internship, this book provides a essential perspective on the leadership challenges and professional barriers women face within the modern corporate landscape today.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
Michael Lewis · Book · 2010
Explores: Financial Crisis of 2008, Wall Street Corruption, Mortgage-Backed Securities.
While The Internship treats the tech world with comedic lightness, this investigative look at the financial crisis reveals the darker, more corrupt side of high-stakes corporate business environments.
Problematic Summer Romance
Ali Hazelwood · Book
Explores: Age gap, Destination wedding, Workplace power dynamics.
The workplace power dynamics that defined your experience with The Internship reappear here, centering on the complex personal struggles of an older professional paired with a younger student.
Series on the same thread
The Office
Greg Daniels · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with The Internship: Workplace Comedy.
The relatable office life and eccentric characters that made The Internship a success are front and center in this mockumentary, which masterfully mines humor from everyday professional frustrations.
Hacks
Lucia Aniello · Series · 2021
Shares 3 threads with The Internship: Mentorship, Workplace Comedy, Generation Gap.
This show mirrors the generational gap and mentorship themes found in The Internship, exploring the difficult but ultimately rewarding relationship between a veteran professional and a younger protégé.
The League
Jeff Schaffer · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with The Internship: Workplace Comedy.
Much like the camaraderie among the interns in The Internship, this show focuses on the intense, competitive, and often absurd bonds formed between friends navigating their daily lives.
The Rookie
Alexi Hawley · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with The Internship: Ageism.
This series perfectly echoes the second chance narrative of The Internship, following a protagonist who overcomes ageism and skepticism to pursue a new career path as an underdog.
Podcasts on the same thread
Grumpy Old Geeks
Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner · Podcast · 2026
Explores: cynicism, digital culture, corporate skepticism.
If you appreciated the tech industry setting of The Internship, this podcast provides a sharper, more cynical take on the digital culture and corporate news surrounding those same companies.
Recycle Bin
fpt. · Podcast · 2025
Explores: internet culture, tech industry news, casual conversation.
For those who enjoyed the humorous look at tech culture in The Internship, this podcast offers a similarly lighthearted and conversational analysis of the modern internet and industry.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Internship based on a true story about a specific company?
The Internship is a 2013 film directed by Shawn Levy about two men in their 40s who become interns at a successful Internet company. The movie is a fictional comedy and does not depict the actual internship program or operations of any specific real-world technology corporation.
What is the main premise of The Internship?
The Internship follows two men in their 40s who are recently laid off from their jobs. They attempt to reinvent their careers by securing internships at a successful Internet company, where they must navigate a workplace culture dominated by managers who are significantly younger than them.
How old are the protagonists in The Internship?
In The Internship, the two main characters are in their 40s. The plot centers on the generational contrast between these men and their managers, who are in their 20s, as they attempt to succeed in a modern Internet company environment after being laid off from their previous positions.
Who directed The Internship?
The Internship is a 2013 comedy film directed by Shawn Levy. It focuses on the experiences of two middle-aged men who transition into roles as interns at a prominent Internet company, forcing them to adapt to a fast-paced work environment managed by individuals in their 20s.