Excel Champions: Inside the Wild World of Competitive Spreadsheet Masters

Right, stick with me here because I’m about to tell you about the most brilliantly bonkers documentary you’ll watch in 2025. Remember when you thought your mate Dave was well fancy because he could do a VLOOKUP? Meet the absolute legends who’ve turned Microsoft Excel into an Olympic-worthy sport.

From Office Grind to Competitive Glory

When Melbourne filmmaker Kristina Kraskov stumbled across an article about international Excel competitions, she had the same reaction as most of us would: “What the hell?” But unlike the rest of us who’d have just shared it on WhatsApp with a crying-laughing emoji, she went and made a whole documentary about it.

“Spreadsheet Champions” follows six competitors as they prep for the Microsoft Office Specialist world championship in Florida. And before you ask yes, it’s properly serious business. We’re talking training schedules that would make Premier League footballers wince.

The Secret Lives of Excel Masters

Having binge-watched this absolute gem (and subsequently feeling well inadequate about my own Excel skills), I can tell you it’s less about formulas and more about the fascinating characters behind the screens. These aren’t your typical office workers they’re the Lewis Hamiltons of spreadsheets, the Mo Farahs of formatting.

Kraskov, who previously brought us the equally quirky “Party in the Back” about a mullet festival (because why not?), has a proper talent for finding the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary. And cor, has she struck gold here.

More Than Just Numbers

Remember the nail-biting tension of “Free Solo”? Well, swap out El Capitan for pivot tables, and you’re halfway there. The stakes might not be life-or-death, but try telling that to these competitors when they’re racing against the clock to sort through data faster than a supercomputer.

What makes this doc properly special is how it captures these Excel enthusiasts’ pure passion. It’s like watching “Great British Bake Off,” but instead of perfect pastry, they’re pursuing pivot table perfection.

FAQ: Your Excel-lent Questions Answered

What exactly do competitors do in Excel championships?

Competitors tackle complex spreadsheet challenges against the clock, from data analysis to advanced formatting. Think “Ready Steady Cook” but with cells and formulas instead of random ingredients.

How do you even train for an Excel competition?

These champions practice daily, memorizing hundreds of keyboard shortcuts and perfecting their macro game. They’re basically the gym bros of the spreadsheet world.

Is this actually a thing in the UK?

Too right it is! The UK sends competitors to the world championships annually, and some British companies even host their own internal competitions.

The Bottom Line

If you’d told me last year I’d be proper invested in a documentary about Excel competitions, I’d have thought you’d lost the plot. But here we are, and I’m telling you this is must-watch telly. It’s got everything: drama, passion, and enough spreadsheet action to make your office’s monthly reports look like child’s play.

Whether you’re a formula fanatic or can barely manage a SUM function, “Spreadsheet Champions” proves that excellence can be found in the most unexpected places. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to practice my VLOOKUP game there’s always 2026’s championship, right?