Fans of the Todd Phillips school of comedy are going to be divided on this one -- there's real potential here and a great premise but had it been a little cleverer it could've been so much more.
Comment
03/14/05
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
65
%
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.
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Genre: Comedies
US Box Office: $84,136,909
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... [More]
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner
Director: Adam McKay
Reviews for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
Top CriticClick to read the article
03/09/05
Top CriticSome of the material works, some doesn't.
10/18/08
Top CriticCaptures the mood of a group of friends riffing, trying to make each other laugh with the most ridiculous nonsense they can think of
07/08/04
Ferrell totally gets the anchorman of the 70s vibe and pulls off even the lamest lines without breaking a sweat
07/09/04
I think Anchorman has the potential to achieve Austin Powers-like status as a highly quotable movie.
07/08/04
To praise Anchorman for perceptive social commentary would be giving the movie more credit than it deserves, but it isn’t just pratfalls and sexual humour.
07/19/04
It sinks like an anchor, man.
07/11/04
For every gag that works, there's one that doesn't, and the story is too thin to keep us engaged otherwise.
07/08/04
It solidifies Ferrell's place alongside Jim Carrey, Jack Black and, when called on, Johnny Depp, as our best comic actors.
07/08/04
...about as entertaining as a TV test pattern.
07/16/04
What we get is more of the same from Ferrell -- funny faces, goofy accents, pratfalls aplenty -- and that ain't bad. It just could have been a lot better.
07/11/04
A crude, funny satire that tackles local television anchors and their newscasts. Those are easy targets to skewer, but the movie mines more truth from its subject than some in the biz will want to admit.
08/05/07
This is ideal Friday night fodder if you're in the right mood.
09/07/04
There are a ton of jokes launched, and most of them work.
07/11/04
No review available.
12/27/07
A straight shot of that good stuff.
10/06/04
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.
07/09/04
Even if many of the film’s individual characters aren’t worth remembering an hour after you see the movie, Anchorman is almost always hilarious.
07/10/04
Half of Anchorman had me laughing on cue; the other half made me want to switch channels.
07/23/04
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...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds