Ferrell has an absolutely magical way of making complete morons lovable.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:186
Fresh:120
Rotten:66
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: It's a one-joke premise, but the movie is amiably dumb, and there are scenes of inspired goofiness.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for sexual humor, language and comic violence
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:10-09-2004
Synopsis: Will Ferrell ("Elf," "Old School") stars as Ron Burgundy, the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the ‘70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica... Will Ferrell ("Elf," "Old School") stars as Ron Burgundy, the top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the ‘70s. When feminism marches into the newsroom in the form of ambitious newswoman Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate - "View From the Top," TV’s "Married With Children"), Ron is willing to play along at first—as long as Veronica stays in her place, covering cat fashion shows, cooking, and other "female" interests. But when Veronica refuses to settle for being eye candy and steps behind the news desk, it’s more than a battle between two perfectly coiffed anchor-persons…it’s war. Will Ferrell co-wrote the screenplay for "Anchorman" with Adam McKay, a former "Saturday Night Live" head writer and founder of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade comedy troupe. McKay is also making his directorial debut on "Anchorman." Judd Apatow ("The Cable Guy," TV’s "Freaks and Geeks") is producing the film, with Shauna Robertson ("Meet The Parents," "Elf"), David O. Russell ("Three Kings," "Flirting With Disaster") and David Householter ("The Core") co-producing. "Anchorman" also stars David Koechner ("A Guy Thing"), Steve Carell ("Bruce Almighty") and Paul Rudd ("The Shape of Things," "The Cider House Rules") as members of Ron’s news team, and Fred Willard ("American Wedding," "A Mighty Wind") and Chris Parnell (TV’s "Saturday Night Live") as news producers. Kevin Corrigan (TV’s "Grounded For Life," "Slums of Beverly Hills"), renowned rap musician Chuck D (of Public Enemy), Tara Subkoff ("The Cell," "American Pie") and Maya Rudolph (TV’s "Saturday Night Live") appear as members of the radical underground group The Alarm Clock, which becomes the big news story of the day. [More]
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Steve Carell
Director: Adam McKay
Director: Adam McKay
Screenwriter: Adam McKay, Will Ferrell
Producer: Judd Apatow
Composer: Alex Wurman
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC
Reviews for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
There are more misfires and dead spots than we'd prefer, but they're outweighed by many more moments that are riotously laugh-out-loud funny.
No need to make room for Anchorman in any cultural time capsule, but there are enough laughs to keep the movie from being canceled.
Always affectionate toward its people, especially when they are at their most ridiculous, Anchorman meticulously builds America's dimmest news team. And we root for them.
It's 'Jane, you ignorant slut' all over again, but with less bite, a backstory, a romance and a host of celebrity cameos that promise more than they deliver.
Sloppy, crude, pursuing the most far-flung tangents in hopes of a laugh, Anchorman still gave me more stupid giggles than I'd care to admit if I weren't paid to.
Although it has even less depth than its proudly one-dimensional hero, 'Anchorman' is frequently hilarious and full of delightful cameos by some familiar faces.
Anchorman works so well because Ferrell's persona fits flawlessly into this world of overgrown boys working men's jobs.
No plot, no so-called redeeming social value and no desire to pluck the hearstrings, which is why it's superior to 'Elf.'
Anchorman establishes Ferrell as a formidable comic force reminiscent of Steve Martin when he was The Jerk or Chevy Chase when he was Fletch.
These are obviously just stitched-together bits that these improv masters worked through until they got funny. Their dedication pays off more often than not, especially when the cast strives for outrageousness.
Knights of Columbus! Wouldn't it be great if TV-based comedians weren't afraid of making movies that were funnier than they are?
We really can’t call this a sophomore slump. Does sophomoric slump work?
You'll be more likely to scratch your head in puzzlement than to pull your mouth into a smile
Latest News for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
June 02, 2009:
Will Ferrell Talks Land of the Lost
Ahead of the release of the comedy-adventure Land of the Lost -- a big-screen adaptation of Sid and Marty Kroft's psychedelic TV series from the '70s -- Rotten Tomatoes got the... More...
May 27, 2009:
Will Ferrell Talks Anchorman Sequel ![]()
Hope you've been staying classy, San Diego -- Will Ferrell says discussions for an "Anchorman" sequel are taking place. More...
July 25, 2008:
Weekly Ketchup: Anchorman 2, Dracula: Year Zero, Twilight Zone and Much More
In this week's Weekly Ketchup we've got the latest on plenty of remakes and sequels coming your way. Plus, check back Monday for an extra special edition of the Ketchup, in... More...
June 06, 2008:
Steve Carell Would Totally Make Anchorman 2 ![]()
Steve Carell has told MTV that he has "some inklings" about what Adam McKay has in mind for Anchorman 2, and he's "absolutely" interested in coming back for the sequel. More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
| 53% 53% | David & Layla |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at Rotten Tomatoes
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at IGN
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

